And three for Fabio Quartararo. The French rider (Yamaha) won his third victory of the season on Sunday (the second in a row) at the German Grand Prix, thus strengthening his position as leader of the MotoGP world championship. The defending champion was ahead of the other Frenchman on the grid, Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac). The two drivers had already achieved a double in this order at the Portuguese Grand Prix in April and in Doha last season.
This victory allows Quartararo to extend his lead at the top of the world championship to 34 points ahead of Spaniard Aleix Espargaro. “I was sick all weekend and during the race I coughed a little (…) but I’m super happy,” said Quartararo, who, unlike most of his competitors, had bet on an intermediate rear tire rather than a hard one.
Zarco still looking for his first victory
Starting in second position, Quartararo took the advantage over poleman Francesco Bagnaia from the first corner of the Sachsenring, never to let go of the controls of the race. The Italian, who had had a perfect weekend so far and was trying not to be left behind by the Frenchman, fell a few laps later, giving up second place to his pursuer Johann Zarco.
“When Pecco (Bagnaia) crashed I tried to stay in contact with Fabio, I wanted to catch him because I knew he had the medium tire (at the rear), maybe I could have have a chance at the end, but I couldn’t”, reacted exhausted on arrival the Frenchman, still looking for his first victory in MotoGP.