Fabio Quartararo remains leader in the Championship after his 2nd place in the Spanish GP behind Francesco Bagnaia

“The start of the season was really complicated for us, recalled Bagnaia, fifth winner of the season in six GPs. I was able to take the start in Portimao despite the pain (he had injured his shoulder falling heavily in qualifying) and that revived me because the sensations returned during the race (8th). I’m delighted, on paper Fabio was unbeatable on this circuit but we really did a good job. The two strong men from Jerez took off very quickly on the rest of the pack, led by the Ducati of Jack Miller. From 1”8 at the end of the 6th lap, the lead of the duo went to 3”2 three laps later, then 4”6 at mid-race. At the finish, ten seconds separate the third from the winner. A hole. In Bagnaia’s escape at the start of the race without ever being able to attack, Quartararo stalled slightly from the eighth lap. While his delay peaked at 0.8, the Frenchman managed to pick up and put the pressure on his rival, without managing to make him crack. “We both had a really crazy pace today. If there was not really a fight between us, it was still a big showdown. » « It was a really difficult race, physically in particular because with the heat of the Ducati my hands were burning, he summed up at the finish. “Peco” made a great start, I tried to attack him in the first laps but he was really strong. I gave everything from start to finish, I have nothing to reproach myself for. I was pumped all the time, I could have crashed at every turn but I have no choice. We both had a crazy pace today. If there was not really a fight between us, it was still a big showdown. » Surprising Aleix Espargaro With the nightmarish Sunday of Alex Rins (Suzuki), who passed through the gravel trap and finished nineteenth, Quartararo increased his lead at the head of the Championship. He is now seven points ahead of the surprising Aleix Espargaro. Long in ambush behind Miller and Marquez, the Aprilia rider doubled five laps from the finish by overtaking the Australian and Marquez, not far from the bowl on the spot but author of a fabulous overtaking on Miller to take fourth place. Thanks to his victory, Bagnaia moves up to fifth place in the Championship, 33 points behind Quartararo, who will therefore arrive at Le Mans, for the French GP, in the shoes of the strong man of this start to the season. Johann Zarco was unable to confirm his podium at Portimao. After losing three places at the start, the Frenchman was in ninth position when he fell. “I was trying to get as close as possible to Bezzecchi to try to pass him at the next bend but the bike stalled and that defused me, explained Zarco. That’s a shame… “