Fabio Quartararo has become the 2021 MotoGP world champion with five laps to go in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after title rival Pecco Bagnaia crashed out of the race lead.
Bagnaia had looked set to take a substantial bite out of Quartararo’s 52-point championship lead as he led the race while his rival picked his way through from his disappointing 15th on the grid.
Fifth seemed to be the limit of Quartararo’s charge, while Bagnaia had begun to escape race-long rival Marc Marquez and was establishing a more comfortable lead.
But then Bagnaia lost control of his bike and slid into the gravel with five laps left, bringing his title hopes to an end.
GAME OVER!!! ❌@PeccoBagnaia CRASHES OUT OF THE LEAD! 😱#MatchPoint | #EmiliaRomagnaGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/cJn2vVwkec
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 24, 2021
Quartararo becomes the first French rider to win the premier class title, and does it in only his third season and first with the works Yamaha team.
The 22-year-old is Yamaha’s first title winner since Jorge Lorenzo in 2015.
He ultimately finished fourth in the race as Marquez led Pol Espargaro in a Honda 1-2 and Enea Bastianini grabbed the final podium spot from Quartararo – who been promoted by crashes for both Bagnaia and Miguel Oliveira – in the final moments.
