MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 16 / OCTOBER 19-21, 2018
TWIN RING MOTEGI / MOTEGI, JAPAN
P64
hold, although Rossi did manage
to buck the odds to claim fourth,
after being outpaced by both
Suzukis. "Fourth is not bad, but
unfortunately the Suzukis were
faster than me. This is our poten-
tial. Suzuki did a big step from
last year because they worked in
the right way, not like us," Rossi
said. The difference was in ac-
celeration.
He managed to stay half-
a-second clear of a charging
Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto
Ducati), storming through from
11th on the first lap. On the last
to attack. "I had good battles
earlier with Iannone and Rossi,
and I think I destroyed a bit my
tires," he said. "But I learned a
lot."
Crutchlow's main regret was
that he hadn't taken the lead af-
ter passing Marquez. "Dovi was
yoyo-ing the pace, " he said.
"I was looking to pass him and
let him and Marc sort it out for
second, but then Marc passed
me, and I thought I'd better leave
them to it."
The hoped-for Yamaha revival
after Buriram had to remain on
was alone. "I was faster in some
places, but I prepared the cor-
ner too early. I asked too much
of the front tire," the Italian said.
For Marquez, "When I saw the
pit board 'Dovi Out' at the start of
the last lap my first reaction was
to be pleased, because I knew I
had won the championship. But
now I am disappointed, because
Andrea rode a great race and he
deserves to be on the podium
with us."
Crutchlow had his hands full
with Rins at the end, but the Su-
zuki rider wasn't strong enough
Johann Zarco couldn't
stop a charging Alvaro
Bautista (19) from
taking fifth place.
