Cataluna, unlike F1 races, it could give some interesting spectacles when the Bikes hit the circuit, today’s race wasn’t an exception. A close battle on race and a unexpected outcome marked this year’s Catalan GP

Race started with a enormous start from Miguel Oliveira, as the KTM bike has improved a lot since the testing on Jerez, the Portuguese rider was chased by Miller, Zarco, Quartararo, Aleix Espargaro, Viñales and Marquez. With the rest of the group being close on the first laps of the race.

Some laps later and Oliveira was still looking strong on the leas, as the main group started to cut off, with the KTM opening a 1’s gap from the 3-rider group of Mir, Quartararo and Miller. Zarco, Aleix Espargaro, Marc Marquez and Viñales were ahead of the 3rd group, trying to catch up with the leader group. Marc Marquez suffered a 3rd consecutive DNF after losing control of his bike while battling Aleix Espargaro; Which also fell of his bike some laps later.

Half of the race and Quartararo was slowly gaining on Oliveira, looking for a posible overtaking manouver, eventually the Frenchman catch up with the Portuguese rider and took the lead of the race, but the small group of Mir, Miller and Zarco did catch up with the leaders and the race became a battle of 5 riders.

Some laps later and the battle for the lead got intense, as Oliveira recovered the lead from Quartararo and started to push hard, as both riders separated once again from the leading group, meanwhile Miller, Mir and Zarco were fighting for the 3rd spot on the podium.

As the race was coming to an end, it was shown that Quartararo’s tyres were starting to suffer the consecuences of the hard battle with Oliveira, as the Yamaha was losing time compared with both Zarco and Miller, as the KTM could hold a little bit longer through the end.

Quartararo lose position with Zarco and eventually was penalized with one position as the Frenchman exceded track limits while defending against Miller. Both Ducati’s shared the podium with Miguel Oliveira, as the Portuguese rider gets his 2nd win on the category and a much needed back on track for the KTM team.

Race results:

1. Miguel Oliveira /// 2. Johann Zarco /// 3. Jack Miller
4. Fabio Quartararo /// 5. Joan Mir /// 6. Maverick Viñales
7. Francesco Bagnaia /// 8. Brad Binder /// 9. Franco Morbidelli
10. Enea Bastianini /// 11. Alex Marquez /// 12. Luca Marini
13. Takaaki Nakagami /// 14. Jorge Martin /// 15. Lorenzo Savadori

DNF: Iker Lecuona, Valentino Rossi, Aleix Espargaro, Marc Marquez, Danilo Petrucci and Pol Espargaro

Massive result for KTM and Oliveira as they are looking like a serious contenders after the Jerez test some weeks ago. Ducati closes the gap a little, as Quartararo keeps the championship leader for another week. Next stop is Germany, on the next week.