- 2021-08-09
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SPORTS
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MotoGP Styrian: Jorge Martin Takes Maiden Victory in Restarted Race at Red Bull Ring
- Pole sitter Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) claimed his maiden MotoGP victory in restarted the race at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. This marks the first win for Pramac Ducati team.
The race was red-flagged on lap 3 after a fiery incident at Turn 3 between Dani Pedrosa (Red Bull KTM) and Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Gresini).
The race restarted a 30 minute delay. But Maverick Vinales (Monster Yamaha) was forced to start from pitlane when he stalled his bike on the grid for the restart.
Jack Miller (Ducati Team) led the race at the second start, but Jorge Martin and Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar) passed him at Turn 2 on the fourth lap and moved up to 1st and 2nd, respectively.
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) climbed up to third at Turn 3 on lap 7, Jack Miller move down to 4th. But Jack Miller crashed out at Turn 7 on lap 18.
Finally, Jorge Martin reached the chequered flag ahead of Joan Mir by 1.548s, Fabio Quartararo was 3rd.
A stunning charge from 16th, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) passed Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda) and Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) on last lap and finished 4th.
Dani Pedrosa and Cal Crutchlow (Petronas Yamaha) finished 10th and 17th each on a comeback race.
Styrian GP winner last year, Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM) retired with a mechanical issue, while Lorenzo Savadori did not take the restart.
Jorge Martin said, “It's been a nice weekend for me. Friday I didn't feel so confident, but I knew I had a big margin for Saturday. Saturday as soon as I went on track I was super competitive. Then we did the good job in FP4 trying with used tyres and I felt super confident. For sure I didn't have the pace of Fabio [Quartararo] maybe, or Pecco, but I was close. Then with some steps in the right direction, making the pole position was amazing, but today the first start I felt OK but I had a lot of moments with the front tyre. So, luckily they stopped the race. I hope Savadori is OK, but luckily I could change both tyres and I felt super good in the second start.”
He continued, “For my side, sometimes when I start from the box I feel there are some tyres that are working better and some tyres that are working worse. Today as soon as I went out of the pitlane I saw that the front wasn't working perfectly and also when I was behind Pecco, in the second-last corner I almost crashed in the second lap. So, I was a bit scared, but luckily I had another new tyre and it was perfect. As soon as I could, I took the lead, trying to put my pace because I knew today was a race just to be constant all the race, and I was able to keep this 1m24.3s, 1m24.2s the whole race. Joan was super strong today, but when I saw this little gap of two tenths in the board I just tried to put a little bit more in the track making this gap was perfect for me and necessary also because the last laps my physical condition wasn't great. But, really happy for my team and also for Ducati because here it's so important to win for them. I wasn't expecting to be the rider to win but finally I did it.”
Michelin® Grand Prix of Styria Race Results- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / 38m 7.879s
- Joan Mir / Suzuki Ecstar / +1.548s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / +9.632s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / +12.771s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / +12.923s
- Johann Zarco / Pramac Ducati / +13.031s
- Alex Rins / Suzuki Ecstar / +14.839s
- Marc Marquez / Repsol Honda / +17.953s
- Alex Marquez / LCR Honda / +19.059s
- Dani Pedrosa / Red Bull KTM / +19.389s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Team / +21.667s
- Enea Bastianini / Avintia Ducati / +25.267s
- Valentino Rossi / Petronas Yamaha / +26.282s
- Luca Marini / Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati / +27.492s
- Iker Lecuona / KTM Tech3 / +31.076s
- Pol Espargaro / Repsol Honda / +31.150s
- Cal Crutchlow / Petronas Yamaha / +40.408s
- Danilo Petrucci / KTM Tech3 / +48.114s
- Maverick Viñales / Monster Yamaha / +63.149s
- source : MotoGP
