Repsol Honda Team's Marc and Alex Marquez put on a show at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli with the pair going head-to-head for the race win on the final lap. In the end, Alex Marquez came out on top thanks to a last corner dive up the inside, with Marc Marquez joking afterward by saying: "Alex, in the video game I can accept it but, in reality, it will be different".
Following the hectic nine-lap dash, Alex Marquez became the first two-time Virtual MotoGP™ winner and also jumped to the top of Virtual Championship table after being tied with both Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) at the top of the table heading to Misano. "So happy, so happy," said Alex. "I was so nervous because Pecco had one, Maverick another one and we were all equal so I said, ‘wow, this one I need to win’.
"Then I saw Fabio was so fast today, he was a second a lap quicker than everyone but when he made a mistake I thought ok maybe I can manage this. Then we crashed again, we both touched and crashed. Marc was in front and then, at last corner, I thought ‘ok, I will try to brake early and then try to attack in the acceleration’. His mentality was the opposite, try to attack at the brake point, just like in reality! I accelerated well and I won."
Marc, meanwhile, had the race at Misano down as his best yet, despite jokingly issuing a warning to brother Alex: "So far it was my best Virtual MotoGP race. I can now retire! There’ll be a big party tonight because first and second in the family, plus for the team too. It was a very nice day and I used my tactic to just try and stay in the bike, it was the most important thing. I managed to stay on the bike. It’s a shame my brother beat me at the last corner but tonight we’ll have a discussion because I don’t like losing the race at the last corner. But anyway, if I lose to someone, I prefer that it’s my brother.
"The problem is that when I saw Quartararo had crashed, then I relaxed because I thought the podium was here. Before, I thought if for some reason I crashed at the last corner then the podium would be gone. In the last corner it was my mistake because I pressed too much, maybe I was nervous, the rear brake button and then I slide. It was like in reality, I had the floating feeling and I went wide. Anyway, though, it was a nice day for the Repsol Honda Team.
The pair are still on good terms thankfully, especially since they're in lockdown together, after the fourth MotoGP™ Virtual installment. Even with Marc saying this after Alex asked if he's allowed to celebrate the last-gasp win: "Of course, we’ll have a dinner together and celebrate… but be careful!"
