Bagnaia was ahead of Joan Mir (Suzuki) and Jack Miller (Ducati) at the finish line, not crossed by Quartararo who fell at the end of the race.

This is the very first retirement for the Frenchman this season, assured of his first world title since the previous race in Italy.

This time, "Pecco" Bagnaia remained in the saddle: starting from pole position as in Italy a fortnight ago, he held firm at the forefront to win his third Grand Prix in five races, his third this season as well.

Italian rider Francesco Bagnaia, riding his Ducati, winner of the MotoGP Algarve Grand Prix, November 7, 2021 at the Portimao International Circuit (Portugal) PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA AFP

The Grand Prix was stopped two laps from the end due to an accident, albeit not serious, between Iker Lecuona (KTM-Tech3) and Miguel Oliveira (KTM).

Starting 7th, Quartararo never managed to recover and ended up falling on the 20th lap out of 25 scheduled.

Fortunately for the Frenchman, he is guaranteed to be world champion, at only 22 years old, since the fall of Bagnaia, his last rival for the title, in Misano.

"It's really frustrating, I was stuck. It's a race where I could have had fun and in the end it was more of a nightmare than anything else," responded Quartararo, who had no explanation to be given for his fall.

The French rider Fabio Quartararo, before the 3rd free practice session of the MotoGP Algarve Grand Prix, November 6, 2021 at the International Circuit of Portimao (Portugal) PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA AFP

Ducati constructors champion

Of course it's fictional, but if he hadn't fallen, Bagnaia would still be in a position to upset Quartararo in Valencia next week.

The driver confirms in any case that he will be a serious opponent for the title in 2022 and allows Ducati to win, as in 2020, the title among manufacturers.

Ducati riders, Italian Francesco Bagnaia, winner of the MotoGP Algarve Grand Prix, and his Australian teammate Jack Miller, 3rd, celebrate the constructors' world title on November 7, 2021 at the Portimao International Circuit (Portugal) PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA AFP

The other Frenchman Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac), 5th in the race and in the championship, won him the honorary title of best driver of an independent team.

On the roller coaster of the Portimao circuit and under the sun of the Algarve, Quartararo spent a weekend opposite the Portuguese Grand Prix, which he won here in April for the third round of the 'year.

The stakes were certainly not the same, the title now in his pocket, but the French, who is aiming for a sixth victory this season to finish in style, was powerless both in qualifying and in the race.

So this time it was the 24-year-old Italian who took off without a hitch to victory, even if Mir was on his heel when the red flag sealed the outcome of the GP.

Rossi, at a Grand Prix of the end

If Alex Marquez (Honda-LCR) finished 4th, it is another Marquez that we expected this weekend: his brother Marc, six-time MotoGP world champion and winner of the two previous races in the Americas and in Italy.

The Spaniard seemed to be back to his best level after a very long recovery from an injury in 2020, but he withdrew at the start of the week as a precaution, due to a concussion during off-road training.

In front of some 28,000 spectators, the other multiple active world champion, Valentino Rossi, finished in 13th place the penultimate Grand Prix of his rich career.

Italian rider Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), before the start of the MotoGP Algarve Grand Prix, November 7, 2021 at the Portimao International Circuit (Portugal) PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA AFP

The Italian with nine world titles, including seven in the premier class, will retire at 42 in Valencia next week.

The end of an era, and the beginning of another, with Quartararo as a new man to beat.

Not to mention the promising Spaniard Pedro Acosta, crowned world champion in the Moto3 category on Sunday in Portugal, at only 17 years old.

© 2021 AFP