“Racing Sunday, writes its own stories” or “One man’s joy is another man’s sorrow”. Yes, they are trite phrases, and yet they are so true on this race Sunday. Marc Marquez is missing in Portimão, having suffered a concussion during a private training session. Alex Marquez shows one of his best race weekends. In the end, Marquez could not crown his very good performance due to a driving error. He only finished fourth. But it is noticeable and remarkable. Because whenever the big brother drops out, the little brother rides better. One could almost say that by the absence of Marc, the burden on the shoulders of Alex is less and he can use it. Yes, the shadow of Marc Marquez is big, it seems difficult to get out of it. Alex Marquez will never be able to escape the comparisons. He must find his way to deal with it.
Things didn’t go well for Fabio Quartararo either after his world championship win two weeks ago. The Yamaha factory rider started the race from seventh place. At no point was he able to ride in front or even threaten the pole setter Pecco Bagnaia. The Yamaha did not like the track as well as the Ducati. The world champion struggled and it all culminated in Quartararo’s crash on the 21st lap. What a paradox that even with this fall a world championship was decided. Only this time it was Quartararo who crashed – the Ducati box, meanwhile, rejoiced at winning the Constructors’ World Championship. Shortly after the crash, the race was stopped. On lap 24, Iker Lecuona cleared his rival Miguel Oliveira. For the Portuguese Oliveria particularly bitter, he won last year for the first time in MotoGP at his home Grand Prix.
Incidentally, Pecco Bagnaia, won the race ahead of Joan Mir and his Ducati teammate Jack Miller. Yes, yesterday a beaming winner and today down and turned around because of a crash.
Now we have one race left in the 2021 season and I’m looking forward to it.
Your Miss MotoGP