Fabio Quartararo rallies for MotoGP win in tight Qatar finish

Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo scored his first MotoGP victory Sunday with the Monster Energy factory team, winning the Tissot Grand Prix of Doha in Qatar.

The Frenchman charged from a midpack start, outdistancing two Ducati riders from Pramac Racing. New points leader Johann Zarco finished second, and rookie Jorge Martin started on the pole position and led 18 laps before yielding the lead to Quartaro and finishing third.

The second race of the 2021 season featured the closest finish among the top 15 in MotoGP history as 8.928 seconds separated Quartararo from 15th-place finisher Miguel Oliveira at the Losail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar. That shattered the previous mark of 15.093 seconds separating the top 15 that was set at the same track in 2019.

The 2021 season opener at Qatar was the fifth-closest top 15 finish in history (16.422-second gap).

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!!! 🙌@FabioQ20 wins an absolute epic with the closest top 15 in #MotoGP history! 🏆#DohaGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/rRW8oqhNH5

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 4, 2021

Quartararo scored three victories last year, including the first two events of the delayed start to the 2020 season when he became the first winning Frechman in more than 20 years in MotoGP’s premier division.

“I have not won many races, so for sure this is the most special one coming from ninth,” Quartararo said. “I was feeling so good in overtake spots like Turn 10, Turn 15, and I felt like I could win the race at that moment. Last week, I ride a little bit like a rookie because I’ve not played with mapping and tires. It feels good to win in the second race and have two French guys 1-2. So happy for this win.”

Zarco leads the championship by four points through two races over Yamaha teammates Quartararo and Maverick Vinales (who won the season opener and finished fifth Sunday).

A replay of the race will air at 10:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

"For sure this is the most special victory!" – @FabioQ20 🎙️

We're certainly not going to argue, Fabio! 👏#DohaGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/psoOwCoZKy

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 4, 2021

MOTO-PRIX-QAT-MOTOGP — Monster Energy Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo rides besides teammate Maverick Vinales drive during the Moto GP Grand Prix of Doha at the Losail International Circuit (KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images).

With three multiple winners now vying for the championship, the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series heads to Round 11 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.

Chase Sexton earned his second victory of the season in Detroit when Aaron Plessinger fell on the final lap. Though he was penalized seven points for disobeying a flag, Sexton is third in the championship race. The Honda rider trails leader Cooper Webb (two victories) by 17 points, and defending series champion Eli Tomac (five wins) is three points behind Webb in second with seven races remaining.

Tomac won last year in Seattle on the way to his second season title.

Honda riders have a Supercross-leading 20 victories in the Seattle event but none at Lumen Field since Justin Barcia in 2013. Tomac and Barcia are the only past 450 Seattke winners entered in Saturday’s event.

Here are the pertinent details for watching Round 11 of the 2023 Supercross season in Seattle:

(All times are ET)

BROADCAST/STREAMING SCHEDULE: TV coverage of Round 11 will begin Saturday at 10 p.m. ET streaming on Peacock with a re-air Monday at 1 a.m. ET on CNBC. The Race Day Live show (including qualifying) will begin on Peacock at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

NBC Sports will have exclusive live coverage of races, qualifiers and heats for the record 31 events in SuperMotocross. The main events will be presented on Peacock, NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and NBC Sports digital platforms.

Peacock will become the home of the SuperMotocross World Championship series in 2023 with live coverage of all races, qualifying, and heats from January to October. There will be 23 races livestreamed exclusively on Peacock, including a SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff event. The platform also will provide on-demand replays of every race. Click here for the full schedule.

POINTS STANDINGS: 450 division l 250 division

ENTRY LISTS: 450 division l 250 division

EVENT SCHEDULE (all times ET):

Here are the start times for Saturday’s Supercross Round 11 in Seattle, according to the Monster Energy Supercross schedule from the AMA:

4:50 p.m.: 250SX Group B Qualifying 1
5:05 p.m.: 250SX Group A Qualifying 1
5:20 p.m.: 450SX Group A Qualifying 1
5:35 p.m.: 450SX Group B Qualifying 1
6:25 p.m.: 250SX Group B Qualifying 2
6:40 p.m.: 250SX Group A Qualifying 2
7:55 p.m.: 450SX Group A Qualifying 2
8:10 p.m.: 450SX Group B Qualifying 2
10:06 p.m.: 250SX Heat 1
10:20 p.m.: 250SX Heat 2
10:34 p.m.: 450SX Heat 1
10:48 p.m.: 450SX Heat 2
11:22 p.m.: 250SX Last Chance Qualifier
11:34 p.m.: 450SX Last Chance Qualifier
11:54 p.m.: 250SX Main Event
12:28 a.m.: 450SX Main Event