Oliveira! KTM take home win at Spielberg

Portuguese triumphs in final curve of high-speed thriller at Red Bull Ring.

The 900th race in MotoGP history was won by Austrian producer KTM. Portugal’s Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) raced to the front in the very last curve of a thrilling StyrianGP to win ahead of Jack Miller (Ducati) and pole setter Pol Espargaró (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). Just like last week, the MotoGP race at Spielberg was a real thriller in two acts.

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Another restart following Viñales leap

After his strong performance and pole position in qualifying, Espargaró had a less spectacular start on Sunday. Joan Mir, who started in third, was on course to win for a long time, with Jack Miller and Japan‘s Takaaki Nakagami behind in the podium places. Then they had to start it all again. Just like last week, a restart was ordered at the StyrianGP after Maverick Viñales was forced to jump off his bike in spectacular fashion going into Curve 1.

Curve 10 again

KTM rider Pol Espargaró and Miguel Oliveira were best able to take advantage of the restart. Espargaró had a thrilling battle for the lead over the final 12 laps with Jack Miller, while Oliveira pounced on the fight between the front two to race past both Espargaró and Miller at the very final turn. The first Portuguese rider to ever take a MotoGP win said: “I knew that Pol and Jack are strong, but didn’t really think I could overtake them cleanly. I knew though that Jack would go on the attack in the last lap. I took the safe and smart option of staying on the inside at the last turn.”

What the top 3 say

Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM): “It is so emotional. There is so much I would like to say now, but I can barely manage to put a few words together. Thank you to everyone who believed in me! And all the Portuguese fans! I have made history for my country. I could not be happier that it happened with KTM and Red Bull!”

Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati): “I wanted to ride away in the first race, but we couldn’t match the speed of Joan [Mir]. He was really flying. It was totally different in the second race. I gave my all over 12 laps and was thinking about the win already, but I went too wide into the final curve. Congratulations to Miguel!”

Pol Espargaró (ESP/KTM): “Everyone was a winner in this race. I did a good job and am happy to be on the podium. It was an incredible battle in the final curve. That’s racing! It was actually Joan Mir’s race. You have to admit that he won.”

KTM breaks Ducati dominance at Spielberg

KTM had a superb performance in their second successive home race in Spielberg: in addition to two riders on the podium with Oliveira and Espargaró, they landed all four motorcyclists in the top 10. Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) ended the StyrianGP in tenth, while Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who was in striking distance of the podium after the restart, finished in eighth. Pit Beirer, KTM motorsport director: “It’s incredible that it worked out for Miguel now, of all times. It’s just amazing! The entire weekend, and then for it to finish like that on the last lap! I am sorry for Pol. We can celebrate a home Grand Prix win for KTM at Spielberg!”

Neck and neck at Moto2 finish.

Celestino Vietti (ITA/KTM) opened the race day with a win in Moto3 for the Austrian team in orange. Austria’s Maximilian Kofler moved a good eight places up the grid but crashed eight laps before the end and finished 24th. The Spaniard got to the finish line centimetres ahead of  Marco Bezzecchi (ITA), but he was forced to hand the Italian the win as he narrowly broke the track limits on the last lap.  

Flying Bulls put on spectacular show before start of race

AB212 helicopter I Austrian Armed Forces  © Red Bull Content Pool

Among those taking part in the impressive air display in the Styrian sky were a B25 Mitchell, an Alpha Jet and a P-38 Lightning. An Edge 540 escorted the new addition to the fleet, a HondaJet HA-420 Elite. Just in time for the Styrian regional anthem, the Austrian Armed Forces flew the Austrian national flag and regional flag of Styria right over the MotoGP starting grid at the Red Bull Ring with an AB212 helicopter and an Alouette-3.

Watch all the highlights of the first double-grand-prix of the MotoGP here:

Anyone who wants to be at the Spielberg again from 13 to 15 August 2021 (subject to confirmation by FIM) when the MotoGP stars have more thrilling battles at the Red Bull Ring in the Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich should get their tickets now!

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