Doha MotoGP 2021 Results: Quartararo Steals Victory, Zarco Tops The Standings

Monster Energy Yamaha team racer Fabio Quartararo celebrates after winning the Doha Grand Prix at the Losail Circuit, Qatar (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Fabio Quartararo stole victory at the Doha Grand Prix, Losail Circuit, Qatar on Sunday night, after breaking the efforts of rookie Jorge Martin who almost appeared dominant in the second series of MotoGP 2021.

Martin, who from pole position led the race, also had to swallow the bitter pill when overtaken by his Pramac Racing team-mate Johann Zarco, who maneuvered the final lap to finish runner-up for the second time in Qatar.

Nevertheless, the crew of the Ducati satellite team continued to celebrate finding that both riders were able to finish on the podium that day.

As for the Monster Energy Yamaha team, Quartararo's victory repeated the success of his teammate, Maverick Vinales, who won the opening session last weekend, bringing the Iwata factory team back to being king at the Losail Circuit.

Vinales was late warm at the start, and had slipped seven positions in P10 at the start of the race, although he was finally able to finish P5.

Martin seemed immovable and on the verge of winning his first MotoGP victory after appearing mighty to lead the race from the start.

However, who would have thought with five laps remaining, the Spaniard lost his position for the first time when Quartararo pushed forward after building up his pace following a poor start.

The French racer was able to maintain his tires well to dash away from his rivals to finish 1.457 seconds ahead of his compatriot, according to the official MotoGP page.

After two runners-up results, Zarco temporarily leads the riders' standings with 40 points, narrowly ahead of Quartararo and Vinales who both have 36 points.

Alex Rins had to miss a chance to finish on the podium following Quartararo's late attack. The Suzuki Ecstar rider secured points in P4, while his teammate, defending world champion Joan Mir, finished fourth.

Entering the second half of the race, Ducati found four riders in the top five after Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller launched attacks.

However, Miller was frustrated by Mir after the two of them were involved in two bumps so that both riders lost several positions and missed opportunities to fight in the top three.

Bagnaia made a fatal mistake as he went wide around the corner, knocked out of the race for the podium, and finished P6, while Miller was quite disappointed in P9, one position behind Brad Binder of the KTM Factory Racing team.

The Doha Grand Prix is the second consecutive race in Qatar as the season opener.

Eight-time world champion Marc Marquez is still recovering from a humerus injury and his seat in the Repsol Honda team is temporarily occupied by test rider Stefan Bradl.

Marquez will undergo further medical tests ahead of the third series which will take place in Portimao, Portugal on April 16-18.