Petrucci wins 1st ‘French MotoGP’
PARIS, Oct 11, (AP): Italian rider Danilo Petrucci won the French MotoGP for the first time on Sunday, while Spaniard Alex Marquez finished second for his first podium in the absence of his illustrious older brother.
Spain’s Pol Espargaro finished third while championship leader Fabio Quartararo placed ninth but the Frenchman extended his lead over Spaniard Joan Mir to 10 points.
Six-time world champion Marc Marquez, who had won the past two editions, is not competing against his sibling since fracturing his right arm in the season-opening race.
The 24-year-old Alex started from 18th and the Honda rider made huge gains late on.
“The team did an incredible job, they were perfect and it is thanks to my teammates that now I still wear the Maglia Rosa (pink jersey),” Almeida said. “I’m also happy for my compatriot Guerreiro, he deserves the win!”
It was a difficult stage for the peloton. The route featured two secondcategory and two first-category climbs on a very wet and cold day.
“I’m really cold now but the victory is really warm for me,” said Guerreiro, who was visibly shaking in the post-race interviews.
The expected battle between the overall favorites never really materialized and the time gaps were small but Kelderman and Jakob Fuglsang managed to gain a few seconds on their main rivals.
The Giro has its first rest day on Monday before Tuesday’s 10th stage, an undulating 177-kilometer (110-mile) route from Lanciano to Tortoreto.
The race was rescheduled from its usual May slot because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Giro ends on Oct 25 with an individual time trial in Milan.