Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/726231
MOTOGP FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 13 / SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 MISANO WORLD CIRCUIT MARCO SIMONCELLI / RIMINI, SAN MARINO P76 this difference increases. I have to use a lot of energy, push hard on the handlebars, and my riding style becomes more ragged." Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) also got away well from the third row, and spent the race see- sawing behind this pair, several times almost close enough to challenge. By the end, though, he had dropped away to come under attack from Ducati test rider Michele Pirro, who had taken over the injured Andrea Iannone's factory Desmosedici. The only other to choose the soft front, he passed Crutchlow for seventh with two laps to go. Three seconds adrift, Pol Es- pargaro (Monster Yamaha) had got past brother Aleix's Ecstar Suzuki by lap seven, and the pair tussled it out for the next 10 laps, with Danilo Petrucci (Pramac Ducati) closing up. The Italian had dropped away again when Aleix crashed out on lap 18. After the race, the Yamaha rider was promoted to eighth, when Crutchlow was docked one position for exceeding track—only for the decision to be reversed on further investigation when it was clear he had gained no advantage. A little way behind, the two Aprilias, at their home test track, with Alvaro Bautista slow away, and taking until after half distance to get past teammate Stefan Bradl. The pair were now on Petrucci's back wheel, and while Bautista got by and escaped for a strong 10th, Bradl No repeat win for Maverick Vinales this week. Instead, he squeaked into the top five. spent the rest of the race fight- ing but failing to overcome the Ducati's stronger acceleration and speed, finishing 12th, just three tenths behind. Next up, Hector Barbera (Avin- tia Ducati) had come from the back of a group of three, even- tually leaving Eugene Laverty (Aspar Ducati) out of touch, and Scott Redding (Pramac Ducati) a long way behind, the bulky Englishman having familiar grip problems in hot conditions. Yonny Hernandez (Aspar Ducati) was a distant 16th. Tito Rabat (EG-VDS Honda) had crashed on the first lap, and rejoined for the practice to finish five laps down. Replacement riders Alex Lowes (Monster Yamaha) and Javier Fores (Avintia Ducati) didn't make the finish, the former slipping off unhurt early on, and Fores retiring with arm pump with 13 laps to go. Jack Miller (EG-VDS Honda) had not started, after fresh medical investigation after pain in practice revealed a further hitherto undetected fracture in his right hand. Rossi's second recovered seven more points, but left Mar- quez with a 43-point lead, 223 to 180. Lorenzo has 162; Pedrosa regained fourth on 145 from Vinales (135).