MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 15 / OCTOBER 13-15, 2017
TWIN RING MOTEGI / MOTEGI, JAPAN
P82
Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull
KTM) had been with them, but
was out of touch in seventh by
the end.
But what of the main men?
Much had been expected of
Luthi, a strong rider in the wet,
and he made a blazing start,
directly up to seventh; while
Morbidelli was 12th.
Fortunes went the other way,
however.
At the start of lap three, Luthi
ran wide into the first corner,
dropping back three places. At
the same time, Morbidelli was
moving steadily forward. Now
he was directly behind his rival,
and able to watch as the Swiss
11, and Marquez would imme-
diately pull clear for a dominant
third win of the year, the first
outside Spain.
Nakagami had more trouble to
come, soon dropping to fourth
as both Vierge and a charging
Hafizh Syahrin (Petronas Kalex)
got by, and they would take the
next two podium positions.
At the same time, early
second-placer Mattia Pasini (Ital-
trans Kalex) had regained some
speed, while star rookie Pecco
Bagnaia (SKY VR46 Kalex) had
caught up. Bagnaia was at the
head of the trio over the line for
fourth, then Pasini, then Naka-
gami.
Moto2
Taka Nakagami had claimed
pole in the wet ahead of Alex
Marquez (VDS Kalex) and front-
row first-timer Xavi Vierge (Tech
3), but the focus was further
back, with title rivals Tom Luthi
(CarXpert Kalex) and Franco
Morbidelli (VDS Kalex) 13th and
15th, respectively.
The Japanese Idemitsu Kalex
rider served the drenched local
fans well as he took off in the
lead, and stayed there for ten
laps. By now Marquez had come
through to second from fourth on
lap one, and was pressing hard.
Nakagami had no reply when
the Spaniard attacked at Turn
Alex Marquez rode a
calm and measured
race to finally win
outside of Spain.
