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/1465975
ROUND 5 / APRIL 22-24, 2022 PORTIMAO / PORTIMAO, PORTUGAL P84 MOTOGP I FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Where others faltered, Fabio Quartararo rocketed through to his first win of the season, while American Joe Roberts captures Moto2 victory BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE M otoGP returned to Europe after crisscrossing Asia and the Americas with the Portuguese MotoGP at the "white knuckle rollercoaster" of Portimao on the Algarve coast, and it was Fabio Quartararo who made the best of it with a dominant win and the championship lead. The current MotoGP World Champion qualified down in fifth at a track that suits the flowing char- acteristics of his factory Yamaha and shadowed early leader Joan Mir (Ecstar Suzuki), taking the lead at turn one on lap four and stretch- ing his advantage to a cruisy 5.8 seconds at the finish. "I got this win by pushing my- self to the limit," Quartararo said. "To be honest, I pushed just as much in Argentina and Austin, but mainly here our bike feels good. The straight is not so long, and we have grip, which means that we can go hammer time. Today, I felt amazing from the warmup on. In the race, I made an amazing start. I wanted to ride aggressively from the beginning, because I know that if we are behind our rivals here, we struggle. I'm super happy, because I managed to get that first victory of the season. It's the most important thing for me to never give up, and it turns out that really was the most important." Quartararo's disappearing act up front kept him safe from the melee behind him that was eventually won by pole-sitter and compatriot Johann Zarco after the Pramac Ducati man rebuked the relentless attack from Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro. Espargaro's third podium of the season came after he, too, stopped a charge from behind, this time from Suzuki's Alex Rins who put together an incredible race after starting way back in 23rd place. Rins scythed his way through the field in the early laps, passing multiple riders at a time as he charged into the top 10, then top five, his challenge only running out of steam at the final laps when Espar- garo's fresher rear tire came into play. Fifth went to home hero Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM), the former Portimao race winner running a somewhat lonely race ahead of the Marquez brothers with Marc (Repsol Honda) only just holding off Alex (LCR Honda) for sixth at the circuit where he made his comeback from near FAB FABIO Fabio Quartararo's win was a classy one and moves the current world champion back into the points lead with Alex Rins.