MotoGP: French double in Portugal, Quartararo, winner, takes the lead in the championship

Superb tricolor double in Portimão.

Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) easily won the Portuguese MotoGP Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of his compatriot Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac).

The first thus takes the lead in the World Championship on equal points with the Spaniard Alex Rins (Suzuki) who finished 4th.

Quartararo dominated the race head and shoulders, finishing more than 5 seconds ahead of Zarco, who started from pole position.

His compatriot took advantage of the clash between Spaniard Joan Mir (Suzuki) and Australian Jack Miller (Ducati) as the three riders fought for 2nd place.

Magnificent victory as boss of Fabio Quartararo and Zarco second #PortugalGP 🇵🇹 #MotoGP

▶: https://t.co/Q9uXtTYtRy pic.twitter.com/x7dJPXrpSG

— CANAL+ MotoGP™ (@CanalplusMotoGP) April 24, 2022

“I was impressed by Fabio.

He is so fast.

I tried to follow him but failed.

This second place is very important, ”rejoiced Zarco, now 5th overall, at the microphone of Canal +.

A taste of revenge

For Quartararo, this success has a taste of revenge on a complicated start to the season.

At the foot of the wall after a single podium (2nd in Indonesia) in four races, and a provisional 5th place in the general classification of the drivers, some doubts were beginning to appear.

His machine indeed suffers from an obvious lack of power, with a peak speed that makes 10 to 15 kilometers per hour for Suzuki, Ducati, and Honda.

The layout of the tests is therefore very important.

Here in Portugal, he was able to show off his riding technique on a more twisty course with fewer straights.