Championship points leader Joan Mir (Suzuki) took his first MotoGP victory earlier today at Valencia to give himself a commanding lead in the MotoGP championship. Suzuki finished with the top two spots on the podium as Alex Rins came home second, ahead of Pol Espargaro (KTM) in third.
With just two races remaining Mir has a 37 point lead in the championship series, courtesy of a disastrous day for all of the Yamaha pilots. Tied for second in points behind Mir are his teammate Rins and Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha).
You can find full race results here. For additional details, visit the official MotoGP site.
There has been some great racing this year. I really thought Fabio would have rode better than he has. My hats off to The Suzuki team they have really improved.
I’m looking forward to having Marc on the track again. The guy is a champion in every sense of the word. He rides at the edge and gets as much out of a bike as possible. His saves are incredible to watch. True champions are the ones that ride on the razors edge. They are all a little reckless as they move up through the ranks and learn as they go. That’s how they become multiple champions. Looking forward to next year.
if you think that you can win EVERY race, ya risk falling down to do so. mir knows that he CAN’T win every race, and seems to be riding accordingly/swiftly/safely. throwing a hail mary every play is a poor game plan. Saint Nicky won taking 2nds and 3rds when vale fell down…
It was a good race. Shame about Fabio. The kid has had a rough year, even with the 3 wins. Hopefully Marc will be back for Portimao, but haven’t seen/heard any news for a while.
Mir, Rins & Suzuki did a great job this season, and it looks like Mir has a good shot at wrapping up the title with just one more good race.
It looks like Marc will have some challengers next year, even though Mir is currently the only one with consistent results. Quartararo, Rins, Binder, & Vinales are the 4 top contenders for 2021 in my book, but there are others with potential, as well.
All said and done, there have been some good races, but the season has been pretty disappointing for me. I understand that many fans disagree with me.
I’d have to add Morbidelli, Nakagami, and Esparago to that list. The field is really deep!
Listen to and watch this video of MotoGP championship leader and Suzuki factory rider Joan Mir, discussing the difference between his “pressure” and what he says is the “real pressure” of someone struggling to put food on the table: https://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2020/11/08/mir-real-pressure-is-trying-to-put-food-on-the-table/355352?dtm_source=LINK%20&dtm_medium=Article&dtm_content=SuzukiTripleCrown%3F&dtm_campaign=Traffic
If Mir never wins another race, this statement alone places him above and beyond any other champion no matter how many trophies line their walls. I have never heard such loving, elegant and beautiful words from an athlete. Mir brings truth, charity, and dignity to the sport. Dorna, Suzuki and Mir’s parents can raise their heads with pride when mentioning Joan Mir’s name.
I have long thought that schools, streets and public buildings should be named after otherwise anonymous mothers and fathers (especially single) who sacrificed to raise their children.
Joan Mir is a great man, and mature beyond his years. I hope both his parents are alive and saw this.
I had similar thoughts. Very refreshing to hear this perspective from a young rider in the middle of a Championship battle.
I’m with y’all on the announcers. I could do with less chatter about the freakin’ tires, but other than that they’re the best.
So much drama this year. Alex Marquez finished every race, gets on the podium, then crashes out of the next two races. Nakagami gets pole a week ago and crashes out on like the second corner. Great to see him get a 4th and am hoping for a podium by year’s end. Binder was the fastest guy on the track after spending the last couple of weeks in the back. Once he figures out qualifying, look out. So great to see Mir, Rins, and Espargaro on the podium. What a season!!
I never stopped to think about the production quality. It is expected these days, but absolutely agree…this work is really amazing. Announcers are great, too.
Suzuki and KTM mobbing the top 5. Who would’ve believed that if you were told it last year?
Suzuki has already spent millions of dollars to win it all this year.
Would readers approve of Suzuki flying Kevin Schwantz and Kenny Roberts Jr. to the last 2 races, to share and combine their past and current glory if they win it all? Or would the presence of the last two Suzuki Champions diminish praise for the current team?
I’d love to see them both there. A highpoint was meeting Kevin and getting my photo taken with him.
Heck, I wonder if Dorna could even propose the idea to Suzuki, and behind the scenes offer to reimburse Suzuki for their expenses. Seeing Dorna’s current CEO shaking hands with those two guys would be awesome. I don’t want to jinx Suzuki, but winning again after a two decade absence is a pretty epic moment. And how cool that the last two “chaps” were Yankee!
I am pretty shocked only 6 posts after such an epic race weekend.
I actually cried at the end of this race. It is impossible to heap enough praise on the British announcers and the pro video coverage.
Fabio crashed the first lap, seeing his chances for a Championship almost evaporate into thin air; it’s amazing he picked it up and got IIRC one point. After the race, the camera crew shot Fabio, head in hand, an emotional wreck. One of the announcers sweetly and loudly said, “Get the camera out of his view,” while one of Fabio’s crew members blocked the camera with his body.
The scene changes to winner Mir’s unalloyed joy and elation. You could taste the emotions.
As a long time Suzuki fan, I could not help but cry simultaneous sadness for Fabio and joy for Mir and Suzuki.
If money is tight, get together with friends to chip in to buy MogoGP video coverage. You simply will not find better production quality anywhere for any sport IMO.
The slo-mo is beyond crystal clear; they must shoot 2k images per S. Watching these so-called “aliens” with both tires sliding through a corner at 100mph @ 53 degrees…if that does pay the entry fee I don’t know what will.
I could not be happier for Mir, Rins, and the entire Suzuki crew. It was great seeing Mir and Rins embrace, especially after one of the announcers seemed to indicate they were not close.
If Suzuki is not selling their blue and silver team shirts they need their heads examined. Gotta get one tonight.
Great post. I especially agree with and have been telling friends for years:
“You simply will not find better production quality anywhere for any sport IMO.”
Just watched “The Unrideables” on Amazon Prime – it’s not well written or edited, but good old footage from the Schwantz/Gardner/Rainey/Lawson/Spencer era. Worth the time, brought back fun memories.
Great ride by Mir, with perfect pass on Rins. He deserved a win this season. Great rides also by Rins and Espagaro.
Being American, the Announcer cracked me up when he said the Suzukis turn on a six pence.
(here we say turns on a dime)
Mir seems like a nice young man. Hope he and his Suzuki wins it all.
Bad day for Yamaha.
Dig.
PE175…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yTnd6_W8bM&ab_channel=TheMotocrossVault
Mir has a lot of paths to victory now. It’s not a done deal, but if either Quartararo or Rins gets two wins Mir still takes the championship if he gets a 3rd place (any podium in one race) and a DNF, or two 9th place finishes, or a 6th place and a 12th place finish.
If either Quartararo or Rins get a 1st place and a 2nd place, then Mir only needs a 7th and a DNF, or an 11th place and a 12th place.
And if either Quartararo or Rins gets a 1st place and a 3rd place, then Mir only needs an 11th and a DNF, or a 13th and a 14th.
If Mir DNFs both races (or doesn’t start them) Quartararo or Rins would need a win and at least a 4th, or two 2nd place finishes to pass Mir and win the championship.
Mir will be wanting the weather to cooperate so there’s no instability or unorthodox racing, and he’ll want to be doing everything he can to ensure he doesn’t test positive for Covid.
Well as a lifelong Suzuki fan (it was tribal as a kid in Oz in the 70s!) I would love them to take the title this year. And thier bikes are probably equal best looking, with the KTMs. The first bike I REALLY wanted to own was a PE175……