MISANO ADRIATICO: Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo became the first Frenchman to win the MotoGP world championship following a fourth-placed finish in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday as his closest title contender Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati crashed.

Pole sitter Bagnaia was leading Ducati’s home race when he crashed with five laps to go, handing Honda’s Marc Marquez the race victory and the world title to Quartararo who has an unassailable lead in the standings with two races left.

“I still can’t believe it,” the 22-year-old Quartararo said as he broke down in tears in the pit lane. “It’s amazing, right now I’m living the dream. It feels good to have my family with me and we will enjoy tonight and until the end of the season.”

Quartararo, 22, now leads Bagnaia by 65 points meaning the Frenchman can no longer be caught by his Ducati rival and guarantees a first riders’ title for his team since 2015.

“It’s not the way I would have liked to win this championship but it’s not the only race we’ve won,” he said. “It’s been incredible and I think I performed so well this year thanks to Pecco [Bagnaia] who has really pushed me hard... I’m really happy.”

Honda’s Pol Espargaro finished second and Quartararo looked set to finish on the podium as well, but he was overtaken on the final lap by Enea Bastianini, who moved up from 16th to third on his Avintia Esponsorama.

That did not dampen Quartararo’s celebrations, however, as the Frenchman soaked in the adulation of the crowd that lit blue flares to celebrate his victory while he danced on the track with the French flag draped around his shoulders.

Italian rider Bagnaia’s job was made harder just three laps into the race when his team-mate Jack Miller, who started from second on the grid, skidded off the track. The Australian was protecting Bagnaia from attacks from six-time MotoGP champion Marquez.

However, after starting from pole position in a race and with the win he needed in his sights, he flew off the track to hand the title to Quartararo and a third win of the season to Marquez.

Sunday’s race was also Valentino Rossi’s last MotoGP in Italy ahead of retirement at the end of the season, and he placed a creditable 10th on his final bow at his home track of Misano.

The Italian icon was waved off by his adoring fans, who displayed a banner which read “It’s been wonderful” as the seven-time MotoGP champion received a trophy for his achievements in the sport.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2021