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MotoGP™
SEASON REVIEW SO FAR
It ’ s fair to say the 2021 MotoGP™ season has delivered on all fronts after eight races . A fascinating title fight is developing between a host of new names , while the racing has been as close and spectacular as ever . Four of the closest top 15 finishes in the history of the premier class have come in the months between March and June of this year . And the return and recovery of Marc Marquez after an absence of nine months has been box office viewing from the moment he made his return in Portugal .
But first of all , the title fight that is developing : Motorsport has never been so good for France as two of its riders prepare for a MotoGP™ championship battle that promises to go all the way . In many respects Fabio Quartararo has been the star of this year so far , winning three races in swashbuckling style to command a 22-point lead over countryman Johann Zarco . Quartararo has taken little time to adapt to Yamaha ’ s factory team , and has racked up five pole positions and two further podiums along the way .
At times , Quartararo has been waving the Yamaha flag single-handedly against a Ducati onslaught , with Zarco producing his best MotoGP™ to date , and appearing capable of going all the way . While a first premier class victory has proved elusive for the Pramac Ducati man , he has racked up four second places to date , and aside from a careless crash in Portugal , a number of other consistent finishes . Along with the factory team runners of Francesco Bagnaia , who has taken a massive step forward in performance this year , and Jack Miller , who scored his memorable first victories for the factory at Jerez and Le Mans , Ducati is well poised for an all-out attack on the championship with its much-improved GP21 .
There has been regular frustration for reigning World Champion Joan Mir . We have only seen the best of the Ecstar Suzuki rider in flashes , with a wonderful display at the season opener in Qatar
Season So Far | MotoGP TM | 15