The next GP will play out this weekend at Misano and Fabio Quartararo has a first opportunity to get the job done and be crowned 2021 MotoGP world champion. The Frenchman has been the strongest on more than one occasion this year, making few mistakes and proving to be the only Yamaha rider to have found such special feeling with the M1. He has a first chance to achieve his dream this Sunday but that doesn’t mean it will be easy.
If Bagnaia wins, the celebration is postponed
One month ago, the MotoGP race at Misano was dominated by Francesco Bagnaia, who was only pressured by his rival in the final stages and handled it very well. If the same thing were to happen again, then Quartararo will have to wait until at least the Portuguese GP to get his hands on the trophy. In order to make history, the Yamaha rider would need to win the race, as a first option, and at that point his Italian rival could finish in any position.
Quartaro would win the title if he finished second ahead of Bagnaia, if he arrived third and Bagnaia fourth, or if he arrived fourth and Bagnaia fifth. He would also lift the trophy if he were to close fifth and Bagnaia fourth, or if he were to finish sixth or seventh and Bagnaia fifth.
All the combinations, even the most remote
If the Yamaha number 20 were to cross the line eighth and Bagnaia were to do no better than sixth, Quartararo would be champion come Sunday, or if he were to finish ninth and the Italian seventh. Or if Quartararo were tenth and Pecco no better than eighth, or if the Frenchman were eleventh and the Italian ninth, or twelfth and tenth respectively.
Even more unlikely, if Quartararo finishes thirteenth and Bagnaia eleventh, if the Frenchman were fourteenth and Pecco no better than twelfth, or if Quartararo were fifteenth and Pecco only thirteenth. If the leader were unable to finish the race, or finished outside the points zone, he would be champion only if Bagnaia were to finish fourteenth or lower.
Translated by Heather Watson
MotoGP: a heartfelt tribute to Simoncelli and Gresini at Misano