ROAD RACE
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 14 / SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
MOTORLAND ARAGON / ARAGON, SPAIN
P68
up to third on lap three after Marquez's near crash.
"I saw him slide, and I hoped there was something
wrong with his front tire," he said later.
It took three laps for him to get ahead of Lorenzo,
and then he rapidly closed on Vinales, taking the
lead on lap nine. At the same time Marquez had
regained confidence and speed, and consigned
Vinales to third next time around. The Suzuki rider
fought back but ran wide, dropping behind Loren-
zo, who was now almost 1.5 seconds adrift.
Could Rossi fend off Marquez? No way. He
sliced past on lap 12, and took half-second a lap
out of his rival to move rapidly out of reach. Now
he only had to finish. "This was an important race,
because step by step Valentino had been gaining
points on me. I had to stop that, otherwise his men-
tality would go up," he said.
But Rossi had more trouble to come. Lorenzo
was picking up the pace even as he was losing it.
Within four laps, the gap had been halved, and on
the 17th Lorenzo was poised to pass. He cut under-
neath him after Rossi had braked deep into the first
corner, spoiling his exit speed up the hill.
Maverick Vinales claimed fourth.
