Step forward Marc Marquez
(Repsol Honda), whose cruel
last-lap defeat of long-time race
leader Danilo Petrucci (Pramac
Ducati) added yet another facet
of excellence.
More than that, it returned the
Repsol Honda rider to the lead
of the championship, on a day
that his teammate Dani Pedrosa
could do no better than a distant
14th, and underlined the start of
what should be a compelling last
third of the season.
In fact, Marquez and Andrea
Dovizioso (Ducati Team)—a close
but safe third today—are equal on
points, just like starting over, with
Movistar Yamaha's Maverick Vina-
les saving fourth place, never in
the hunt after starting from pole,
but still only 16 points adrift.
BY MICHAEL SCOTT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
R
ain races are always
interesting, and usually
enjoyable. But this year's
San Marino & Riviera di Rimini
MotoGP came close to being
too much of a good thing.
After dry practice and qualify-
ing, race day was sodden. And
for far too many riders, it spoiled
the party. Less than half the field
finished in Moto3, and it was
almost as bad in a crash-happy
Moto2—riders flying off every-
where, often remounting only to
crash again.
It did mean, though, that
those who finished did some-
thing special. And all the more
so those that won.
VOL. 54 ISSUE 36 SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 P67
ONE OF
HIS BEST
Marc Marquez denied hometown
hero Danilo Petrucci and showed
Andrea Dovizioso if he wants to win
this year's title he's going to have to
really, really work for it.
