2021 Spanish MotoGP, Circuito de Jerez - Race Results

Miller celebrates his first Ducati MotoGP victory ahead of team-mate Bagnaia at the Spanish MotoGP, as Quartararo drops from the race lead all the way down to 13th, costing him the world championship lead.

Quartararo slipped from pole to fourth at the start but calmly picked off his opponents at the final corner on successive laps to take the lead from Miller.

The young Frenchman steadily pulled 1.5s clear - but suddenly lost all of his advantage with 11 laps to go and became a sitting duck thereafter.

Quartararo appeared to be in physical pain when he returned to the Yamaha pits, with arm-pump one possibility.

Miller promptly repassed Quartararo and rode to his first dry MotoGP race win, while Bagnaia took second ahead of countryman Morbidelli to take over the 2021 title lead.

Nakagami, who switched back to the 2020 Honda chassis this weekend, was again the top RCV rider in fourth place as Mir (Suzuki) and Espargaro (Aprilia) completed the top six.

Marquez, sidelined for nine months after complications to a broken right arm at Jerez last July, was taking part in his second event since returning to MotoGP action in Portimao.

The eight time world champion, who escaped injury in a massive Saturday fall and another highspeed accident in warm-up, began the race in 14th and finished ninth.

Younger brother Alex fell on the opening lap and seemed to hurt his shoulder.

Binder and Rins were early fallers, in separate incidents, rejoining at the back of the field. Binder then fell for a second time.

All riders chose medium tyres front and rear with the exception of Vinales, Bastianini and Mir, who opted for the soft front.

Injured rookie Jorge Martin was being replaced at Pramac by Rabat, while Bradl was making his first wild-card of the season after racing as a replacement for Marquez in Qatar.

An official day of testing takes place at Jerez on Monday.

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