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The consistency at a high level has paid off for Joan Mir and Suzuki. The Spanish motorcycle racer secured the world title in the MotoGP premier category early Sunday. A week after his only win of the season, also in Valencia, the 23-year-old with his Suzuki was enough to clinch seventh place and succeed his injured compatriot Marc Márquez.
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. 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 his 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), who was 0.093 seconds behind, on the last lap. 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.
“I had to drive to the limit from the beginning”
All three KTM riders came out strong after a good qualifying. Pol Espargaró, who will transition from Marc Márquez to Honda as a teammate in 2021, finished third (+3,006) 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) and 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, that’s a lot of fun,” Motorsport Director Pit Beirer said on ServusTV. 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.”
Austrian top Maximilian Kofler retired from the Moto3 class on the first lap through no fault of his own. “When braking at turn eleven, another rider tried to overtake me on the inside, it was too late and I was already lying on the gravel. It was a completely unnecessary and over-motivated movement on his part,” said the KTM rider annoyed. (apa)
