ROUND 13 / SEPTEMBER 10-12, 2021
MOTORLAND ARAGON / TERUEL, SPAIN
P100
MOTOGP I FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
H
aving come so close over the last three
years, Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team)
has finally taken a MotoGP race victory in a
thrilling Motorland Aragon encounter.
The Italian, who qualified on pole with an all-time
lap record of 1:46.322 ahead of teammate Jack
Miller and championship leader Fabio Quartararo
(Monster Energy Yamaha), was near bulletproof
over the 23-lap race distance after taking the
holeshot and leading every lap until the last three,
where he engaged in a gloves-off fight with Repsol
Honda's Marc Marquez.
Marquez made seven attempts at taking the
lead off Bagnaia, each time running slightly wide
and each time Bagnaia immediately striking back.
It all came down to the final lap at the downhill
turn 12. With Bagnaia leading, Marquez went for
it and threw the factory Honda up the inside, but
he couldn't scrub off enough speed for the apex,
running wide, giving the race-winning margin to
the Italian, who crossed the line 0.673 seconds
clear from Marquez with Joan Mir (Ecstar Suzuki)
getting the better of Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Rac-
ing Team Gresini) to take third.
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK • PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
