MotoGP: Espargaro leads Aprilia 1-2 after horror crash
Aleix Espargaro made history at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya as he led a historic Aprilia 1-2 over the line.
Teammate Maverick Viñales led for much of the race before being caught, stalked and then passed by his teammate, but it marked a milestone day for the Noale factory.
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) completed the podium after some solid pace for third.
Before that, drama on a first start saw a multiple-rider crash at Turn 1, right before a highside out the lead for reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team).
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) couldn’t avoid the #1 but after examination at the medical center and the General Hospital of Catalunya, Bagnaia was confirmed to have suffered no fractures in the incident.
Unfortunately, teammate Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) was found to have injured his hand and ankle in the Turn 1 crash, and he was penalized for his part in the incident too. Bagnaia’s highside and the incident at Turn 1 saw the Red Flag come out and the race restart with neither lining up on the grid.
Barcelona Race Results
Pos. | Rider | Team | Behind | Pts |
1 | 41A. Espargaro | Aprilia Racing | +0.000 | 25 |
2 | 12M. Viñales | Aprilia Racing | +0.377 | 20 |
3 | 89J. Martin | Prima Pramac Racing | +2.831 | 16 |
4 | 5J. Zarco | Prima Pramac Racing | +4.867 | 13 |
5 | 88M. Oliveira | CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team | +7.529 | 11 |
6 | 73A. Marquez | Gresini Racing MotoGP™ | +10.590 | 10 |
7 | 20F. Quartararo | Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ | +10.821 | 9 |
8 | 43J. Miller | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | +10.880 | 8 |
9 | 37A. Fernandez | GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 | +12.889 | 7 |
10 | 49F. Di Giannantonio | Gresini Racing MotoGP™ | +13.280 | 6 |
11 | 10L. Marini | Mooney VR46 Racing Team | +16.491 | 5 |
12 | 72M. Bezzecchi | Mooney VR46 Racing Team | +16.561 | 4 |
13 | 93M. Marquez | Repsol Honda Team | +21.616 | 3 |
14 | 21F. Morbidelli | Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ | +23.108 | 2 |
15 | 30T. Nakagami | LCR Honda | +26.740 | 1 |
16 | 27I. Lecuona | LCR Honda | +28.860 | 0 |
17 | 36J. Mir | Repsol Honda Team | +33.929 | 0 |
DNF | 25R. Fernandez | CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team | 10 laps | 0 |
DNF | 33B. Binder | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 3 laps | 0 |
DNF | 44P. Espargaro | GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 | 1 laps | 0 |
DNF | 23E. Bastianini | Ducati Lenovo Team | 0 | |
DNF | 1F. Bagnaia | Ducati Lenovo Team | 0 |