Editorial Note: Watch a recording of the #StayAtHomeGP HERE!

V for… virtual! Alex Marquez wins the first ever MotoGP™ Virtual Race

The Repsol Honda rider takes the spoils as drama hits early for Quartararo and Viñales

Sunday, 29 March 2020

Repsol Honda Team’s Alex Marquez managed to avoid the chaos around him to clinch an impressive victory on his MotoGP™ debut in Sunday’s first ever Virtual MotoGP™ Race. The inaugural #StayAtHomeGP was filled with thrills and spills as ten MotoGP™ riders put on a show to bring a little light relief and entertainment to a tougher time for many MotoGP™ fans around the world – with more than twenty households connected up behind-the-scenes to make it a reality.

Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabio Quartararo started the race from familiar territory after the Frenchman stormed to pole position in the five-minute qualifying session that preceded the race, a quarter of a second clear of Pramac Racing’s Francesco Bagnaia and over half a second clear of Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Viñales, who completed the front row.

It was then drama from the off as the lights went out, with polesitter Quartararo alongside Viñales, Alex Marquez and Bagnaia on the run into San Donato and the holeshot anyon’e guess. It was Quartararo who ultimately emerged ahead but he was clearly too late on the brakes when the front-end of his Yamaha M1 washed out from beneath him, incredibly and unfortunately taking out 2021 teammate Viñales in the process.

Alex Marquez and Bagnaia avoided the incident and were able to break clear, with reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) settling into third place after an attempted lunge up the inside by Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir. Further back, Quartararo was fighting back through the field after his spill, up to fifth after getting the better of Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and the rookie highsiding in spectacular style whilst trying to get back ahead of the Frenchman…

As the leading two crossed the start-finish line at the end of the opening lap there was absolutely nothing between them, having already swapped places, and paint, a good few times. Bagnaia would once again dive past Alex Marquez into Turn 1, but the Spaniard responded immediately after as the Italian ran wide.

Meanwhile, chaos was breaking out behind the leading two. Mir was the first to crash out after getting an almighty shunt from his teammate Rins, of all people, and Quartararo wasn’t too far behind, tucking the front at Turn 1 for the second lap in a row. However, the Frenchman respawned on track… before Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) then rode straight into him and the pair crashed out, dropping the polesitter even further down the order.

Onto Lap 3 and Alex Marquez was beginning to edge further and further clear of Bagnaia at the front, with the gap starting to stretch to over half a second. The Pramac rider wasn’t throwing in the towel just yet, however. Just behind them, Viñales was recovering well from his earlier incident and had Marc Marquez in his sights after taking advantage of a mistake from Rins to take fourth.

Alas, Viñales then crashed out after braking too late into Correntaio and running into the gravel trap, the factory Yamaha rider visibly annoyed at himself as he slapped his controller in fury. Seconds later though, Marc Marquez would have a crash of his own, allowing Viñales to blast back ahead of the Repsol Honda and into the final podium place.

As the pack filtered through to start the penultimate lap, the podium looked decided but there a battle heating up between Marc Marquez and Quartararo for fourth place. The first MM93 vs FQ20 fight of 2020 would unfold with the Frenchman coming out on top thanks to a move at Casanova-Savelli, despite Marquez throwing everything he had into Arrabbiata 1 as he tried to stop the Yamaha man breaking clear…

Back at the front, Alex Marquez kept his nerve on the final lap to take victory by over seven seconds, joined on the podium by Bagnaia and Viñales. Quartararo ended up fourth, despite setting the fastest lap of the race with his final lap, with Marc Marquez completing the top five. Rins came out on top in the battle of the Suzuki teammates after he took sixth, ahead of Mir in seventh, with Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), Lecuona and Espargaro completing the top ten.

An incredible and historic #StayAtHomeGP had pretty much everything: crashes, clashes and a rookie taking the victory! The good news is we don’t have to wait long for the next Virtual MotoGP™ installment either, with a handful of other premier class stars getting their chance to shine in the coming weeks…

Alex Marquez: “I’m so happy! I knew before the race I wasn’t the fastest one, especially on one lap, so my target was to be as consistent as I could be. I had a good fight with Pecco in the opening laps until he had his crash at Arrabbiata. I want to say thank you to Putut Maulana [Moe27 – an Indonesian MotoGP™ eSport rider], who gave me some setup tips!

“I didn’t pass the tips to Marc because yes he’s my teammate but he’s my rival also! I’m looking forward to doing another race now. I want to do it again, but I want a little more notice! I only had a few days to prepare, so to have a week would be better for next time…”

More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:

Alex Marquez wins the inaugural #StayAtHomeGP

The Repsol Honda Team converted their success on track to success in the virtual world as Alex Marquez claimed a stunning first win of 2020 with Marc Marquez finishing a respectable fifth.

Six laps around the Mugello circuit produced thrilling action for the first #StayAtHomeGP, riders attacking from the moment the lights went out. With a more condensed event format than a typical GP, riders had little time to refine their setting.

Keeping calm, Alex Marquez stuck to his pre-race plan and put in a sterling performance to make history and clinch the win aboard the Repsol Honda Team RC213V in his eSports debut. A massive seven second lead stamped his authority on the field.

Marc Marquez put in a strong and consistent ride to secure fifth place in his debut eSports race, demonstrating impressive riding skills in both the real and virtual worlds. A strong start saw Marc in podium contention as he looked to match the pace of his teammate in the early laps.

The result sees the Repsol Honda Team become the first official MotoGP team to win races in both the real and virtual worlds.

Alex Marquez

FIRST

“Fantastic! What a result! It was a really funny event with all of the other riders and I am really pleased to win my first race! I found a good setting with the RC213V which let me race how I wanted to and I knew I had a few different lines for when I needed. Even at just six laps you really needed to stay focused because with one small mistake it can go very wrong. I enjoyed it a lot and I hope everyone who watched also had a good time. Let’s hope that everyone continues to follow the advice of the doctors and scientists so that we can return to a more normal life, seeing friends and family, enjoying the outside and going racing.”

Marc Marquez

FIFTH 

“First of all congratulations to Alex on the win, I knew from our time playing together he would be very fast but he did a great job. Of course, I would have liked better than fifth, but the result isn’t too bad and as a team we did well. You need a different style in these kinds of races so I had to adapt my strategy a little bit during the day. A good time and I am really happy to be able to do something for the fans. Now we want to be riding and battling back on track, because it means the world is in a better situation, but first we have to win the battle with the Corona Virus. Stay safe everyone!”

More, from a press release issued by Pramac Racing:

Pramac Racing is entusiat to be part of the first ever #StayAtHomeGP

Pecco Bagnaia finishes the first ever #StayAtHome race on the podium in second positions thanks to an excellent qualifying. Pramac Racing is proud to have attended the first #StayAYHomeGP in history. Pecco and the whole Pramac Team are happy and they hope to have passed on to the fans those racing feeling that we miss so much in this difficult moment.

Pecco Bagnaia:

“I did very well in the Qualifying, but unfortunately I crashed during the second lap in the race. I started second and this this helped me a lot, but Alex Marquez was very fast and he started very well. My first podium in MotoGP although in the #StayAtHomeGP Championship. I am very happy,I hope you all enjoyed it.”

Francesco Guidotti, Team Principal:

“I am very happy of today race result, I hope it will be the same for the real racing season! I really enjoyed the Virtual Race, I had so much fun even if I’m not a real video game lover! This means the mood is positive and we can’t wait to get back on track!”