Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1031651
MOTOGP FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 13 / SEPTEMBER 21-23, 2018 MOTORLAND ARAGON / ALCAÑIZ, TERUEL, SPAIN P64 Binder ran wide into the fast final corner. A couple of laps later points leader Pecco Bagnaia (SKY VR46 Kalex) had recovered from an average start to get ahead of Marcel Schrotter (Dynavolt Kalex), and would gradually close to make it three up front. Marquez resisted growing pressure as the race passed half distance, and Binder twice out- braked him into the first corner, only to be passed straight back. But the deed was finally done at Turn 12 on lap 15, and from there Binder quickly gained a second-place Dovizioso to 72 points, 246-174. Rossi improved his "miracle" third at 159 points, while Vinales and no-score Lo- renzo are tied at 130. Moto2 Brad Binder took his first Moto2 pole at Aragon. The Red Bull KTM rider went on to take a fighting second victory after another fine race, as the class continues its improving levels of interest in its last Honda year. Binder led away, but Alex Mar- quez (ED-VDS Kalex)—anxious to put three consecutive zero scores behind him—had taken a flyer from the second row, and took over on lap two after with sixth. A lone Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Ducati) chased along in seventh, while Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) closed to within just over a second at the end. He had come through from 18th on the grid to salvage a little self-respect for the increasingly troubled Yamaha troops. After morning modifications, "I wasn't particularly fast, but I was con- sistent," he said. His last victim was Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Ducati), who had been catching teammate Pe- trucci when stricken by vibration. Nursing the bike home to ninth, he'd been "a sitting duck" for Rossi, but was still comfortably clear of the baffling Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha), who had qualified 14th but finished lap one 19th, only picking up speed in the latter half of the race. Franco Morbidelli (EG-VDS Honda) had been his last victim, himself coming back from 17th on the grid after a six-place penalty. He'd got to the front of a group from Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda), Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM) and, dropping off at the rear, Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha). Karel Abraham (Angel Nieto Ducati) took a lone last point, a couple of seconds clear of Scott Redding (Aprilia), who had taken the fading Thomas Luthi (EG- VDS Honda) with two laps to go. Marquez's return to the top step extended his title lead over Maverick Vinales (25) had another shocker, miles away from where he should be.