With just two races left in the pandemic shortened 2020 MotoGP season, Team Ecstar Suzuki made it an emphatic one-two victory at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. Taking his maiden MotoGP victory, Joan Mir gained 37 point lead in the MotoGP World Championship, leaving him just having to win one of the two remaining races to clinch the title.
Following close behind to finish second was team mate Alex Rins, who was passed by Mir, then proceeded to fight off a challenge from Pol Espargaro of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing who finished third. The last time Suzuki had a one-two finish was back in the 500 cc World Championship days with a double finish by Randy Mamola and Virginio Ferrari in 1982, racing at Hockenheim, Germany.
It was a tragic for Fabio Quartaro of Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team, who lowsided early in the race and putting paid to his world championship ambitions for 2020. However, team mate Frankie Morbidelli stands fifth in the MotoGP riders standings with his eleventh place finish.
Making up for his unfortunate crash in Tereul two weeks ago where he started on pole, Takaaki Nakagami of LCR Honda finished in fourth place, followed by Miguel Oliveira of Red Bull KTM Tech 3 in fifth. Fan favourite Valentino Rossi of Monster Energy Yamaha Racing who was benched after testing positive for Covid-19 returned to racing for this round but crashed out.
Racing continues next weekend for the Valencia Grand Prix with Mir being the favourite to win the race and the world title with 162 points. Challenges come from Fabio Quartararo and Wins, tied with 125 points and needing to win both remaining races for a chance at the championship.
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- JOAN MIR SPA TEAM SUZUKI ECSTAR SUZUKI MotoGP GP Europa 2020 (Circuit Valencia) 06-08.11.2020 photo: MICHELIN
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- FABIO QUARTARARO FRA PETRONAS YAMAHA SRT YAMAHA MotoGP GP Europa 2020 (Circuit Valencia) 06-08.11.2020 photo: MICHELIN
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- TAKAAKI NAKAGAMI JPN LCR HONDA IDEMITSU HONDA MotoGP GP Europa 2020 (Circuit Valencia) 06-08.11.2020 photo: MICHELIN
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- DANILO PETRUCCI ITA DUCATI TEAM DUCATI MotoGP GP Europa 2020 (Circuit Valencia) 06-08.11.2020 photo: MICHELIN
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- JOHANN ZARCO FRA REALE AVINTIA RACING DUCATI MotoGP GP Europa 2020 (Circuit Valencia) 06-08.11.2020 photo: MICHELIN
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- JOAN MIR SPA TEAM SUZUKI ECSTAR SUZUKI MotoGP GP Europa 2020 (Circuit Valencia) 06-08.11.2020 photo: MICHELIN
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- JOAN MIR SPA TEAM SUZUKI ECSTAR SUZUKI MotoGP GP Europa 2020 (Circuit Valencia) 06-08.11.2020 photo: MICHELIN
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Sure, right when they got pole position in the championship Petronas team got docked massive points for something they didn’t do. With 2 races left, if they could regain the lead no doubts there will be another sudden penalty awaiting them at the finishing line. Petronas forgot to follow script and let the senior teams take the win. They must suffer for this outrage.
very interesting point
back in those days, still remember intense boiling rivalry btw Randy Mamola and Wayne Rainey.
satellite + asian + new team
big no no to upset the order
In F1, when a team tampers with the engine only that team will take the hit, not the engine manufacturer (unless proven it comes from them) and certainly not the engine customer teams. Even then, race engines are tagged and locked until use and any changes must be registered with F1 technical committee beforehand. The way MotoGP hands such wide ranging punishment for indirect infringement is very suspicious to say the least.
another 20 pts from Mir in the final 2 races will clinch him the first title of the second decade of the millenium. congrats Suzuki.
great
heard rumour 2022 Petronas SRT team will parted with Yamaha and most likely will be under Suzuki wing
Is there a complot not to let Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team (Non factory team) win the championship?
Valentino Rossi didn’t crashed out, just mechanical failure