IIIMY OWN RACE:
36 JOAN MIR
1ST MOTOGP
"I'm just so happy, the team and I put
together a perfect weekend!" MotoGP
winner Joan Mir said. "It's difficult to
give 100 percent when you're figh ng
for a tle, because you always have
to be a bit cau ous, but today I saw
the chance for my debut victory, and
I had to take it. I knew what I had to
do, and I felt really great with my bike.
I don't really have words to describe
how amazing it feels to be a MotoGP
race winner, and it gives me an extra
boost, especially a er a tricky week-
end in terms of condi ons. Things are
s ll close at the top, so I need to stay
focused and con nuing working for
next weekend."
42 ALEX RINS
2ND MOTOGP
"I was leading for a large part of the
race," said runner-up Rins. "I was
hoping to lead from start to finish,
but I missed a gear at turn 11 on the
17th lap, and I went wide and Joan
got through. Once he was at the front
it was very hard to stay with him,
Props must go to Red Bull KTM's Brad Binder
in seventh. The South African had to take a long-
lap penalty due to taking out Jack Miller at the
previous round at Aragon but charged through
the field, picking off Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati
Team), Johann Zarco (Esponsarama Racing
Ducati) and Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team), who
rounded out the top 10.
In the championship, Mir is now sitting pretty
on 162 points. He only needs 14 points from the
next two races to be crowned champion and can
take the title with a third place this next weekend
if either Quartararo or Rins win the race.
Quartararo's 14th place at Valencia puts him sec-
ond at 125, tied with Rins, with Maverick Vinales
(13th today) fourth at 121. CN
MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 13 / NOVEMBER 6-8, 2020
RICARDO TORMO CIRCUIT / VALENCIA, SPAIN
P68
(Below) Fabio Quartararo's title defense is in tatters.
He crashed while trying to avoid the tumbling
Aleix Espargaro and now looks like second in the
championship is his best hope.
Jack Miller charged
on late in the race.
The Australian
gambled with the
hard front tire but
didn't have the early
speed to match the
Suzukis.
