Alex Rins Wins his First MotoGP Race with LCR Honda as Pecco Bagnaia Crashes Out of the Race.

Reigning MotoGP champion Pecco Bagnaia was on pole position for the feature race in COTA, LCR Honda CASTROL’s Alex Rins qualified in second place with Mooney VR46 Racing Team’s Luca Marini rounding out the front row in third place. Most of the teams chose the soft rear tyre option for the race. Could Pecco back up his Sprint Race win from yesterday?

Pecco lead the field up and into turn one, Rins was second. There was contact between Alex Marquez and Jorge Martin on the first lap, both riders crashed and were out of the race; Martin lost the front end taking Alex out, a few corners later Aleix Espargaro crashed at turn 11.

KTM’s Jack Miller was in third place, Fabio Quatararo was in fourth place, Luca Marini was in fifth. Pecco was stretching his lead out at the front, but Rins wasn’t letting the Ducati get out of his reach! Pecco had a slight front end wheelie which enabled Rins to make some time up on the reigning champion.

The leading duo had over a second lead to Miller in third place. The pace was picking up at the front of the field with 16 laps remaining to the race. Rins wasn’t let Pecco go out of his reach, Miller was closing in third place.

Pecco was running a tight defensive line into turn one, Jack Miller crashed out with 14 laps to go, Fabio was now promoted into a possible podium finish in third place.

Pecco crashed out of the race at turn two, another unforced error from the Italian! The pressure from Rins was all too much! Rins was leading, Fabio was in second place, Luca was now in third place.

Joan Mir crashed in sector three, the Honda rider has had a round to forget! Rins had a 1.2s gap lead at the front from Fabio. Brad Binder crashed out with nine laps to go, Taka Nagagami crashed at turn one, there were now only 14 riders left in the race!

Luca went through on Fabio with eight laps to go, the Ducati powered past the Yamaha on the straight, could Luca catch Rins with seven laps remaining to the race? Marini was on the hunt for his first MotoGP victory.

Rins had a three second lead on the final lap from Marini, the Spaniard kept his head and crossed the finish line to take the victory, his sixth MotoGP career victory, Luca finished in second place; the Italian’s first ever MotoGP Podium finish, Fabio took his first podium finish of the season in third place.

Marco Bezzecchi leads the championship standings, Pecco is in second place, just 11 points behind his fellow compatriot.

Featured Image: MotoGP.com.