MotoGP – Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
Qualification:
Jorge Martin put his non-factory Ducati on to pole. Marc Marquez is back on it and placed P2, and Francesco Bagnaia, P3. Pecco had Casey Stoner in his corner all weekend, who better to point out the finer details of Phillip Island?
The Race:
Jorge Martin held station from pole and led the race at the start, with Marc Marquez in P2 and Pecco Bagnaia P3, after a fraught start when his launch control system would not engage! Fabio Quartararo had a good initial start and go to P3, but soon found himself swamped and in P5.
With 24 laps to go Fabio Quartararo had the bike snatch under him, trying to brake late, the only way he can outdo the Ducatis and had to divert from the track leaving him in 22nd place, and out of the points, and with Bagnaia in P3, throwing them his way. Jorge Martin was still in the lead with Marc Marquez P2 and Bagnaia P3. Alex Rins at this moment was in P8.
Nineteen laps to go and Alex Marquez made a stupid move on Jack Miller, completely leaving no room for error on late braking and taking them both out of the race. At the front, Jorge Martin was holding off Marc Marquez and now Alex Rins in P3. Seventeen laps to go and in P15, Fabio Quartararo crashed out in an own fault incident, throwing more points to Bagnaia who was steady in P3, and now the championship leader. Fabio has a lot to do in the last two races if he has any chance of retaining his World Championship.
Twelve laps to go and Bagnaia hit the front with Marc Marquez P2 and Alex Rins looking very racy in P3. By the time it was lap twenty Alex Rins had hit the front, with Francesco Bagnaia P2 and Marco Bezzecchi P3, Marc Marquez P4. Two laps to go and Bagania was in the lead but Alex Rins and Marc Marquez were very close, and Pecco could not afford a clash of bikes and possible crash, as he was about to collect a whole bunch of points after Fabio crashed out.
The last lap was classic Phillip Island with Marquez chasing down Alex Rins, but Rins was brilliant and held off the comeback kid. Bagnaia held P3 and made the right decision not to get involved in the dogfight ahead of him.
The Result:
P1, Alex Rins Team Suzuki Ecstar. P2, Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team. P3, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Lenovo Team.
Author: Martin Northern
Founder of Bike Directory
