Red Bull KTM racer, Brad Binder, won the 2021 Austrian MotoGP race which was filled with a lot of drama. The 2021 Austrian MotoGP race has been completed at the Red Bull Ring Circuit on Sunday (15/8/2021).
Brad Binder became the winner after taking advantage of the momentum of changing motorbikes made by a number of riders. When the riders in the leading group changed motorbikes, Brad Binder managed to take first place and maintain his position until he touched the finish line.
He was ahead of Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) and Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) who finished second and third respectively. For Brad Binder, this is the second victory he has picked up during his career in the MotoGP premier class.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) actually had led this race, but fell in the last laps. Meanwhile, Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) who also took advantage of the momentum of changing motorbikes, managed to enter the top 10. The racer nicknamed The Doctor finished in eighth place
The course of the MotoGP race
Jorge Martin as the owner of the pole position started the race well. He managed to keep the pole position in the first two corners. Meanwhile, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) and Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) followed in second and third.
At the beginning of this race, the white flag was flown as a sign that the riders were allowed to change motorbikes due to changes in the weather. When entering Turn 3 of the Red Bull Ring Circuit, Jorge Martin was overtaken by Francesco Bagnaia.
Several position changes had occurred before Francesco Bagnaia took the lead until entering the second lap. The top five when the race entered the second lap were Bagnaia, Jorge Martin, Johann Zarco, Marc Marquez, and Fabio Quartararo. Furthermore, when entering the third lap, Johann Zarco recorded the fastest lap time, which was 1 minute 24.991 seconds. The record made Johann Zarco overtake Jorge Martin and took second place.
Quartararo who is in fifth position does not want to lose. He beat Zarco’s fastest lap record with a time of 1 minute 24.471 seconds. The note helped Quartararo to approach the leading group. A few laps later, Quartararo rose to fourth place, while Zarco actually dropped to fifth.
After that, when entering the seventh lap, Quartararo gave a surprise by overtaking two riders at once, namely Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin. Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin who tucked Quartararo then dropped to third and fourth positions. Meanwhile, Quartararo continued to approach the leading rider, Francesco Bagnaia. Shortly after, Quartararo had time to overtake Bagnaia on the eighth lap.
However, Bagnaia continued to lead the race. When the race left 15 laps, the three leading positions were occupied by Bagnaia, Quartararo, and Marc Marquez. There were no significant changes in the top five before entering the 19th lap.
On lap 19, Zarco crashed at Turn 9 and could not continue the race. This situation makes Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar) move up to fifth position. Then, on lap 20, Quartararo who was in second position widened at Turn 3 so that Marc Marquez overtook him. Marc Marquez continued to chase Bagnaia who was in the leading position. He had time to overtake on the 22nd lap, but Bagnaia regained his position.
After that, the competition between Marquez and Bagnaia became increasingly fierce, while Quartararo also loomed in third place. When the race left five laps, the distance of the three riders getting closer.
Meanwhile, there was a change in the middle group after Jack Miller decided to change the bike. When leaving four laps, changes also occurred in the leading group. Marc Marquez took the lead, while Bagnaia was overtaken by Quartararo and Jorge Martin.
Furthermore, the drama of the race became even more pronounced after the riders in the front row decided to change bikes. As they went into the pits, Brad Binder, Aleix Espargaro and Valentino Rossi took advantage by taking the top three.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez, who had led the race, actually fell when the race only had two laps left, shortly after he came out of the pit. On the last lap, Brad Binder and Aleix Espargaro still led the two leading positions. Rossi, who was in third place, dropped to eighth place.
It didn’t stop there, the drama continued until the last second. Instantly Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin rose to second and third positions. Their position did not change until they reached the finish line. Meanwhile, the first position was successfully occupied by Brad Binder.
