VOLUME ISSUE OCTOBER , P63
ISLAND
THRILLER! THRILLER! THRILLER!
Moto2 sendoff in November
2016—2533 days before—would
never come as he finished runner-
up an agonizing 11 times, a record
number for a rider without ever
taking MotoGP victory. But here
he, Francesco Bagnaia (Lenovo
Ducati), Fabio Di Giannantonio
(Gresini Ducati), and Brad Binder
(Red Bull KTM produced a late
smash-and-grab on long-time lead
-
er Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati),
with the Frenchman stealing first
nine corners from the flag and
denting his teammate's title hopes
in the process.
BY NEIL MORRISON
PHOTOGRAPHY GOLD &GOOSE
H
ow fitting that Johann Zarco
(Pramac Ducati) had to wait
26 laps and three corners
out of 27 to seal the deal. After
all, the Frenchman had become
accustomed to biding his time,
enduring close to seven winless
seasons in the premier class. But
here he broke his MotoGP duck in
the most thrilling fashion, in yet
another Phillip Island classic.
Even Zarco had feared a break
-
through win since his victorious
Johann Zarco waits to the last second to get his first MotoGP victory
