VOL. 53 ISSUE 14 APRIL 12, 2016 P55
performance is less. It is different with
a full tank or empty, or with a hard or
soft tire. You have to be aware."
Dovizioso's fast Ducati took over
the pursuit down the straight, but he
had ceded second (now more than
two seconds adrift) to the now more
collected Lorenzo on lap five. Pedrosa
was poised close behind, just over a
lap later he would make the braking
blunder that would cost both of them
the race.
This left Andrea Iannone to a
mercifully undramatic third place. The
Ducati rider was perfectly matching
Lorenzo's pace some five seconds
behind for the whole latter part of the
race.
There was again some variation in
tire choice. Marquez and Ecstar Suz-
uki's Aleix Espargaro had been among
nine riders to choose the softer front,
10 riders chose the softer rear. But
only Espargaro had soft at both ends,
and the advantage was clear as the
Suzuki forced through to fourth on lap
one.
(Below) Maverick
Vinales leads Scott
Redding en route to
a fourth-place finish.
(Right) Marquez,
Lorenzo and Iannone
celebrate on the
COTA podium.