Long-time leader Vinales crashes out on final lap at Phillip Island.
Image: Russell Colvin.
Reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has won the 2019 Pramac Generac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in a thrilling affair that eventuated in home hero Jack Miller standing on the podium for finishing in third position.
Repsol Honda’s Marquez was relentless in his pursuit of pole-setter Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha), who led much of the 27-lap duration prior to a final lap attack from the eight-time world champion into turn one.
With rain looming, Vinales attempted to counter-attack in the run from Lukey Heights down into turn 10, but lost grip on his factory YZR-M1 and crashed out in spectacular fashion. That enabled Marquez to go and eclipse Mick Doohan as Honda’s best-ever on 55 MotoGP wins, plus allowed Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) and Miller to climb positions into second and third places respectively.
It was Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha) who holeshot and led the opening three laps in his 400th grand prix appearance. Meanwhile, contact between Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) saw them both out of the race at Southern Loop on lap one.
Aprilia Racing Team Gresini teammates Andrea Iannone – a shock leader at one point – and Aleix Espargaro featured inside the top five during the early laps, but it was Vinales and Marquez who were steadily moving forward. Vinales took the lead into turn four with 18 laps to run, with Marquez also slicing through on Crutchlow by turn nine.
Image: Supplied.
Marquez was patient in his strategy, but once he hit the lead he pushed at 100 per cent, able to force Vinales into the mistake that enabled him to go on and win by 11.413s on soft tyres – his fifth win in succession – from Crutchlow and Miller.
Behind the leading trio came impressive rookie Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing Ducati), who almost pipped teammate Miller across the line, with Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) also strong for a top-five result. The top 10 was completed by Iannone, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Rossi, Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Espargaro.
Finishing 11th was Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT), comfortably ahead of Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who in turn edged out former teammate Johann Zarco (LCR Honda), while Karel Abraham (Reale Avintia Racing Ducati) and Hafizh Syahrin (Red Bull KTM Tech3) in the points. The final finisher was Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda) following another puzzling ride in P16.
Detailed results
Source: CycleOnline.com.au