ROUND 16 / OCTOBER 20-22, 2023
PHILLIP ISLAND CIRCUIT / PHILLIP ISLAND, AUSTRALIA
MOTOGP I FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
P72
10 for a third-ever win.
Masia just holds on to his
championship lead, but it's close
as Sasaki (213) closes to within
four points. A bloody-nosed Hol-
gado's (195) team fixed his bike
in time
for the start, but he could
only manage 13th.
CN
MotoGP
1. Johann Zarco (Duc)
2. Francesco Bagnaia (Duc)
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Duc)
4. Brad Binder (KTM)
5. Jorge Martin (Duc)
6. Marco Bezzecchi (Duc)
7. Jack Miller (KTM)
8. Aleix Espargaro (Apr)
9. Alex Marquez (Duc)
10. Enea Bastianini (Duc)
CFMoto), Sasaki and Collin Veijer
(IntactGP Husqvarna) making up
a lead quartet. After a promising
start, championship leader Jaume
Masia (Leopard Honda) was mired
in the second group.
Fernandez crashed out of first
at Turn 11, one lap on from set-
ting the race's fastest lap. From
there, the lead was
stretched
apart, with Veijer settling for
fourth, before a mistake braking
for Turn 10 three laps from the
flag meant Kelso settled for third
and a first-ever podium.
Thus, the victory battle came
down to the last lap, as Oncu
ghosted behind Sasaki. The
Japanese rider was powerless to
defend down Lukey Heights as
the Turk outbraked him into turn
Moto3
Deniz Oncu (Ajo KTM) won out a
tense Moto3 race held in horrible
conditions after nicking first place
from perennial runner up Ayumu
Sasaki (IntactGP Husqvarna) on
the last lap. The two men even
-
tually broke clear of two others
after long-time
leader Adrian Fer-
nandez (Leopard Honda) crashed
out on lap 16.
Conditions were so treacherous
four riders crashed out on the sight-
ing lap, including title contender
Dani Holgado (Tech3
KTM), who
was fortunate to make the start
after a nasty high side at turn four.
The start was sedate by com
-
parison as Fernandez took an
early
advantage, with Oncu, home
hero Joel Kelso (PruestelGP
Deniz Oncu passed
for the Moto3 win
on the last lap in
atrocious weather
conditions.
