MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 18 / OCTOBER 18-20, 2019
MOTEGI CIRCUIT / MOTEGI, JAPAN
P80
a better exit to beat the Yamaha
over the line by a mere 0.047 of
a second. Rins was less than a
tenth behind Morbidelli.
Suzuki teammate Mir was
eighth, having gotten ahead of
Danilo Petrucci's factory Ducati
on lap 10, and finally dropped him
off by three seconds. The discon-
solate Miller was 10th, another
five seconds away.
Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM),
still recovering from injury at
Aragon, had a respectably steady
race to a lone 11th. Satellite Red
Bull KTM rider Miguel Oliveira
caught and passed Pecco Bag-
naia's fading Pramac Ducati for
12th. KTM factory substitute Mika
later, and less than half a second
at the flag. "The race was too
short in laps," he smiled.
It was Dovi's 100th podium,
while Quartararo's 20 points
made him unbeatable as Rookie
of the Year.
There was action ultimately
not very far behind, with Cal
Crutchlow (LCR Castrol Honda)
caught and passed after half
distance by Alex Rins (Ecstar Su-
zuki). The Briton fought back, and
after three laps was in front again,
resisting every attempt. Then over
the final laps, a slowing Morbidelli
came into range.
They caught him in the final
corner, with Crutchlow managing
(Left) Andrea
Dovisioso
(04) rode a
methodical
race and nearly
nabbed second
on the last lap.
(Below) Jack
Miller had early
pace but faded
badly with tire
issues.
