Dovizioso’s Malaysia win extends title fight

DUCATI’S Andrea Dovizioso won a dramatic and damp Malaysian MotoGP grand prix yesterday to keep his world title hopes afloat after championship leader Marc Marquez finished fourth.

“Yes, I am happy to keep my championship challenge alive,” he said at the trackside.

The Italian adopted a cool strategy and worked hard to stay in the front pack as a downpour just before the start left standing water on much of the Sepang circuit.

Dovizioso, who now has six wins this season, quickly defused speculation t hat teammate Jorge Lorenzo had been under orders to let him through at turn 15 when the Spaniard was in the lead.

“He lost the front. I [also] lost the front many times,” the Italian said.

Dov i zioso who sta r ted on the front row, crossed the line in 44 minutes 51.497 seconds. Loren zo was 0.743 seconds s lower, wh i le French ma n Joha nn Za rco was t hi rd at 45: 01.236. Dovizioso, 31, won at Sepang last year in similar wet conditions

L oren z o sa id he pushed hard for v ictor y but lost his grip in lap 15 when he tried to brea k.

A sked i f t here had been any tea m instr uctions to let Dovizioso win, Lorenzo told repor ter s : “Honest ly, I d id not s e e a ny t h i ng. I n t he r a i n you c a n not lose a ny concentration.

“I wanted to win the race but was not prepared to do some- thing crazy. I lost grip in the front in turn 15. I thought I was going to crash. I did not want to crash into Dovizioso.”

Zarco, who rode a brilliant race, set an electric pace to lead most of the way. He said he enjoyed riding fast at Sepang and was glad to secure a podium finish.

“It is OK that Lorenzo and Dovizioso overtook me. They are much better riders,” Zarco said. “I am happy with a third position. We had a good day. I a m h ig h ly mot ivated for t he sea son-end i ng race Valencia.”

Spain’s Marquez, who started from the third row on a Honda and was under intense pressure to wrap up the championship battle in Malaysia, quickly moved up to third in a fast-riding pack led by Zarco but could not maintain his pace on the wet track.

T he r ider s w i l l meet i n Valencia on November 12 for t he f i na l showdow n, w it h Marquez leading Dov i zioso by 21 points. i n