MOTOGP
2017 FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 12 / AUGUST 27, 2017
SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT / SILVERSTONE, GREAT BRITAIN
P74
because of his light weight,
resulting in even worse instability
over the bumps than the other
riders.
Another couple of seconds
down, Pramac Ducati's Scott
Redding had a good ride, fend-
ing off an equally inspired Alex
Rins, in the Suzuki rookie's best
ride so far.
They were miles clear of
the next man, Alvaro Bautista
(Pull&Bear Ducati), who had
been relieved of pressure in
what had been a group of four.
In fact Danilo Petrucci (Pramac
Ducati) had just got ahead of
him and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia)
when an over-the-top lunge
brought Andrea Iannone (Ec-
star Suzuki) sliding on his side
could make it," said Rossi.
Lorenzo was still just a couple
of seconds down, as he had
been most of the race, having
seen off a midrace challenge
from Johann Zarco (Monster
Yamaha), who had got ahead
of Pedrosa just before half-dis-
tance, and left him trailing to a
lone seventh, suffering as usual
follow him through, and Rossi's
advantage had stretched from
half a second to almost one.
Lap 14 saw the Honda disas-
ter—Vinales getting a fright with
the spray, not knowing if it was
oil or water, and losing touch
a little "as I braked 30 meters
early." But thereafter the front
guys closed on Rossi again. On
the 18th, Dovi made his move,
powering alongside
Rossi on the Hangar
Straight, then winning
the braking battle at the
end of it. By the end
of that lap Vinales was
also ahead of Rossi.
Dovi started the
last lap with six tenths
advantage, and ended
it with one tenth.
Crutchlow had only lost
touch with Rossi on that
final lap. All were on the
limit. "There were a few
corners that I arrived
and I didn't know if I
(Left) Valentino Rossi was happy to
get on the podium in third. (Below)
Mark Marquez' Honda suffered a
catastrophic engine failure that cost
him the championship lead.
