Dramatic win for Dovizioso
Ducati rider still in hunt for title
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.
Italy’s Franco Morbidelli clinched the Moto2 world championship at yesterday’s Malaysian Grand Prix, which was won by Miguel Oliveira.
Morbidelli, who finished third, took the title even before the race started when rival Thomas Luthi withdrew after hurting his foot in Saturday’s qualifying.
Morbidelli is the first Italian to win a Moto2 title since Marco Simoncelli in 2008.
South African rookie Brad Binder continued his resurgence with a second consecutive podium place after claiming second spot.
Dovizioso, who now has six wins this season, quickly defused speculation that 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.
Dovizioso who started on the front row, crossed the line in 44min 51.497sec.
Lorenzo was 0.743sec slower while Frenchman Johann Zarco was third at 45:01.236.
Dovizioso, 31, won at Sepang last year in similar wet conditions
Lorenzo said he pushed hard for victory but lost his grip in lap 15 when he tried to break.
Asked if there had been any team instructions to let Dovizioso win, he said: “Honestly, I did not see anything. In the rain you cannot lose any concentration.
“I wanted to win the race but was not prepared to do something 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 okay Lorenzo and Dovizioso overtook me. They are much better riders,” Zarco said.
Spain’s Marquez quickly moved up to third in a fast-riding pack led by Zarco but could not maintain his pace on the wet track.
The riders will meet in Valencia on November 12 for the final showdown, with Marquez leading Dovizioso by 21 points. – AFP