MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 3 / APRIL 16-18, 2021
ALGARVE INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT / PORTIMAO, PORTUGAL
P88
MIR AND
MARQUEZ—THE
FIRST CONTACT
Knowing Marc Marquez's fight-
ing instincts, it was only a matter
of time until the past world
champion came together with
the man that currently holds the
crown. Lacking speed over one
flying lap, the recently returned
Catalan found himself in Q1,
where he could directly assert
his authority over Joan Mir. And
so, the Honda man shadowed
the Suzuki for the first half of
the 15-minute shootout, gaining
Mir's tow to top that particular
session. The number-36 wasn't
amused. "We know Marc likes
to play these games," Mir said.
"He started a lot further ahead,
he cut off, got behind, he an-
noyed me on the first timed
lap, because he started slow, I
ran into him halfway around the
track, and I have already lost
my lap. Then I started to push,
he took advantage of my tow.
In Moto 3, they penalize you
for this and surely in Moto 2 as
well, but in MotoGP, not yet."
Responding to Mir's comments,
Marquez feigned ignorance,
insisting there were no games
at play. "Others have done it to
Briefly...
But it all went wrong at turn 10
with seven laps to go, and so did
Zarco's championship lead.
Roberts came home a close
fourth, by far his best showing of
2021 after leading much of the
race.
Roberts' compatriot Cameron
Beaubier (American Racing Kalex)
took a season-best ninth, his first
top 10 in Moto2 competition.
Roberts is seventh in the Moto2
Championship standings and
Beaubier is 12th.
In the championship, Gardner
now leads with 56 points from Fer-
nandez's 52 with Lowes third at 50.
Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta
(37) produced a final-lap stunner to
pip Dennis Foggia (Leopard Rac-
