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/891001
MOTOGP FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 16/ OCTOBER 22, 2017 PHILLIP ISLAND CIRCUIT / VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA P68 MotoGP 1. Marc Marquez (Hon) 2. Valentino Rossi (Yam) 3. Maverick Vinales (Yam) 4. Johann Zarco (Yam) 5. Cal Crutchlow (Hon) Moto2 1. Miguel Oliveria (KTM) 2. Brad Binder (KTM) 3. Franco Morbidelli (Kal) 4. Jesko Raffin (Kal) 5. Xavi Vierge (Tec) Moto3 1. Joan Mir (Hon) 2. Livio Loi (Hon) 3. Jorge Martin (Hon) 4. Gabrielle Rodrigo (KTM) 5. Enea Bastainini (Hon) tages, and on lap 15 teammate Loi got to second to protect him. Martin was third, then Rodrigo and Bastainini ahead of Fenati, Sasaki and Norrodin. Whatever tactics the pursu- ers were planning were nullified when a heavy squall hit as the leaders finished lap 16. The red flags came out directly, and results taken from lap 15. Suzuki was ninth, and Dalla Porta a year's best tenth on the Mahindra. And that was that for Mir, his ninth win taking him to an impregnable 296 points, with Fenati at 226, then Canet (who also crashed) 184, Martin 151 and di Giannantonio 146. "I have no words," said the Moto2-bound 20-year-old. "It has been my dream for many years, and I worked so hard. Now I am World Champion. It's incredible to say." CN of Europe after the winter test ban, and five days of private testing for each team; new rules prevent tests at any GP circuit for two weeks either side of the event. This year Ducati pre-tested at Misano, and Honda at Brno, shortly before the race. For the 2019 season, which begins in November 2018, more cuts come into effect. There will be only two official three-day pre-season tests; while teams must use two of their five days before the winter test ban at the start of December. The commission also ruled that from next season leathers fitted with approved air-bag systems will be required for all classes; laid down rules restricting Moto2 chassis manufacturers to 10 days of testing with the Triumph engines that will take over from Honda in 2019; and restricted factory teams to three wild card entries per annum. Jorge Lorenzo suffered a badly sprained ankle in a crash in free prac- tice on Saturday, one of many to fall at the difficult circuit, with most falls in the Moto2 class. And it was in Moto2 that the worst injury was incurred when Belgian Kalex rider Xavier Simeon fractured a finger on his right hand. The Belgian, bound for MotoGP in the Avin- tia Ducati team next season, required surgery, and will be out for at least one more race. Rossi's half-brother Luca Marini was also taken to hospital in Melbourne after a heavy crash on Friday sent him head over heels at high speed into the gravel. A precaution- ary scan to his stiff and painful neck revealed no serious damage, and he was billed fit to race. Aleix Espargaro also suffered a fracture to his left hand when he crashed out of Sunday's race, but the Aprilia rider hopes to be able to ride in next weekend's Malaysian GP nonetheless. Briefly... The Moto3 race was as mad as could be, but the fastest rider of the year—Joan Mir—emerged victorious and 2017 Moto3 World Champion.