Reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez snatched a dramatic win in today’s Phillip Island race, passing Jorge Lorenzo with three corners left and setting the fastest lap in the process.
In a thrilling 27-lapper, Lorenzo, Marquez, Valentino Rossi and Andrea Iannone scrapped it out for top spot with Lorenzo looking like the victor as they entered the final lap but Repsol Honda’s Marquez had other ideas, going past Iannone into Honda corner for second and then pushing past the Yamaha man on the brakes into MG before covering the exit and crossing the line with a 0.249s margin.
Lorenzo took second place and clawed back seven points on team-mate Rossi after The Doctor was passed by Iannone on the last lap. Rossi had passed his fellow Italian on the brakes into Honda for third place but Iannone had designs on a podium and hit straight back Rossi tried again at MG but Ianonne was better on the exit and held the advantage to the line by just 0.128s. It means the gap between Rossi and Lorenzo is now 11 points with 50 left on the table
Even though Marquez’ last-lap pace was unbelievable, Ianonne was by far and away the rider of the day, mixing it up the wily old Doctor and using the Ducati’s whopping top speed advantage - four mph over Marquez and Rossi, and some 7.4 over Lorenzo - to great effect on the Gardner Straight, putting myriad passes on the Honda and Yamaha men. He even had to contend with headbutting a two-kilo seagull while trying to brake into MG on lap two.
It was Iannone who shot into the lead as the lights went out but Lorenzo put an audacious move on him at the Southern Loop while Dani Pedrosa barged team-mate Marquez out of the way for third with Cal Crutchlow and Rossi completing the top six as the race got into its swing. Marquez was soon back past his compatriot an as they flashed across the line to end lap one, Iannone’s GP15 motored past Lorenzo for the lead.
Lorenzo took advantage of Iannone’s seabird interface to snatch back top spot but as they headed towards Doohan corner, both Iannone and Marquez powered past the Yamaha while Crutchlow snuck under Pedrosa while Rossi was looking everywhere for a way through. He went under Pedrosa on lap four as Lorenzo grabbed back the lead and then Rossi put a pass on Crutchlow for fourth.
A lap later, Rossi could see Lorenzo beginning to move away, so hustled Pedrosa to one side before passing Marquez for second and Iannone followed him through as Marquez struggled to find grip and his rhythm in the opening stages. Lorenzo began to build a lead as Rossi, Marquez and Iannone tripped each other up.
Marquez then got back into second as he passed Iannone and it began to settle down and the Spaniard began to catch Lorenzo. With 12 laps to go, the gap was just three-tenths and two laps later, Marquez went under Lorenzo on the brakes into Honda while Iannone and Rossi continued to dice and fall away from the leaders.
Lorenzo didn’t allow Marquez to clear off - rather, the pace slowed a little and the pack was once again four with seven left to run. Iannone was making full use of the GP15 and tried to pass Lorenzo for second but he was given a lesson on the brakes into Doohan and Lorenzo’s momentum gave him the chance to pass Marquez into Honda.
Iannone demoted Marquez back a place one lap later but with two left, Marquez got the hammer down and was able to swallow up Lorenzo’s lead, passing him on the final circuit. Pedrosa was able to put some space between himself and Crutchlow, who had come under the rookie eye of Maverick Vinales in the closing stages.
Eventually, the factory Suzuki man found a way past the LCR Honda and bagged sixth place for himself with the Espargaro brothers taking eighth and ninth. Bradley Smith will be disappointed with his tenth place - just one ahead of Scott Redding while Eugene Laverty came home in 19th.
