MISANO ADRIATICO, Italy – Fabio Quartararo locked up his first MotoGP championship Sunday following a fourth-place finish in the Gran Premio Nolan del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia-Romagna at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.
While Quartararo celebrated his first MotoGP title, Marc Marquez emerged as the race winner for the second-straight event.Â
Quartararo effectively locked up the championship when his main title rival, Francesco Bagnaia, crashed while leading the racing in turn 15 on lap 23. The crash dropped Bagnaia down the running order and handed the lead of the race and eventually the victory to Marquez.
With Bagnaia out of contention, all Quartararo needed to do was finish the race and that’s exactly what he did as he crossed the finish line fourth to officially claim the MotoGP title.
“I still can’t believe it. I can’t even talk. It feels amazing,” said Quartararo. “Maybe later I can talk a bit more. Right now, I’m living the dream. It feels good to also have my family with me, and we will enjoy this a lot tonight and until the end of the season.
“Of course this was not the way I wanted Pecco’s weekend to end, but I’m happy he’s okay. Now we are the World Champion. I have no words and I have no more liquid left in my body to cry. It feels so good, but I can’t even describe what I’m feeling right now. To be on the podium with a big part of my family and my family from the circuit – I have no words.Â
“MotoGP has been going on for quite a long time. To be the first Frenchman to win it is amazing. I’m also happy for Yamaha. Since 2015 they didn’t win a title, and today we won it again. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Behind Marquez, his teammate Pol Espargaro finished second to give Repsol Honda a sweep of the top-two positions. Enea Bastianini denied Quartararo a podium finish by passing him on the last lap, but Quartararo took home the big price with the MotoGP title instead.Â