Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1319485
MOTOGP 2020 IN REVIEW Feature P118 up his only win of the season at Misano 2, heading home that man Joan Mir once again with Pol Espar- garo taking his second podium of the year in third. By now, incredibly, Andrea Dovizioso was lead- ing the championship with 84 points, one clear of Quartararo and Vinales, with Mir with 80. But that was it for Dovi's title charge, as he crashed out of the next round at Catalunya at turn two, taking Johann Zarco with him. Quartararo resumed normal service (for him) by taking victory in Catalunya, once again from Mir and Suzuki teammate Alex Rins, although his hopes of a long-awaited home French MotoGP victory were dashed by a damp track that saw wet- weather specialist Danilo Petrucci storm through for a second career victory. Petrucci headed the stupendous Alex Marquez in his debut podium performance, with Pol Espargaro once again third. Alex Rins finally took his first win of the season at the next round of Aragon, his home track. Rins had to fend off Alex Marquez, who had clearly found the way to ride the RC213V against the best in the world. The junior Marquez finished 0.2 seconds off the win, with Mir once again minimizing the title damage in third. to the line for a famous first victory for not just him- self, but the Tech 3 team after being in the Class of Kings for 20 long years. THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT After escaping with nothing more than cuts and bruises from his monumental Austrian get-off, Franco Morbidelli signaled his title aspirations with a debut victory at his home race at Misano at round six, beating fellow VR46 Academy rider Francesco Bagnaia and Mir. This result, more than any other this year, signaled the shift in MotoGP as the three former junior category champions filled the podium places. It appeared Bagnaia had finally hit his stride in MotoGP, using a wide, sweeping corner-arcing style compared to Dovi's more point-and-shoot approach to get the best out of the Michelin rear tire that troubled Ducati riders all season. He proved this the following week at Misano 2, bolting into the lead before overcooking it and crashing out with seven laps remaining. It was left to Yamaha's Maverick Vinales to pick Two weeks after escaping death in Austria, Franco Morbidelli put on a class act with a win at the first Misano race, his debut MotoGP victory. At the end of 12 frenetic laps, Miguel Oliveira (88) picked up the scraps left by Jack Miller (43) and Pol Espargaro (44) to take his first win at Austria 2. In what was a wretched season, Danilo Petrucci savored the winner's champagne at Le Mans in a splendid display of wet-weather control.