Marquez roars into title mode
MARC MARQUEZ has one hand on a fourth world crown after winning an Australian thriller at Phillip Island.
This sixth victory by the Repsol Honda rider, his 35th all told, took him 33 points clear of Andrea Dovizioso with only two races remaining, leaving Marquez needing only a second place to take the sixth title of a remarkable Grand Prix career.
Marquez had a real fight amid a six-rider scrap for supremacy before he made the decisive move with eight laps to go. “It was such an amazing race,” said Marquez after finishing 1.799secs clear of Valentino Rossi and his Movistar Yamaha teammate Maverick Vinales.
“I’m very happy, as I knew this race was important. Dovi was struggling a little this weekend, while I was feeling really good on the bike and I had to make the best of it.
“I was thinking I had to stay calm and manage the tyres but then Johann Zarco hit me and I realised it was going to be a battle. I was in a group of fighters. I knew I had to push and defend but also to attack.” Dovizioso was never in the hunt, starting his Ducati from the fourth row he finished in 13th.
Jonathan Rea continued his domination of World Superbikes – he had completed a third title in as many years in the previous French round – as he clinched a winning double in the Spanish penultimate round at Jerez.
Behind him, the duel for runner-up hotted up as Chaz Davies, second and third, levelled on 363 points with Tom Sykes ahead of next month’s Qatar decider.