Quartararo tops FP1 with title rival Bagnaia down in 17th

For just the fifth time in the modern MotoGP era, the championship battle will be decided at the final round of the season.

Quartararo trails Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia by 23 points coming into the finale, and needs to win on Sunday and hope his rival is 15th or lower to have any hope of retaining the crown.

The reigning champion is injured coming to Valencia, having…