The reigning world champion, who started in third position on the grid in the Catalan furnace, made an excellent start and took the lead in the race from the first laps.

He then gradually widened the gap to win on the handlebars of his Yamaha with more than 6 seconds ahead of the competition.

"I felt good from the start, I knew I wanted to be first in the first corner (...), I'm so happy, it's great to see all the fans here", reacted the Frenchman to the outcome of the race, in front of an audience of tricolor supporters who came in large numbers this weekend in Catalonia.

Behind, the Ducati-Pramacs of the Spaniard Jorge Martin and the second Frenchman on the grid Johann Zarco accompany him on the podium.

Zarco notably took advantage of a blunder from Espargaro (Aprilia), who believed the race was over with one lap to go when a place on the podium was promised to him, to steal third position.

"I first thought he had a mechanical problem, but then I understood that he was greeting the public," said the Cannes native, who thought he would fail at the foot of the podium. .

Frenchman Fabio Quartararo, winner of the Catalan motorcycle GP, June 5, 2022 LLUIS GENE AFP

At the end of the 9th round of the season, Quartararo has 147 points in the championship, against 125 points for Espargaro, who will finally finish 5th in the race.

"I am sorry"

For Espargaro, this race was to be "his" GP and victory was already in his hands.

The native of Granollers, a town located a few kilometers from the circuit, was clear until the start of the race.

Dominating since the start of the weekend, the Catalan, who started on pole, had even offered himself two track records the day before – first during the third free practice session on Saturday morning, before improving it in qualifications.

Although he quickly conceded first place in the race to his rival Quartararo, the Aprilia rider fought a good battle for second place against Jorge Martin.

Until this podium celebrated a little too early on the circuit of Barcelona-Catalonia.

"I made a terrible mistake (...), I'm sorry", said the one who grew up not far from the track, from where he heard the engines roar from his playground when he was younger.

In Moto2, the Italian Celestino Vietti (VR46) managed to snatch his third victory of the season in the final lap of the event.

He took the lead in the championship against the Japanese Ai Ogura (Honda), 7th, with whom he was tied.

Sixteen points now separate the two drivers.

In Moto3, the victory went to Spaniard Izan Guevara (Gasgas).

He retains second place in the championship, six points behind his compatriot and teammate Sergio Garcia, who fails in Catalonia at the foot of the podium.

© 2022 AFP