Sunday saw Fabio Quartararo strengthen his top standing with a win on the Mugello Circuit. This is the Frenchman's third win of the season after also securing the top spot at Losail and Algarve earlier in the year. The hard-won victory now extends his lead by 24 points ahead of second-ranked Pramac Racing’s Johann Zarco.
Quartararo wears a Scorpion Helmets
Riding for Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, Quartararo put in a good showing, maintaining much of the lead after starting in pole position and doing well in keeping Ducati Lenovo Team rider Francesco Bagnaia at bay. Bagnaia however crashed out on Lap 2, as did Marc Marquez in Lap 3. The crash caused Bagnaia to slip to third position in the standings, just two points behind Zarco
From then on Quartararo battled it out with Zarco, managing to dominate the lead from lap 5. Zarco was left to contend with KTM’s Miguel Oliveira and Suzuki’s Joan Mir, who despite both having been found to exceed track limits were penalized, still managed to secure podium positions, taking second and third place respectively. Zarco who was just a second behind eventually finished the race in fourth place.
Despite emerging victorious, it was a bittersweet win for Quartararo who honoured the loss of Swiss Moto3 competitor Jason Dupasquier. The rider, aged just 19 years, was hospitalized the day before following a devastating crash during a qualifying race.
His death from injuries was announced the following day, shortly before the MotoGP competition, with a minute’s silence held before the race. Quartararo waved the Swiss flag in Dupasquier’s honour while on the podium, and made a stop at the scene of his accident after his win to gesture upwards at the sky.
Focus now shifts to the Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona, with the MotoGP race set for June 6.
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