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The consistency at a high level has paid off for Joan Mir and Suzuki. The Spanish rider yesterday won the world title in the top category of MotoGP. A week after his only win of the season, also in Valencia, a seventh place was enough for the 23-year-old to succeed his injured compatriot Marc Márquez (Honda).
Ahead of the season finale in Portimao, Portugal in a week, Mir, who was second and third three times, is unassailable 29 points ahead of Italian Franco Morbidelli, who celebrated his third win of the season. With him, Suzuki helped me win my first premier class title since Kenny Roberts (USA) in 2000.
The 2017 Moto3 World Champion is only contesting his second season in MotoGP and was overwhelmed by emotions. He does not know whether to cry or laugh, said the Mallorcan on ServusTV. “I can’t describe how I feel. I’ve fought for it all my life, now I’ve made my dream come true.”
Yamaha rider Morbidelli is completing his third and most successful MotoGP year to date. He took all three wins this year. On Sunday he countered an attack by Jack Miller (Aus / Ducati) on the last lap, which was just 0.093 seconds behind. The 25-year-old was a bit disappointed despite the victory. “Unfortunately we lost the World Cup.” Also three-time season winner Fabio Quartararo (Fra) was eliminated due to a crash.
KTM returns to the podium
All three KTM riders came out strong after a good qualifying. Pol Espargaró, who will transition from Márquez to Honda as a teammate in 2021, finished third (+3,006 seconds) on his fifth podium of the season. “I was not expecting the podium. I had to drive to the limit from the beginning and try to avoid mistakes,” explained the Spaniard. South African Brad Binder finished fifth with the second factory KTM (+4,127), Tech3 rider Miguel Oliveira (Por) finished sixth (+7,272).
The joy of leading the team was equally great. “We can regularly fight for the podium, which is a lot of fun,” said Motorsport Director Pit Beirer. Team Principal Mike Leitner congratulated the world champion team. “We know it was a tough road at Suzuki. We want to get there at some point.”
Maximilian Kofler (KTM / CIP-Greenpower) was out of luck. The 20-year-old Moto3 rider from Attnang-Puchheim retired on the first lap through no fault of his own after climbing up to 20. “When I braked at turn eleven another rider tried to overtake me on the inside, it was too late and I was already on the gravel. It was a completely unnecessary and highly motivated move on his part, “Kofler said.
