Shell Malaysia Motorcycle GP Sepang International Circuit @MotoGP
Qualification for the Moto GP turned out to be sensational on two counts. Firstly in Q2 @marcmarquez93 seemingly decided to dawdle waiting for a tow, he has done it before and previous “victims” have become quite heated about this tactic. However this time he was dealing with the cool @FabioQuartararo20, who casually tried to shake off the stalker. After a couple of laps with tyres cooling, Fabio pushed on and Marquez was to follow, only to be high sided off his bike in the most dramatic way, firstly planting his feet, then knees then face to the tarmac! Somehow he was OK, thankfully. Fabulous Fabio then went on to post the fastest time ever for Sepang and pole! leaving Marc a lowly 11th. So it was Fabio, @maverick12official and @frankymorbido on the front row.
Race day, and @Petrux9 then @jackmilleraus took the initial lead off the line. Soon though Maverick sliced through and left Miller and @andreadovizioso trailing, but the sensation was Marc Marquez, who from 11th on the grid was in fourth within a few corners, yes corners not laps! So on the first lap, it was Vinales, Miller and Marquez with Dovi and a feisty looking @valeyellow46 close by. Poleman Quartararo and teammate Morbidelli had been swamped and were stuck in 8th and sixth respectively.
This race soon settled into a rhythm, with Maverick showing some top gun moves to stay ahead of the wolf pack behind him. @JohannZarco was showing well at this stage, on the LCR Honda, ahead of Crutchlow on the factory machine, with Alberto Puig (Repsol Honda Team Manager) visiting the LCR box observing Zarco pre-race, watch this space for a Honda ride in 2020.
Three laps to go and Zarco went down, after a push from @JoanMir36official, for which Mir received a long lap penalty costing him plus four seconds and a few places. @calcrutchlow had dropped it a bit earlier with no such “assistance”. The race order maintained it was Maverick, Marquez and Dovi. After having dropped it at Phillip Island with a last-ditch attempt to hold off Marquez, Vinales seemed determined to hold off Marc and did so with conviction.
So across the line and under the chequered flag, it was 1. Maverick Vinales | 2. Marc Marquez | 3. Andrea Dovizioso. The dream to win at their home circuit was over for Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli, but they have time on their hands.
We extend a lot of respect to Marc Marquez and Maverick Vinales, who both, in their parc ferme post-race interviews, gave their condolences to the family and team of Afridza Munandar, the 20-year-old Asia Talent Cup rider who passed away on Saturday, after an accident, RIP.
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#MotoGP #mm93 #maverickvinales #MarcMarquez #AndreaDovizioso #BTsport #motorcycle #MalaysiaGP #ThisIsMotoGP
Author: Martin Northern
Founder of Bike Directory
