Red Bull KTM charted yet more significant MotoGP progress at the Gran Premio Octo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini in Italy as Pol Espargaro scored 7th position after launching from the second slot on the grid, and Johann Zarco took 11th for his second highest classification of the season.
The second visit to the Italian mainland in 2019 MotoGP drew the series to the flat and demanding asphalt of the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Typical sunshine and high summer temperatures graced the weekend.
Red Bull KTM were eager for the twenty-seven lap race – their 51st in MotoGP – to begin with Pol Espargaro stationed into 2nd place on the grid (the team’s best qualification and a half-second improvement on 2018) and Johann Zarco in 11th (the Frenchman’s highest dry ranking so far) despite the former world champion suffering a fast crash in morning warm-up.
Espargaro blasted into the top five in the opening stages and lost two positions to multiple GP winners this term Andrea Dovizioso and Alex Rins and also local hero Valentino Rossi. When Rins crashed out Espargaro maintained a solid pace to the chequered flag to bank 7th and 7 championship points. It was the seventh top ten classification of the year for the Spaniard. Johann Zarco endured the distance to bring his No.5 RC16 home in 11th.
Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Miguel Oliveira crashed on lap 9 but the Portuguese was able to remount and rejoin the race. Despite a sore right shoulder as a result of his blameless accident at Silverstone three weeks ago, the Portuguese reached the flag in 16th, just one position behind teammate Hafizh Syahrin who grabbed points for the fourth time in 2019.
MotoGP gathers together in a matter of days for the Gran Premio Michelin de Aragon at MotorLand in Spain.
Results Race MotoGP Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli 2019
- Marc Marquez (ESP), Honda 42:25.163
- Fabio Quartararo (FRA), Yamaha +0.903
- Maverick Viñales (ESP), Yamaha +1.636
- Valentino Rossi (ITA), Yamaha +12.660
- Franco Morbidelli (ITA), Yamaha +12.774
- Pol Espargaro (ESP), Red Bull KTM + 20.050
- Johann Zarco (FRA), Red Bull KTM +32.388
- Hafizh Syahrin (MYS), Red Bull KTM Tech3 +1.02.280
- Miguel Oliveira (POR), Red Bull KTM Tech3 +1.07.831