VOL. 55 ISSUE 44 NOVEMBER 6, 2018 P67
his hands full with a pack of Hon-
da riders, swapping constantly
through the multi-line corners of
the widest track on the calendar.
He started the last lap in second
place; by the end of it he was
fifth.
Second went to Lorenzo
Dalla Porta (Leopard Honda), so
strong at season's end. Team-
mate Enea Bastianini took a
photo-finish third ahead of Albert
Arenas (Angel Nieto KTM), after
pushing steadily through from a
slow start, 18th on lap two.
Bezzecchi was an ultra-close
fifth, left to rue the five non-
finishes (including getting taken
down a week ago in Australia)
that meant he eventually ran out
of points.
Martin (20), a former Red Bull
Rookies Cup winner, said: "I
have been all my life working for
this, with a lot of bad moments,
but thanks to everybody who
supported me."
Both he, Bezzecchi and the
man fighting him for third over-
all, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del
Conca Gresini Honda), are mov-
ing to Moto2 next year.
The other point-scorers were
still all close, from second to
15th in less than four seconds.
Di Giannantonio was sixth, fre-
quent early leader Darryn Binder
(Red Bull KTM) a tenth behind,
then the Hondas of Arbolino,
Suzuki and Antonelli rounding
out the top 10.
The final points went to
Ramirez (KTM), Toba (Hon),
Perez (KTM), Atiratphuvapat
Del Conca Gresini Honda rider
and his main rival Marco Bez-
zecchi (Redox Pruestel KTM)
were to and fro within the usual
leading brawl. Bezzecchi led
more often than Martin, who at
one point was mired mid-pack in
10th.
His first attempt to clear off
didn't work. Then with five laps
to go he took the lead from Bez-
zecchi once again, and pulled
steadily away to a clear 3.5-sec-
ond win.
In his wake, Bezzecchi had
tween Baldassarri (162), Mar-
quez (157), Mir (155) and Marini
(147).
Kalex has already tied up the
Constructors championship;
there is just 21 points between
the top teams, with Red Bull
KTM Ajo ahead of SKY VR46.
Moto3
Jorge Martin rode a trademark
runaway win in Malaysia, to
secure the Moto3 World Cham-
pionship with one race to spare.
For most of the 17 laps, the
