Spielberg bei Knittelfeld (Austria) (AFP)

A novice in the category, seriously injured at the start of the season, unfazed despite a red flag ... Spaniard Jorge Martin (Ducati-Pramac) overcame obstacles to win his first MotoGP race on Sunday at the Styrian Grand Prix, in Austria.

At the end of a GP interrupted by an impressive accident, the 23-year-old driver shares the podium with two big names: the Spaniard Joan Mir (Suzuki), reigning champion who is relaunched in the race for the crown, and the French Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha), which increases its lead at the top of the drivers' standings from 34 to 40 points.

In stands open to all spectators "vaccinated, tested or cured of Covid-19" but sparse, the second Frenchman Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac) ranks 6th and retains his 2nd place in the championship, 11 lengths ahead of Mir, new 3rd .

On a circuit, the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, which does not showcase his Yamaha, Quartararo ended relieved to have limited the damage against his competitors for the title.

"The best goal we could have was for the podium," said the 22-year-old driver.

Fabio Quartararo during the Styrian Grand Prix at the Spielberg circuit in Austria on August 8, 2021 Joe Klamar AFP

The announced rain did not finally fall and, uncomfortable in these conditions, "El Diablo" can only rejoice at the leniency of the weather.

- "Nice reward" -

The only direct rival of the Frenchman to have done better than him, Mir believes that he lacked "a few tenths in a lap to beat Jorge Martin" but, for him, the essential is elsewhere.

"This podium is important because Suzuki has worked a lot to bring new elements during the summer and our level of performance is finally better. It's a great reward," he said.

If this was the 10th round of the season, the first after returning from the summer break, it was only the 6th MotoGP race for Martin!

Jorge Martin during the Styrian Grand Prix at the Spielberg circuit in Austria, August 8, 2021 Joe Klamar AFP

The Spaniard, who arrived in the World in 2015 and crowned Moto3 in 2018, missed four GPs after a serious fall in Portugal in April.

Seven fractures and a major surgery later, he is back to the level that his start to the season had suggested.

In six events, Martin won two pole positions (in Doha and Styria) and two podiums (2nd in Doha, 1st in Styria).

What uninhibited the one who hardly dared to say on Saturday that he was aiming for a first success in the elite.

- "A big step towards my dream" -

"It's a big step towards my dream of becoming world champion," he now assures.

"I hope to do the same thing next week (again on the Red Bull Ring for the Austrian GP, ​​editor's note). It won't be easy but we have a little room for improvement. We will try to win", promises the Madrilenian.

We will also remember the 8th position of his compatriot Marc Marquez (Honda) and the 13th of veteran Italian Valentino Rossi (Yamaha-SRT), who announced Thursday that he will retire at the end of the season.

Shock image, at the start of the third lap, the Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, "wildcard" at KTM, fell at turn 3. Several competitors narrowly avoided him but Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia) crashed into his motorcycle.

The Italian slid off and his mount caught fire, also setting the KTM on fire.

The motorcycles of the Italian Lorenzo Savadori and the Spaniard Dani Pedrosa on fire after their accident at the start of the Styrian GP on August 8, 2021 JOE KLAMAR AFP

Out on a stretcher, Savadori limped back to his truck in the paddock.

Victim of a fractured right malleolus, he will be operated on with the aim of returning to Great Britain at the end of August.

Unlike the Italian, Pedrosa took the second start around 40 minutes later to finally finish 10th.

Not bad for someone who stopped competing at the end of 2018 and has been "only" test pilot for the Austrian brand ever since!

The safety of the Red Bull Ring - especially Turns 2 and 3 - is a concern after crashes last year which also caused race interruptions and could have had serious consequences.

© 2021 AFP