Oliveira’s dominance at his home Grand Prix was remarkable, winning by over three seconds ahead of Jack Miller and 2020 vice-champion Franco Morbidelli. Ducati gets crowned as this season’s MotoGP constructors’ champions. Crutchlow and Dovizioso said goodbye to competing in the highest class of motorbike racing.
By Daphne Seberich
Oliveira’s brilliant weekend assured his supremacy at the Autodromo de Portimão. His home Grand Prix proved to be a challenge for all the other drivers, struggling to keep up with the race pace of the Portuguese. Mir and Quartararo had disappointing performances. The Mallorcan retired after suffering some issues with the electronics of his Suzuki. The Frenchman dropped back from P5 to P14, confirming his inconsistency during the Sunday events, a considerable difference from his first half of the championship. Crutchlow and Dovizioso attested their expertise and experience, providing for exceptional performances for the last race of their careers.
Right from the get-go, Oliveira pulls away from the rest of the pack, slowly building his gap to 4.5 seconds ahead of the second-place Yamaha driver Morbidelli. His race pace was impressive, setting consistent fastest laps in 1:39.8. No one managed to come close to that time.
The Yamahas at the back of the field were struggling, especially Fabio Quartararo, battling it out with Zarco and Nakagami. His fight against the Japanese driver granted the audience some incredible action, racing against each other as if it was for the victory.
Like last week’s race, Morbidelli and Miller turned up the party for the fans at home, providing an exciting final lap for the runner-up position of the podium. This time, the Pramac Ducati biker came out on top, securing for Ducati their first MotoGP Constructor’s Championship after 2007, when they triumphed thanks to the efforts of Casey Stoner.
Now the fans have to wait until March 2021 to get all revved up for a new season of MotoGP. Will Marc Marquez be back? Has Joan Mir the chance of winning his second driver’s title? Only time will tell.
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