VOL. 53 ISSUE 32 AUGUST 16, 2016 P51
YEARS—SIX LONG YEARS IT'S BEEN BETWEEN DRINKS
IN MOTOGP. THEY FINALLY DELIVERED ON THE
WITH A DOMINATING DISPLAY IN AUSTRIA.
almost 2.5 seconds down, but
Lorenzo crucially still ahead of
Valentino Rossi.
The first return to Austria since
1997 to what instantly became
the fastest track on the calen-
dar was greeted with a capacity
95,000-strong crowd at the
scenically spectacular Red
Bull Ring, and with warm sunny
weather, following a chilly start
on Friday morning. And followed
six hours after the race with a
truly Biblical hailstorm.
Rossi made an impressive bid
for pole in a furious qualifying
session, only to be shaded by
Iannone in the last seconds, so
he was sandwiched between the
factory Dukes. Lorenzo led row
two ahead of Repsol Honda's
Marquez, who had come back
fighting after dislocating his
shoulder in the morning free
practice, with Maverick Vinales's
Ecstar Suzuki alongside.
The first few laps were also
furious. Iannone and Dovi led
away, Rossi in hot pursuit as
Marquez made a lunge into the
slow first corner, running wide
and pushing Lorenzo way out
across the paved run-off area,
next stop, the grandstands.
Rossi managed to lead the
first lap, but next time around
The red army was
unstoppable at Austria, just as
expected. Iannone (29) made
history as the first Ducati
winner since Casey Stoner at
the 2010 Australian MotoGP.
