Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) delivered the next masterpiece after a flawless performance at his home race in Le Mans. In this form, the fast man from Nice seems unbeatable at the moment.

Interesting reflections on the Italian Grand Prix

At some point even the last sceptics will believe us, the statistics rarely lie and are often helpful. After the “Ducati route” Losail, according to Paolo Ciabatti, many also spoke of such a fairy tale at Mugello. But it does not come true when many repeat it as if some of it were true. The supposed high-flyer Jack Miller, like the Italian Ducati manager, has also landed on the ground again after two victories in a row. The statistics also spoke against him, but this time it was more the wind that prevented him from getting a better result. Only this blew not only on the Australian, but also on his opponents. The following is the result of the 6th race of the season with a sobering record for Honda, but also Ducati in view of the advance laurels.

The lessons after the sixth round of the World Championship
It was almost confusing that, despite P6 in the interview, Jack Miller said he was in agreement. After all, the man has been described by many real and supposed experts as one of the most popular title favourites before the start of the season. Now, as in Losail, the statistics won again over thoughtless sayings and Misano also remains a Yamaha track, while no Ducati was represented on the podium in 2021. And as was to be expected, after only one point in the last 5 MotoGP races in Mugello, the Australian was now satisfied with 6th place. His teammate Bagnaia, on the other hand, produced the second crash after its premier in the premier class in the 2019 race. This means that points are only awarded when the chequered flag is crossed, and it was also valid in Mugello. While Bagnaia still has title chances, Nakagami, Rins and Marc Marquez have to say goodbye to this idea for good. This is the sober balance after the Italian GP.

Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) in front of the approaching Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati Racing) – as one of the most mentioned co-favorites, the Catalan is likely to be out of the race for the title, while the Frenchman, overlooked by almost all supposed experts, is one of the promising candidates and best Ducati driver for the third time in 6 races.

Fabio Quartararo and the Yamaha – a difficult combination to beat
Last year the Frenchman won three Grand Prix just like his Yamaha team-mate. For both of them it was the first victories in the premier class, but in the first Corona year with Joan Mir a driver won the title who had only brought one GP victory. Quite a few observers claimed, however, that it was a veritable gift from his team-mate Alex Rins, who had previously been the leader. This with the purpose that the world championship title should not get a flaw for his Catalan teammate, because otherwise without the glamour of at least a Grand Prix success. Such thoughts are alien to the French and his team, because last year, like vice world champion Morbido, he had lost the chance of the first world championship due to too many failures. After three wins and a fourth triumph that was only missed due to an injury, the Frenchman is deservedly World Cup leader.

Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM) before Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar), FIM stewards said they both had violated the track limits, but in the end neither of them was punished for doing so. As a result, Johann Zarco, who crossed the finish line behind it, suffered more and was not treated unfairly by the autocratic functionaries for the first time. Fabio Quartararo was also punished questionably in a similar case in Misano in 2020 and was relegated one position back.

Will Marc Marquez be the next tragic figure after Jorge Lorenzo?

In his last Grand Prix season, Jorge Lorenzo was almost exclusively about injuries and handicaps. The proud Mallorcan was only a shadow of himself at Repsol Honda. For his fans it was a shame to watch him in 2019, he looked almost fearful for a top driver on the factory Honda. The results were simply hair-raising bad for a work’s driver. Afterwards, he failed as a test driver for Yamaha, but the chubby guy has usually only reported negative headlines since then. As a “social media playboy”, the early retiree only became a living joke for many, which we find a shame in view of his athletic achievements.

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) after his third racing crash in a row after the French GP – this year’s season shows terrifying parallels with that of his team-mate Lorenzo in 2019. Often people only talk about physical problems and hardly any more about results.

Some frightening parallels can already be seen
There are now many indications that his last team-mate will find himself in a similar direction, at least in terms of his performance on the racetrack and on the fringes of the action. In the paddock, many are already calling him a stalker after he ambushed some of his colleagues in the last few laps that it was downright embarrassing given his previous achievements. With 16 World Cup points, the Catalan is only 18th in the interim standings. After two racing crashes in a row, it already seems like a declaration of bankruptcy. Some frightening parallels to Lorenzo can already be seen after more and more people only hear and read about physical infirmities instead of his sporting goals and achievements.

Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda) an interview before the last MotoGP race of his career – the Catalan was only a shadow of himself and ended up nineteenth in the World Championship. Marquez is currently only one position better in the intermediate ranking, who would have thought that before his comeback?

The World Championship stand – have Honda and KTM already eliminated?

At the moment it will be difficult to justify why a Honda or KTM driver should still make it this season. Tech 3 KTM team boss Hervé Poncharal may have been optimistic when he claimed in January 2021 that “KTM has a great future”. Angry tongues in the paddock said that this was more aimed at his wallet than on the sporting prospects as one of the oranges. It should not be forgotten that one of his drivers was the last winner at Mugello before a continuation in Tuscany two years later.

The reverse of careless defamation
An attack on Maverick Viñales was recently placed in a news portal operated by Red Bull, possibly to wipe out the arch enemy Monster Energy. The results of the Catalans were described as weak. Conversely, this possibly very careless defamation should ask the following question: Are the drivers from 7th place in the World Championship including all KTM and Honda drivers all wimpy? We don’t believe this because the Monster Energy Yamaha rider won the first race and only failed to make it into the top ten once, but scored points every time. Therefore, from an Austrian point of view, it is more the frustration of KTM’s bad start to the season that is behind such nonsense.

Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM) in pursuit of Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati Racing) – in Barcelona and at the Sachsenring, KTM first has to prove that Mugello’s soaring was not a flash in the pan.

Unless otherwise stated, this applies to all images (© MotoGP).