Wow! A strange way to begin a race report, I know, but what happened at Portimao today was quite remarkable.
Miguel Olivera (KTM) won the race by leading from his pole position on the grid through the first corner and right to the checkered flag. The pace Olivera set was almost mind boggling. It is put in perspective by the battle over second place between Jack Miller (Ducati) and Franco Morbidelli (Yamaha).
Morbidelli and Miller themselves blitzed the remainder of the field with a stupendous rhythm that saw them achieve a more than 9 second gap to 4th place Pol Espargaro (KTM) at the finish. But Olivera was in another league, altogether, compared to these two.
Olivera had a 3 second lead over second place after just a few laps, which he built to more than 5 seconds before backing off to cruise to the flag (where his gap was more than 3 seconds). A remarkable performance in front of his family in his home country of Portugal.
So the 2020 MotoGP series comes to an end. Although the championship was decided in the prior round (Joan Mir, Suzuki, is champ), second place in the championship was decided today in favor of Morbidelli.
You can find full race results here. For additional details, visit the official MotoGP site.
Weird year, although I’m glad we had something to watch. Congrats to Mir and Suzuki, and to KTM for the progress they have both made. Now we need Aprilia to get competitive and win something.
Congrats to Olivera on a superb ride. And to Miller and Morbidelli on another great dog fight.
Reading a bunch of reports, I don’t know how Vinales keeps his ride bad mouthing Yamaha like he does and has for years now. He’s all chipper when he’s fastest in practice but as soon as he bombs on race day, the Yamaha is a piece of crap and the company won’t listen to him. I think he should go help Aprilia lol.
“Reading a bunch of reports, I don’t know how Vinales keeps his ride bad mouthing Yamaha like he does and has for years now. He’s all chipper when he’s fastest in practice but as soon as he bombs on race day, the Yamaha is a piece of crap and the company won’t listen to him. I think he should go help Aprilia lol.”
_my sentiments exactly…but i’ll play the devil’s advocate…
_*being a huge MM fan I was keenly aware of MV’s arrival on the MotoGP as I ‘initially’ thought…oh oh, MMs really got some stiff competition now. All those ripping free practices and pole positions and then race day….where is MV?
It all just got worse after year one and two.
_So…why does yamaha keep MV if the lack of points on race day is entirely his fault?
I think Franko’s bun would fit nicely onto MV’s M1.
I thought the season would have been Yamaha’s to loose, and they did. I thought Ducati would have been at their heels, they seemed as lost as Yamaha? As soon a Quartararo was brought up to top level tier 1 bike like Rossi’s, he too got lost? As said by others already, the fastest bikes were last years, all around. Are the big factories so proud, they cant go back to their old machines? With Marquez gone, I thought it was open for Rossi, Dovi, Vinales, Quartararo, Patrucci, maybe even Crutchlow? Instead, all the second level teams were the only ones it seemed, to have figured out “how to make the bike work”, with the new Michilen rear tire, that has “too much grip”. Maybe Rossi, next year, might have the opportunity to use whatever, and be on Quartararo’s old machine, but who knows. Everyone it seems, except the second level teams, seem lost on how to set up the bike, and a few races ago, when Quartararo went from pole to 12th or so, because “he had too much air in the front tire”, how sensitive are the bikes these days? and can Marquez get healed up for next year? what a wild year, I could not have guessed the big names would have floundered as they did.
What the hell does “pace” mean?
Pace is the speed you settle into on any race that is not a fairly short sprint. Yesterday Olivera, on hard tires, settled into lap times that the others could not match. He had a faster “pace”.
The same could be said for Morbidelli and Miller. But for Olivera, they had a faster “pace” than the rest of the guys could match.
where did people go to school? what did they learn, if anything? how long ago did you move away from your mom? say thank you to Mick, for holding your hand.
I thought the season was a mess.Best rider is out, runner up for last 3 years is a distant 4th and is let go. Satellite teams often doing better then factory teams. Everyone seemed to be lost quite often Which let the one who was least lost take the championship.
I have to wonder if it’s better to use the same bike for 2 years instead of a new one every year. There’s valuable data from the first season that can be used to do a better setup the 2nd season. With all the miniscule chassis changes, fuel tank and seat position movements and swingarm prototypes, they’re figuring out each track all over again. Then, the factory test riders can work on a new GP bike and help get it right over a 2 year period instead of hastily doing it in 1. Perhaps that is why the satellite teams were surprisingly good. Or that young blood hasn’t realized their own mortality yet and is still riding the razor’s edge.
The season was not a mess. It was great. Great racing. It was unpredictable with lots of new names at the top claiming prizes. Underdogs and new manufacturers were all stepping up with inspired programs and performances. Who cares that last year’s top riders were out of the hunt. That’s why they call it a “competition” and NOT an “exhibition”!
I never thought I wouldn’t miss Marquez, but his absence made this a more entertaining shortened season. Glad to see so many riders on the podium and bikes in the mix. Great season.
Was a great season despite that pandemic thing. But accolades especially to KTM for their win! It’s been a fairly long road for them, but it appears KTM got the bikes hauling and handling great now. I’m sure we’ll see more of KTM up front next year.
Three seasons is not such a long road IMO, and KTM made amazing progress this year. Last year at this time, many were saying KTM should cash in their chips and go home. Those were typically the same people who failed to notice or acknowledge the determination KTM showed in becoming a major player in motocross and off-road.
Zarco has to be kicking himself but how could he have known?
During the race the commentators reminded us that in nearly 20 years with Yamaha, Tech3 never managed a MotoGP win. With KTM they’ve accomplished 2 this year. I believed they’d get there, I never though it’d be so fast.
What an incredible ride by Oliveira. Both Miller and Morbidelli commented on Oliveira’s incredible pace.
Bizarre end to the season for Team Suzuki.
Anyhow, most entertaining MotoGP season ever. Thanks to all the riders and teams and commentators for the spectacular show.
What he said ^
Agreed. First season I’ve enjoyed in a very long time.
I consider myself lucky to have witnessed over a few decades or so the presence of a dominant force in a generation of riders. But while we can watch in awe just how great they are in comparison to the rest of the field, it’s definitely more fun to not know how a season will end before it starts.
For these youngsters populating the top step and podium this season, it’s been great for them to get their legs and find their place in the field. I wonder if they’d have done this well had Marquez still been there. But the training they got this year will definitely make it harder for Marc to dominate next season. The kiddos may actually make his life miserable. Perhaps Marc’s reign of terror will end and a new era will ensue where it’s as unpredictable as any moto3 race.
I’d prefer to watch MM dominate, and be amazed at his incredible riding ability. If anything it might help the other riders push their ability and hopefully improve their riding skills to keep up.
Fabio was a big disappointment I got tired of the commentators talk so much about a rider that couldn’t stay in the top ten. He got the bike he wanted but he don’t have the ability to ride it.
Thanks to KTM, and Suzuki for giving us something to watch this year. Jack Miller showed how much heart he has he at least tried none of the other Ducati riders showed up.
I like Rossi and what he has achieved as a rider but all he is there for now is to fill the seats in the grandstands (when they open again) and sell hats, and shirts.
The video coverage is excellent they do an incredible job presenting the racing. The commentators can get a little old when they get fixated on one or two riders who can’t seem to get in the top five, or ten.
Looking forward to next year.
I agree with everything you’ve said. This sport makes one want to wish away time.
No question MM’s presence is what makes GP the pinnacle. I’ve learned a lot watching him as I have from others like him in the past. Just not talented enough to do what I’ve learned from him. And the youngsters will undoubtedly get better following him around.
I guess my point is that the youngsters in their 1st and 2nd season didn’t have as much pressure because of the presence of fans being a distraction, less travel time or trying to measure up to MM. That alone allowed them to find their rhythm amongst their peers and really become one with the bikes they are piloting without those added pressures. I think this more relaxed situation allowed them to grow into better riders for an even more competitive next season. I really think they will be piling on the pressure on MM.
And I don’t think for a minute the MM is at a disadvantage of being out for so long. I know he’s that good that he can climb back on and it will be like he never took a break. I’ll bet he’s disappointed that he missed riding Portugal. He’d have been exciting to watch there.
I don’t know about Yamaha next year. Engine development was frozen to save costs because of the pandemic. I’m not sure how much chassis development and testing they can do, especially since there was no test after the last race and the 1st test isn’t till February. They may be in the shit again.
“ I like Rossi and what he has achieved as a rider but all he is there for now is to fill the seats in the grandstands (when they open again) ”
That’s the only job that counts. When he retires, almost everyone gets a pay-cut.
@Bob, engine development is always frozen in season. Nothing to do wih he pandemic. Only concessions teams can continue engine development to catch up. I believe Aprilia is the only team with that benefit.
Engine development was frozen this year and next, on and off season, due to the pandemic. Nobody, including Aprilia, can advance them, if I’m not mistaken.
Yamaha, in theory, can’t correct their engine issue for next year.