MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 18 / OCTOBER 18-20, 2019
MOTEGI CIRCUIT / MOTEGI, JAPAN
P82
Marquez, Navarro (Beta Tools
Speed Up). Marcel Schrot-
ter (Dynavolt Kalex) and briefly
Iker Lecuona (American Racing
KTM), who would soon be elimi-
nated in a nasty crash with Xavi
Vierge (EG VDS Kalex).
At the back, Brad Binder (Red
Bull KTM) was fighting his way
through from 18th on the grid,
then on lap three he was pushed
onto the grass by teammate
Jorge Martin, and as he wobbled
back was hit hard by Sam Lowes
(Federal Oils Kalex). Binder
survived, but now back down to
21st; Lowes' left handlebar was
snapped off by the impact, and
he was out.
Martin, undaunted, was push-
ing on, and ahead of Navarro by
lap eight. Two laps later he was
past Marquez as well, the pair
closing on a now rapidly fading
The currently imperious Italian
concurred. "At the beginning I
knew I had to manage the pace
to save the tires, maybe too
much, when Tom passed me.
But I could use the slipstream,
and in the end, I was a bit faster."
He credited the team with finding
the setup that has changed his
fortunes.
There was a race of great
variety behind Marini. The first
pursuit came from Augusto Fer-
nandez (Flexbox HP40 Kalex),
but by lap two his teammate Lo-
renzo Baldassarri and star rookie
Somkiat Chantra (Honda Team
Asia Kalex—from a career-best
second row) were both past him,
and the front three draw clear for
a couple of laps.
Fernandez was heading a
brawl, with Luthi exchanging
blows with championship leader
Andrea Iannone also crashed
out on the Aprilia.
Moto2
Pole starter Luca Marini made it
two in a row, underlining the late
season surge for the SKY VR46
Kalex rider. But he didn't have
it all his own way, with Dynavolt
Kalex veteran Thomas Luthi com-
ing through from fifth on lap one
to lead from laps 11 to 20, and
still half-a-second behind over
the line.
It was a matter of tire life, as
much as anything. Luthi had
been caught up in a fierce battle
with points leader Alex Marquez
(EG-VDS Kalex), and then had
to push on through. "I had good
rhythm, but at the end I knew I'd
stressed the tires," Luthi said.
"And Luca had been more care-
ful."
It's getting old
seeing Marquez
(center) win
so much—for
everyone
except Marquez
himself.
