If you are a racing fanatic you know that most racing sports are team sports. Great drivers (or, god forbid, drivers) are great and definitely important, but they don’t do it all by themselves. While the 2021 MotoGP title race may culminate in Fabio Quartararo’s first championship win at the Emilia Romagna GP on October 24, that is far from the full story of the 2021 MotoGP season.
While all eyes were on the last two MotoGP races of 2021, the paddock drove to the Algarve circuit in Portimao, Portugal. Here Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia won the day, his Ducati team-mate Jack Miller also climbed onto the podium in third place. Ducati thus secured the third constructors’ world championship title of all time and the second in a row.
Interestingly, although the MotoGP calendar changes from year to year, the Algarve was also where Ducati clinched its second ever constructors’ world title in those dreary days of 2020 Don’t worry – it was 13 years ago, so it was until 2020 an uphill battle for the team, which it eventually defeated. Bagnaia’s victory also cemented his second place in the 2021 drivers’ championship, with one race still to be seen in the 2021 season.
“It is really a great pleasure to be able to win the Constructors’ World Championship again this year and I would like to thank our riders and all the men and women of Ducati Corse who have contributed to this incredible success,” said Ducati Corse General Manager Luigi Dall ‘Igna in a statement.
“We’re still a little disappointed with the drivers’ title because it was really within reach this year. Today, too, Pecco drove a perfect race and didn’t make the slightest mistake all weekend! It’s been a great season and he’s a great driver. Congratulations to Jack too! We are happy that he was finally able to get back on the podium after showing at the last Grand Prix that he can be fast, ”concluded Dall’Igna.
“I’m really happy! I would have liked to have finished the race under the checkered flag instead of the red flag, but it was still a breathtaking victory,” added Pecco Bagnaia.
“It was an incredible weekend and I enjoyed every single session. I felt incredibly comfortable right from the start. Everything was perfect and I’m happy for Ducati to have won the constructors’ title. We deserve it again! Congratulations to Jack on his third place on the podium. Now we’re going to Valencia, where we’ll try to finish this season with another great result, ”concluded Bagnaia.