MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 17 / OCTOBER 25-27, 2019
PHILLIP ISL AND CIRCUIT / PHILLIP ISL AND, AUSTRALIA
P66
run he would sustain. Crutchlow took
the lead for six laps as Rossi faded.
But Vinales was moving up from sixth
on lap one, and he firmly outbraked
Crutchlow at the turn-four hairpin
on lap 10. Marquez followed him
through, violently, three corners later,
and the pair took off.
Crutchlow would likewise be alone
to the finish.
A second or so behind him there
was a brawl more resembling undig-
nified Moto3 than MotoGP, riders
see-sawing up and down the order.
Alex Rins was the first to lead Ian-
none over the line, shortly before half
distance, but the Ecstar Suzuki rider
wouldn't stay there for long. Next to
lead the gang was Rossi again, on
lap 14. At this point, fourth to 11th was
covered by less than two seconds,
while Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) was
IIIMY OWN RACE:
99 JORGE LORENZO
16TH MOTOGP
"I expected before we arrived that I
would struggle here but you're always
hopeful that things will change and
you're able to be fast," Jorge Lorenzo
said. "From FP1 we struggled in the
wind and the cold. It's the worst result
since returning from the Assen injury,
unfortunately this is reality. Malaysia
in normal condi ons will be be er, it's
a track that suits me more, and I think
we can return to a pace similar to what
we had in Motegi."
12 MAVERICK VINALES
DNF MOTOGP
"I started the last lap much ghter to
the curb to have the chance, if Marc
would overtake at the last moment,
to brake later," Maverick Vinales said.
"But he overtook me before the finish
line. Then I was planning to push to the
maximum in sector three to overtake
in Turn 10, and that's what I did. So
before I crashed, I was ready to go in
without braking to see what would
happen, but I locked the rear. Maybe I
made a mistake, I don't know, and then
I just fell down on the other side. Today
was a race to win, not to be second. I
had the chance, so I tried."
(Above) The Aprilias of Iannone (29) and Espargaro were inspired, taking Aprilia's
best-ever MotoGP team result of sixth for Iannone and 10th for Espargaro.
