Second at Misano ‘my best’ result of the season - Quartararo

Fabio Quartararo narrowly missed out on a sixth MotoGP win of 2021 after finishing second to title rival Francesco Bagnaia at Misano. 

Quartararo’s race consisted of several battles with different Ducati riders as he first faced intense pressure from Jorge Martin. 

The pair exchanged third spot three times in the space of one lap early on before the Pramac rider crashed on lap three at turn 14. 

Quartararo, who was on the medium rear tyre compared to the soft of both factory Ducati’s ahead of him, began closing in on Jack Miller around mid-race distance. 

The Australian had severe tyre drop off as Quartararo came through in turn six - the same corner he had hoped to get past Bagnaia once he caught the Italian late on. 

However, Bagnaia was ‘much stronger’ in that part of the track which made it impossible for the Yamaha rider to get a real opening.

Instead, Quartararo had to settle for second, a result he believes is his 'best' this season despite five wins already. 

Speaking after the race, Quartararo said: "I think it is my best (race) to be honest. Of course, a victory is totally different but I think it’s the first time that I’m that happy for second place. 

"Not because of the championship, but I gave everything. Also in the beginning with Jack [Miller], Martin, I was fighting against them like it was the last lap. 

"I overtook Jack in a place that I never expected to overtake someone. On the last lap I was a little bit too far from Pecco [Bagnaia] because turn four and five Pecco was much stronger than Jack and I wanted to overtake in turn six, but I was too far and I had quite a lot of spinning. 

"In sector three I told him (Bagnaia) that he was like a time attack on the last lap of the race. 

"The lean angle he had in turn 12; I said ‘okay, I think it’s the moment to stay calm’, but it was a really nice race. It was the one I enjoyed the most."