MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 17 / OCTOBER 29, 2017
SEPANG INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT / SEPANG, MALAYSIA
P66
I thought about passing Zarco,
but the risk was too big to have
a 24-point advantage rather than
21. This wasn't a race to win the
title, but to get closer to it."
A long way behind, Pedrosa
had held fifth throughout, with all
sorts of chopping and changing
in his wake. Up to half distance,
Redding (Octo Ducati) had come
close but was now dropping
away, while Petrucci was pick-
ing his way from the back and
through a pursuit group, led for a
Marquez explained: "Today
was the most difficult it could
have been for the champion-
ship. I decided not to take too
many risks, and get good points.
back into the hands of Marquez,
but was able to kick again. Nine
seconds behind the Ducatis at
the flag, he was by now eight
ahead of the fading Honda.
(Left) Dani Pedrosa missed the
podium by one position.
(Below) Points leader Marc
Marquez was hoping to clinch the
championship in Malaysia but he
played it safe in the rain.
