VOL. 53 ISSUE 28 JULY 19, 2016 P61
Rossi just one of the losers in
the game.
Iannone was fifth, four sec-
onds ahead of Pedrosa; Miller
seventh, having repassed a
struggling Rossi and Barbera.
Bautista was 10th, the ever-
steadfast Eugene Laverty (Pull
& Bear Ducati) next; Maverick
Vinales (Ecstar Suzuki) struggled
to 12th; then Bradley Smith
(Monster Yamaha) and Aleix Es-
pargaro on the second Suzuki.
And only then Jorge Lorenzo,
whose late change to intermedi-
ates had seen him go backwards
even faster than the similarly
shod Rossi. Pol Espargaro
(Monster Yamaha) crashed out.
Marquez's marvellous week-
end meant he could go on holi-
day with a massive points lead:
170 to Lorenzo's 122. Rossi has
111, then Pedrosa a distant 96
and Vinales 83.
The LCR Honda was past the
factory Ducati with three laps to
go, ahead of Redding next time
around, and he was second—his
first podium since the begin-
ning of last year. If he'd changed
earlier, he opined, he could have
won. Why did he not do so?
"I was following Rossi and
Dovi and I thought they had
enough experience to make the
right choice. But they made the
wrong choice," he said.
There was more heartbreak
for Redding when Dovi passed
him on the final lap.
The order behind was con-
fused, different riders taking
different amounts of time to
adapt to the tire changes, with
rear, had inherited second after
Miller pitted, but as the laps
counted down Dovizioso (inter
front, slick rear) was closing fast.
But Crutchlow (full slicks) was
closing even faster.
(Left) Hector Barbera holds off
Rossi in a determined ride.
(Above) A surprise podium, but not
a surprise winner. Marquez is miles
clear in the championship now.
