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/872564
MOTOGP 2017 FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 13 / SEPTEMBER 8-10, 2017 MISANO WORLD CIRCUIT MARCO SIMONCELLI / RIVIERA DI RIMINI, ITALY P72 he was ready to have a go at Miller when he, too, fell victim to conditions. By half distance, Miller was pushing Vina- les hard, the pair now escaping from Pirro. But the situation would change. Vinales was able to celebrate the sustained grip from his 2018 chassis compared with his problems in the wet at the Sachsenring; while Miller was losing drive grip and dropping back. On lap 19 he ceded fifth to Pirro, and was well out of touch by the finish, sixth equaling his best this year. Behind them, Johann Zarco (Monster Ya- maha) had outpaced Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia), who crashed out on lap 14, as well as Scott Redding (Pramac Ducati), who, in turn, had his hands full with Alex Rins (Ecstar Suzuki), pressing hard in the closing laps. But Zarco would lose seventh, running short of fuel on the last lap (probably be- cause he had done two sighting laps), and running out completely on the last corner. As the Frenchman pushed the bike over the line, not only did Redding and Rins flash past, but also a now distant Jonas Folger to winning, but I have nothing to regret." Asked if he had considered ceding second to Dovizioso to help his fellow-Italian Ducati rider's championship, Petrucci replied that he had considered it, but, "I don't think let- ting him past on the last corner would be a good image for this championship. Anyway, maybe later, but now I think he can fight for the championship by himself." It was, in any case, rather academic, since Dovi was 10 seconds adrift by now. Fourth took a bit of sorting out. Vinales had been there, but all the while Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) was closing, and also Jack Miller (Marc VDS Honda), was enjoying the conditions more than most. Both were ahead of him at the end of lap six, whereupon Miller nipped past Crutchlow. The Briton, feeling confident and hoping to attack the front men in due course, passed him straight back—only to fall in a big high-side. He got going again, now second from last. Loris Baz (Avintia Ducati) was now also seriously moving forward, bringing Ducati factory tester Michele Pirro in his wake; and (Left) Maverick Vinales held on for fourth but was never truly in lead contention. (Right) Jack Miller (43) couldn't hold off Michele Pirro (51) for fifth but equaled his best ride of the season in sixth.