MotoGP LIVE Barcelona Race: And three for Fabio Quartararo, championship leader

Article updated until the end of the race

This season not only reveals new winners but also new polemen. This is the case of Franco Morbidelli who, after opening his victory counter at Misano 1, offered himself his first leading position in Barcelona. Never has an Italian dominated premier class qualifying since the 2018 Japanese Grand Prix.

Morbidely suit Pol Espargaro who also took his first pole position this year. The last time two pilots innovated in this way dates back to 2017 with John Zarco et Maverick Vinales. However, be careful, under the MotoGP era, only two riders have won by taking pole in Montmeló: Valentino Rossi (2006) et Jorge Lorenzo (2010/2018).

Franco Morbidelli will he be able to defeat this Indian sign? Before answering this question, here is the table which relates the facts known so far.

Catalunya-Barcelona MotoGP™	2019	2020
FP1	1'40.692 Marc Marquez (See here)	1'40.431 Fabio Quartararo (See here)
FP2	1'40.079 Fabio Quartararo (See here)	1'39.789 Franco Morbidelli (See here)
FP3	1'39.547 Alex Rins (See here)	1'39.418 Fabio Quartararo (See here)
FP4	1'40.235 Fabio Quartararo (See here)	1'40.315 Maverick Vinales (See here)
Q1	1'39.727 Franco Morbidelli (See here)	1'39.399 Jack Miller (See here)
Q2	1'39.484 Fabio Quartararo (See here)	1'38.798 Franco Morbidelli (See here)
Warm Up	1'39.918 Fabio Quartararo (See here)	1'40.139 Fabio Quartararo (See here)
Course	Marquez, Quartararo, Petrucci (See here)	Quartararo, Mir, Rins
All time lap record	1'38.680 Jorge Lorenzo 2018

fabio quartararo, ranked second in this Q2, signed a total of 20 first lines. The Niçois has already scored nine podiums, including two victories when starting at this level.

Valentino Rossi, the driver to have shone the most on this track, will occupy third position on the grid. You have to go back to the 2019 British Grand Prix to see him on the front row. 'Il Dottore' is also preparing to make his 350th start in the premier category.

On the other hand, the transalpine had not reached the Top 3 of the qualifications in Montmeló since 2009 and that year, he won. This is the second time this year that Yamaha has put three of its representatives on the front row, after the San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix.

Johann zarco qualified in sixth position. This is his best result in qualifying since this third time recorded in Styria where he was forced to start from the pitlane. The Frenchman had never ridden so well on a Saturday afternoon in Montmeló, or at least in the premier category.

Joan mir will try to snatch a third consecutive podium, which would be a great first for Suzuki since 2018 (four in a row, from Motegi to Valencia).

Andrea Dovizioso, current leader in the World Championship, will be 17th on the grid: the only time the Italian had done worse in MotoGP was at Brno this year (18th).

The drivers will have 24 laps to complete.

The wild animals are released and it is Morbidelli who comes out in the lead at the end of the first turn in front of Miller and Quartararo. Rossi passes the Frenchman.

Clash between Zarco and Dovizioso, Rossi gets the better of Miller, the Doctor is 2nd. Miller makes a gap which benefits Quartararo, Vinales is 14th.

Top5 after 1 lap: Morbidelli, Rossi, Quartararo, Miller and Mir.

The fall of Zarco and Dovizioso is due to Petrucci who missed and came to lean on the Frenchman.

Quartararo is making the effort to get back on Rossi, he will be in his saddle shortly. The best KTM rider is Pol Espargaro, he is 6th, Binder is in 11th place.

Fabio passes Rossi after 5 laps, he did not lose any time as was the case behind the KTM rider last week at Misano.

Counterattack from Rins who had passed through Pol Espargaro, he managed to regain 6th position.

Quartararo comes back to 2 tenths behind his teammate, he will launch an attack shortly... He passes and takes the lead of the operations.

Morbidelli, Rossi, Miller, Mir, Rins, Petrucci, Pol Espargaro, Binder and Bagnaia bring up the rear of the top10

Vinales can't do it, he is 15th.

Rossi begins to take away the two Petronas drivers, Morbidelli stays in contact with Fabio and thus puts pressure on him. Behind, Petrucci passes Pol Espargaro to gain 7th place.

Big ball from Morbidelli who fails to put on, Rossi takes 2nd position.

Pol Espargaro's fall in turn 1, Binder thus regains 8th position.

Rossi crashes in turn 2

Mir manages to get past Miller, he is now 3rd, he took advantage of an error from the Pramac driver. He gradually descends on Morbidelli with a view to 2nd position.

The top 10 is as follows with 7 laps to go: Quartararo, Morbidelli, Mir, Miller, Rins, Bagnaia, Petrucci, Nakagami, Binder and Vinales.

Oliveira falls in turn 2.

Rins is very fast on the track and is pressing behind Miller, he attacks and passes him, he is in 4th place.

9 tenths separate Rins from Mir, he can get back on his teammate in 3 laps and take the 3rd step of the podium, he must make the effort for that. Mir also returns to Morbidelli's wheel which he feels within his reach.

It's done, Mir applies heavy braking on Morbidelli and overtakes him.

He is 2nd. Rins attacks Morbidelli, he is 3rd.

The top5 is as follows with 1 lap to go: Quartararo, Mir, Rins, Morbidelli, Miller and Bagnaia. 

Victory for Quartararo ahead of Mir and Rins.

Ranking of the MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona:

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com