Reigning MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo punished a massive error by Honda today and clawed back 25 points on title rival Marc Marquez when the youngster was black-flagged for not pitting in to change bikes at the alloted time in today's Phillip Island race.
Due to Bridgestone not being able to supply tyres that would last the 27-lap race distance at the resurfaced Australian track, every rider had to change bikes by the end of lap ten. Marquez failed to do so and was disqualified meaning his lead over Lorenzo is cut to 18 points with 50 left on the table.
The rule change this weekend was originally meant to see the race cut from 27 to 26 laps with riders having to come in by the end of lap 14, but another directive from race control after Bridgestone gathered more data saw it slashed again to 19 laps with the pit-window opening on lap 11 and closing on lap ten.
After getting away in his inital lightning start, Lorenzo, Marquez and Dani Pedrosa made a break and tangling at Honda corner while Marquez had a huge moment on his way up Lukey Heights to almost match his free practice crash
Pedrosa was the first man in followed by Lorenzo but the Repsol Honda man broke the pitlane speed limit and was forced to go back behind his team-mate. Lorenzo was next in as Marquez stayed out but the pair clashed on the next lap when Marquez exited after his stop and re-joined at Doohan.
Lorenzo had his line as Marquez came back on to the track, neither was willing to give and there was some rubbing which saw Marquez lose a titanium guard off his right Alpinestars glove.
With five to go, Marquez was shown the black flag and he rolled down pitlane to get disconsolately off his RC213V and trudged into the garage. The win was handed to Lorenzo with Pedrosa second and Valentino Rossi took a hard-fought podium after a race-long scrap with Cal Crutchlow and Alvaro Bautista.
The Spaniard had got past the Monster Yamaha man on the last lap into MG, but Crutchlow just nicked it on the line to bag fourth by just a tenth of a second. Bradley Smith, after a brilliant start, slipped back to sixth place ahead of Nicky Hayden.
