MotoGP™ PREVIEW EMILIA ROMAGNA
It ’ s fair to say the 2021 MotoGP™ season has delivered on all fronts after 15 races . A fascinating title fight has developed between two new stars of the sport , 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 above all , the battle at the top of the championship has been fascinating . In many respects Fabio Quartararo has been the star of this year so far , winning five races in swashbuckling style to command a healthy 52-point lead over Francesco Bagnaia .
At times , Quartararo has been waving the Yamaha flag single-handedly against a Ducati onslaught , with Bagnaia and Johann Zarco producing their best MotoGP™ seasons to date . 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 muchimproved GP21 . With back-to-back wins at Aragon and Misano , Bagnaia has been the pick of them and is the only man who can stop Quartararo now .
There have been decent showings from reigning champion Joan Mir , too . We have only seen the best of the Ecstar Suzuki rider in flashes , with a wonderful display at the season opener in Qatar now a distant memory . And despite not being back to full fitness , Marquez has remained a threat and certain tracks , as evidenced by wins in Germany and Texas .
16 | MotoGP TM | Preview Emilia Romagna