Marquez crash but Cal flash

BRITAIN’S Cal Crutchlow held off an extraordinary ride from Valentino Rossi to win the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix yesterday as world champion Marc Marquez crashed out with 18 laps to go.

Marquez, who had clinched his third world title the previous weekend in Japan, led the race from pole position and was well clear of Crutchlow (pictured) when he crashed because of a braking error at turn four of the Philip Island circuit.

That gave the lead to Crutchlow, who held out despite Rossi climbing through the field from 15th place on the grid after his worst qualifying performance in five years.

Maverick Vinales was third after starting in 13th place.

Australian Jack Miller started from a career-best fifth position on the starting grid but quickly lost ground to finish 10th.

Crutchlow completed the race in 40 minutes, 48.5 seconds, holding out Rossi by 4.2 seconds.

When Marquez went down it was thought that tyre choice might have played a part and Crutchlow admitted to a moment of concern.

“I was terrified,” Crutchlow said. “I went really weak into that corner for the whole race.’’

Marquez dismissed tyre choice as a factor in his fall which left him unhurt.

“First of all I want to say sorry to my team because I did the mistake,” Marquez said.

“I was taking a lot of risks there at the beginning but in the end we have to be happy because we won the title but of course we would like to win more races.”

Rossi’s second place allowed him to extend his lead over Jorge Lorenzo in second place on overall championship standings with two rounds left.

Sepang in Malaysia will host the penultimate round of the season this weekend.

Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo qualified third fastest for this morning’s US Grand Prix, with Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton claiming pole ahead of Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.