In two constant runs, both Pol Espargaro and Stefan Bradl scored points in Portugal.
The second visit to the MotoGP World Championship at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve was unfortunately canceled with two laps remaining due to an incident on the track. Fortunately, neither driver suffered any serious injuries.
Pol Espargaro started strongly from the second row on his Repsol Honda Team RC213V and moved up to fifth on the first lap. Unfortunately, the near contact with Iker Lecuona at the beginning of the second lap allowed both drivers to go far and forced Espargaro to step back from the leading group. From here it became a recreational race as Espargaro regularly kept pace with the leaders as he made his way through the field. With only a handful of laps remaining, Espargaro found himself back with Zarco, Martin and Quartararo and eventually overtook Martin just before the red flag.
Espargaro finished sixth when the red flag came out and, despite the early incident, turned his starting position into his ultimate racing position. After struggling and suffering a DNF during the final round in Portugal, the entire Espargaro weekend was evidence of his progress over the season. With a total of 100 points, Espargaro is now in tenth place in the MotoGP World Championship standings and only six points behind Viñales in ninth place with a single run to go.
Stefan Bradl’s Algarve GP race day continued the weekend’s theme: steady and constant progress. The German spent most of the 23-lap race battling for the final points with Rossi, Dovizioso and Marini. A 15th place continues Bradl’s streak of scoring in every race he has competed in.
The top Honda awards went to Alex Marquez, who fought for the podium with Jack Miller throughout the race, the LCR Honda rider who missed one last chance to attack due to the red flag. Marquez also finished the race as a Top Independent Team Rider and posted his best result of the season.
The next and last round of the MotoGP World Championship 2021 will take place next weekend in Valencia.