Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H E Akbar Al Baker presents the winner's trophy to Enea Bastianini.
Doha: Gresini Racing’s Enea Bastianini held his nerves to clinch maiden MotoGP victory in a thrilling season-opening Grand Prix of Qatar at the floodlit Losail International Circuit, yesterday.
The Italian rider overcame a late charge from Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder to seal an emotional win, a year after team founder Fausto Gresini – twice world champion in the 125cc category (now Moto3) – died after a two-month battle with COVID-19.
While Binder was the runner-up, Spaniard Pol Espargaro of Honda ended up third after he led most of the 22-lap race, which saw last year’s world championship runner-up Francesco Bagnaia and poleman Jorge Martin crashing out on lap 12 following contact at turn one.
Yesterday’s win was Gresini Racing’s first victory after becoming an independent outfit, with Bastianini dedicating his title to Fausto, who died in February 2021 at the age of 60.
Gresini Racing's Enea Bastianini in action during the MotoGP race at the Losail International Circuit, yesterday.
“It’s difficult for me to speak. I want to dedicate this victory to Fausto because he pushed a lot from the sky, and it’s fantastic for all the team. I think we’ve all been crying,” said an emotional Bastianini, who is in his second season in MotoGP.
“I’m very excited today,” the Italian said.
“We have seen a very good potential during the tests and when we arrived here we did another step on the set-up and also with the electronics. And yesterday for the first time I did a really good lap time in the qualifying and today I started from the first row."
"The best choice for me was the medium rear because this morning I tried in the warm-up and I saw a good potential," the winner said.
Espargaro, starting sixth in the second row, was leading the race and looked set for a win but the 2020 Moto2 champion Bastianini took control with four laps to go.
Gresini Racing's Enea Bastianini celebrates with his crew after winning the race.
Binder jumped to second with two laps remaining, breaking clear of Espargaro, threatening Bastianini’s lead, but the Italian held on to win by three tenths.
Making his return after struggling through injuries in the past two years, six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez finished fifth behind Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro, who ended up in fourth position.
The 2020 world champion Joan Mir of Suzuki finished sixth with his team-mate Alex Rins, who excelled in Saturday’s practice, crossing the line seventh.
Meanwhile, Fabio Quartararo’s challenging weekend culminated with a ninth place on his Yamaha as the reigning world champion finished behind Johann Zarco of Pramac Racing. Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami secured rounded up top 10 places.
Quartararo was “worried” about his title defence after finishing ninth in the opener at Losail Circuit, where Yamaha won both races last year.
“Well, knowing that last year we won both races and now we finish basically behind, quite far back, of course I’m worried,” The Frenchman said.
“I will not say I’m confident. We make fourth row, going to Q1 in Qatar. So, I will say I cannot be super confident. But I’ll always say, I am not an engineer. My job is to give 100% and focus for every race, and I give my 100% in every condition; if I’m fighting for the victory, P3, P5, P9, I give my 100%,” he said.
Martin, who clinched pole in Saturday’s qualifying, was more concerned about his pace than being taken out of the race by Bagnaia.
“I didn’t start well, anyway I was still top three, but I got close to Enea and had to close the throttle. A lot of riders overtook me and from then everything went wrong,” Martin said.
“Actually, it was the first time I had a fear about my life because I was really fast into the gravel between both bikes and I think I pushed one bike, Pecco’s bike, with my hand,” he added.
Meanwhile, Celestino Vietti of Kalex emerged winner in the Moto2 race while Andrea Migno claimed Moto3 victory on his Honda.
The Grand Prix of Qatar was the first of a record 21-race season, with the next race scheduled for March 20 in Indonesia.
Grand Prix of Qatar: Final standings:
1. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Ducati-Gresini) 42min 13.198sec
2. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) at 0.346sec
3. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Honda) 1.351
4. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 2.242
5. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 4.099
6. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 4.843
7. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 8.810
8. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) 10.536
9. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) 10.543
10. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR) 14.967
11. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha)16.712
12. Maverick Viñales (SPA/Aprilia)23.216
13: Luca Marini (ITA/Mooney VR46) 27.283
14: Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/WithU Yamaha) 27.374
15: Remy Gardner (AUS/KTM) 41.107
World championship standings
1. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Ducati-Gresini) 25 pts
2. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) 20
3. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Honda) 16
4. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 13
5. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 11
6. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 10
7. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 9
8. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) 8
9. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) 7
10. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR) 6
