Cal Crutchlow victorious, Marquez falls from the lead
Cal Crutchlow became the first ever British winner of the Australian Grand Prix with a dominant victory at Phillip Island over Valentino Rossi.
The LCR Honda rider was left clear in front when race leader and world champion Marc Marquez slid out of the race at Honda corner and Crutchlow never put a foot wrong as he closed out his second ever premier class triumph.
Crutchlow, who won a MotoGP race for the first time earlier this season at Brno, pulled away from Movistar Yamaha rider Rossi in second place and won by more than four seconds at the finish.
Rossi, who started from 15th place on the grid, scythed through the field to clinch an excellent runner-up finish as the Doctor increased his advantage to 24 points over team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in the standings in their battle for second position.
The 37-year-old was joined on the rostrum by Maverick Vinales, who put Suzuki back on the premier class podium at Phillip Island for the first time since Chris Vermeulen in 2006. Vinales also had to battle his way through the pack after qualifying in 13th on the GSX-RR.
The top six was completed by Andrea Dovizioso on the factory Ducati GP16, Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Lorenzo.
American rider Nicky Hayden's Repsol Honda return was marred following a collision with Aussie Jack Miller at Honda corner, which left the 2006 world champion in the gravel.
There was more misery for Hector Barbera, who suffered another fall on the factory Ducati as he replaced the injury-hit Andrea Iannone for the second race in succession.
Aleix Espargaro also fell after coming under pressure from team-mate Vinales in a battle for the final rostrum place, which also involved Italian rider Dovizioso.
Monster Tech 3 Yamaha's Pol Espargaro got the jump on his rivals from third place on the front row to shoot into the lead, but Marquez soon forged his way to the front on lap one and quickly began to out some daylight between himself and the chasing pack.
Crutchlow was battling with Suzuki's Espargaro for third place and made a pass stick as he slotted into second place and began his pursuit of Marquez. However, new world champion Marquez crashed out on lap nine and Crutchlow suddenly found himself in the lead on the satellite Honda.