Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing)
started to fade, watching the
chance to capitalize on Quar-
tararo's error get a little smaller.
The opposite was true of
Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing
MotoGP) as the "Beast" honed
in on the fight at the front. As
the final showdown started to
commence, there were seven
riders locked together: Bagnaia,
Rins, Marquez, Bezzecchi,
Marini, Martin and Bastianini.
Bagnaia led them onto the fi-
nal lap but with "20 out" reading
loud and clear on the pit board,
the risk versus reward balance
was something to consider.
But not for Rins and Marquez.
Marquez had passed Rins for
second at the Southern Loop
on the penultimate lap, but the
then I pushed too much in turn
two. I made a mistake.
"The championship changed
a lot since Sachsenring, and that
means it can also change for us
in the last two GPs. I feel that we
can make two great last races."
Quartararo's crash left an
open goal for the contenders
still battling it out, with Bagnaia
on course to claim the lead.
The first leaders were polesit-
ter Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac
Racing) and Marquez, before
Rins and Bagnaia reeled them
in. As the laps ticked down the
overtakes kept coming, and
the troops were forming for the
podium fight: Marco Bezzecchi
(Mooney VR46 Racing Team)
and teammate Luca Marini
were arriving on the scene, as
ROUND 18 / OCTOBER 14-16, 2022
PHILLIP ISLAND CIRCUIT / PHILLIP ISLAND, AUSTRALIA
P78
MOTOGP I FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
SUZUKI TEST
"MAKES NO SENSE"
The idea of testing when a project
has just two races left to run seems
futile. Yet that is exactly what Suzuki
plans to do next week before the
factory's time in MotoGP comes to
an end. The test team and test rider
Takuya Tsuda will try a handful of
parts, even though Valencia will mark
Suzuki's departure from the premier
class after eight straight years of
competition. Even riders Joan Mir
and Alex Rins were surprised by the
news. "They will test before Malay-
sia," said an exasperated Rins. "A
totally new fairing and completely
different to what we are using here
with a different intake and different
wings. If you ask me why, then I have
no idea. It makes no sense. But let
them spend the money."
Briefly...
Alex Marquez (73) rammed
home favorite Jack Miller,
taking both out of the race.
