MotoGP British Grand Prix: Bagnaia wins and Viñales caresses an epic comeback

Johan Zarco crashed again when he was aiming to win a race, something that Bagnaia took advantage of to win the MotoGP British Grand Prix, followed by a spectacular Viñales and by Miller. From behind, Bastianini gave a real recital. Espargaró only lost one point to Quartararo.

After the summer break, the drivers resumed the championship with Fabio Quartaro leading with 172 points, followed by Aleix Espargaró with 151 points and Johann Zarco in third position with 114 points.

In the qualifying sessions the performances were different, with Zarco taking pole position, Viñales second, Miller third, Quartaro fourth (having to do a long lap) and Espargaró falling to sixth position, since he suffered a crash at 186 km /h in the FP4.

Quartararo got off to a good start, climbing straight into second position. Rins also managed to make the jump to fifth position, although a few corners later Maverick returned the overtaking.

‘El Diablo’ received the notice to be able to do the ‘long lap’ penalty, but at first he decided to endure it. The front group made up of three riders (Zarco, Quartararo and Miller) began to open a gap with respect to their immediate pursuers, thanks to Miller’s fast lap.

At 18 from the end, the Frenchman let the opportunity to comply with the penalty pass, leaving it for the last of the three laps in which he could do so. The fight was from behind, between Rins and Bagnaia for fourth place, and Martín lowered the fastest lap of the race again.

Zarco kept up the good pace, which, added to Quartararo’s long lap, allowed him to open a gap. The Frenchman would barely lose positions with the penalty, holding on to 5th place ahead of Viñales. Rins, already third, managed to lower the best lap time again to 16 from the end.

On the same lap Zarco crashed while in first position, and just two corners later a melee began between Miller and Rins, from which the Australian emerged victorious at first. Bagnaia ran third, Quartararo fourth and Viñales fifth.

The group of five, more compact than a lap before, saw how Martin approached in sixth place and Espargaró in seventh, a little further apart.

15 minutes from the end, Jorge Martin rose to fifth position, while Rins managed to lead the race. One lap later, the man from Madrid passed Quartararo, while the Ducati riders exchanged positions to put Bagnaia in second position.

With 13 laps remaining, Joan Mir passed Espargaró, while ahead Viñales tried again and again to overtake Quartararo, something he finally achieved when there were 12 to run.

Despite a tug from Rins, Bagnaia managed to hold on and got closer to the Spaniard lap after lap, until he was glued with half the race to go. From behind, Martin and Viñales were closing in on Miller. At 9, the Italian got the first place.

At 8 the end, Viñales overtook Martin and began to look for third position. At 7 Miller managed to overtake Rins and behind the leading quintet was compressed even more. Espargaró lost pace and dropped to ninth position. However, just after Mir, who was riding eighth, went down and regained the place.

Six from the checkered flag, Martin was fourth. On the next lap, Bastianini continued his comeback and attacked Quartararo, but only momentarily overtook him; while Oliveira overtook Espargaró to place eighth. A few corners later Bastiananini managed to get sixth.

With only 4 to go, first Maverick and then Martin passed Martin to battle each other for third place. Viñales was not satisfied and on the next lap he passed Miller, already second and with the first position on target, who was six tenths ahead.

In the penultimate Bastianini was fifth, Oliveira passed Quartararo and Viñales gave Bagnaia the first scare, but could not maintain first place.

On the last lap Maverick was long in two almost consecutive corners, leaving the Italian to open a gap and get a margin. Bastianini kept up the pace and managed to reach the final fourth place just two corners from the finish line.

The final classification was as follows:

1. bagnaia
2. Vinales
3. Miller
4. Bastianini
5. Martin
6. Oliveira
7. Rins
8. Quartararo
9. Espargaro
10. Bezzecchi