As the 2021 #SpanishGP got underway, it was Jack Miller who got the holeshot into the first corner. Franco Morbidelli made the most of his front row start, slotting into 2^nd, ahead of Francesco Bagnaia aboard his Ducati Lenovo machine. LCR Honda CASTROL’s Alex Marquez crashed out on the opening lap after struggling all weekend with set up issues. As the leading trio threatened to break away from the pack Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo appeared desperate to battle to the front.

As Quartararo stormed through the pack, on lap 6 he took the lead from Miller, stretching out a 1.091s gap, on his way to breaking the race lap record with a time of 1:37.770. After leading the race for 5 laps, disaster struck for Quartararo.  As arm pump began to affect his performance he slipped back into the clutches of Miller. The Ducati blasted past the Yamaha as Miller seized his opportunity to attack the championship leader and claw back crucial points. Quartararo’s woes continued as he dropped back through the pack, finding himself in 8^th on Lap 20.

By lap 18, Miller had managed to stretch out a 2.1s gap, ahead of his teammate Bagnaia. Bagnaia responded to this gap, beginning to reel Miller in.  As a Ducati battle loomed on the horizon the gap closed to 1.1s. Miller kept his cool, completing the most important 2 laps of his career so far, starting his last lap with a 1.2s lead. As Bagnaia and Morbidelli chased the Aussie down, it was Miller who would triumph for the first time since Assen 2016.

With Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martín missing the #SpanishGP through injury and Esponsorama Racing’s Enea Bastianini crashing out on the 10^th lap; it would be SKY VR46 Esponsorama Racing’s Luca Marini who took the accolade of Top Rookie, finishing 16^th.

As Miller becomes the first Ducati winner at the Circuito de Jerez Angel Nieto since 2006, and Bagnaia leaves the #SpanishGP as the championship leader, can Ducati carry this momentum forward to the #FrenchGP?