Fabio Quartararo regains MotoGP title lead following third victory of season at Catalunya

The Frenchman hit the front on lap nine and pulled a gap on his Petronas Yamaha team-mate and early race leader Franco Morbidelli with Valentino Rossi - who signed for the Petronas team for 2021 - third.

At the half-way stage of the race Quartararo was comfortable at the front but it was all changing behind him as Morbidelli ran wide at Turn 1 allowing Rossi, who was chasing his 200th podium, through to second.

The Italian looked in control in second until he lost the front at Turn 2 and crashed out of the race. This left Pramac Ducati’s Jack Miller now third behind Morbidelli but the Suzukis of Joan Mir and Alex Rins were on the move and closing fast on third place man Miller.

With two laps left Morbidelli ran wide at Turn 1 and Mir took his chance to move in to second with his team-mate Rins getting past Morbidelli for third, putting two Suzukis on the podium for the first time since the San Marino GP back in 2007. Morbidelli had to settle for fourth by the flag.

The battle for fifth between Pramac Ducati riders Jack Miller, Pecco Bagnaia and LCR Honda’s Taka Nakagami, went all the way to the finish. Miller just held off Bagnaia and Nakagami with 0.28 seconds covering them all at the chequered flag.

Andrea Dovizioso dropped to fourth in the title race after a first lap crash involving Johann Zarco.

Quartararo said: “I suffered over the last month never getting back on the podium since Jerez. It was not an easy time for me and I want to thank my family and everyone who helped me through a difficult time.

“I’m so happy to be in first position.”

Italian Luca Marini won the Moto2 race for the VR46 team, with Britain’s Sam Lowes taking second place.

South African Darryn Binder claimed his maiden Moto3 victory, while John McPhee crashed out as he battled for the lead.

The next round takes place at Le Mans in France from October 9-11.