G'day mate, from down under. MotoGP has made it's way to Australia, to the Philip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia.
Welcome to a race like none you've seen before. This is an imposing track that is also picturesque. Can the riders conquer Philip Island? We're about to find out. Only three races remain. But, you are about to see an unprecedented race. 19 laps, with a pit stop! Serious tire wear is the issue. In qualifying, Jorge Lorenzo got pole at 1:27.859 all the while, hitting a seagull during the lap. Riders will have to change tires, and bikes, once, during this race.
Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi will be on the front row. Rossi has won at Philip Island, seven times. Colin Edwards is top CRT bike. The rear tires are good for only ten laps. No rider can go more than ten laps on a rear slick tire. Jorge Lorenzo has pole. But, Marc Marquez could also clinch the title today. Nicky Hayden will stay in MotoGP. He won't go to World Superbike. But, he's now signed for Aspar Honda.
Marc Marquez will become the youngest world champ in MotoGP. Casey Stoner won here every year from 2007 until last year, in 2012, when he retired. Casey Stoner has a corner (turn three) at Philip Island, named after him. Marquez leads Jorge Lorenzo by 43 points. He has to finish ahead of Dani Pedrosa, and finish ahead of Jorge Lorenzo. We are ready to race at Philip Island, through corners like Doohan Corner, the Southern Loop, Honda Corner, Siberia, and Lukey Heights, before completing the lap down Gardner straight, named for Aussie 500cc champion, Wayne Gardner.
Can Marc Marquez become the first rookie rider to win a championship since Kenny Roberts in 1978? We'll see. The track has been repaved, and the wind off the sea, will affect the bikes. We're ready to race. Jorge Lorenzo smashed Casey Stoner's lap record. Here we go.
At the start, Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi get great starts and so does Dani Pedrosa. Marquez is second. Bradley Smith is fourth now. Into the Southern Loop and the Casey Stoner corner. Lorenzo has missed his corner entrance. Pedrosa wanted the lead into Siberia. Lorenzo said, "no way, sunshine", taking it back. Dani Pedrosa is up to second going uphill to Lukey Heights. A Ducati runs wide at MG corner. Andrea Ianonne is actually that bike.
Bradley Smith tries to defend from Valentino Rossi and Alvaro Bautista. The spare bikes are waiting, and the pit stops will happen on lap nine or ten. Jorge Lorenzo has been going quick so far. He runs a 1:28.315. That would have qualified him third. Lorenzo is flying right now! Dani Pedrosa is also fast, 4/10ths of a second quicker than his qualifying effort. Cal Crutchlow has passed Bradley Smith. Andrea Dovizioso is tenth. Colin Edwards has run wide allowing Randy de Puniet to be top CRT bike.
The softer tires blister and the harder tires don't get enough heat in them. Into Siberia, it's still Lorenzo over Marquez and Pedrosa. Andrea Ianonne passes Nicky Hayden to become top Ducati. The spare bikes are ready to go. Six more laps until the changeover. They'll all come in together. They won't change tires. They'll physically change to their spare motorcycles. Marquez is pushing hard, and pit stops are coming, fast.
Marc Marquez is pressuring Lorenzo for both the race and the championship. 14 laps left. Pit stops coming soon. Marquez and Lorenzo are on the same strategy. The championship battle is so close. Going into pit lane first is an advantage. Five laps complete. Actually, six. Four laps until the pit stop. Lap ten is halfway. Lorenzo takes a wider line into Siberia. Cal Crutchlow has passed going into fourth spot. Now, going into the pits, the speed limit is 60 kilometers an hour (37 miles per hour). Marquez comes close to Lorenzo in MG corner.
Did Lorenzo miss a shift or something? Now, we are on lap nine, into the Southern Loop. They go into the Hay Shed corner. The crews are ready. The tires are coming out of the blankets. Hit 37 miles an hour. Now, Pedrosa pits. But Lorenzo and Marquez don't. Pedrosa wil be on fresh tires. So does Bautista. Crutchlow and Rossi also stay out. Pedrosa has a very quick stop. Lorenzo and Marquez will come in together. What will Pedrosa do? Dovizioso, Ianonne, Edwards, Smith, Lukas Pesek and Damien Cudlin. Danilo Petrucci also pitted.
Marquez is staying out. What the... He's gone a lap too far. Lorenzo is in. Marquez has to pit. He's going to be set up for a penalty that could ruin his title hopes! Rossi rejoins ahead of Cal Crutchlow. Lorenzo is second behind Pedrosa. Lorenzo still has the lead. What is going to happen to Marc Marquez? Marquez does pit. But, there's something else going on. Something is wrong with Pedrosa. Take a deep breath everyone. This isn't over. Marquez and Pedrosa touch!
They fortunately don't crash. Never mind. It was Lorenzo touching Marquez. Pedrosa speeds in pit lane, stopping at the wrong line. Jorge Lorenzo continues to lead. Dani Pedrosa is second but he'll be penalized for speeding in pit lane. Marc Marquez is not in position to clinch the title in this race. Seven laps left. Marquez will have to pit again. His race is ruined. Valentino Rossi, Cal Crutchlow, and Alvaro Bautista, battle for fourth place. Rossi is ahead of Crutchlow. But, he runs wide into the Southern Loop as Marquez is passing Dani Pedrosa.
Marquez runs new fast lap at 1:28.108. Marquez is 6/10ths quicker. He's been black flagged! He won't get points. He came in one lap too late! Oh no! He has broken the rules. The penalty is for ignoring the pit window. Marquez is out of this race. Jorge Lorenzo leads, and there are showers out there now. Bryan Staring in his home race, did the same thing. He'll have to come in and get a penalty. This race is very, very confusing.
There are now 18 points in it for the title with the next race in a week. Rossi, Crutchlow and Bautista, still battle for third. Two laps to go as they come through Siberia. Dani Pedrosa sped in pit lane and will serve a penalty. A fraught race for Repsol Honda and one to forget. Alvaro Bautista wants by Cal Crutchlow, who is being balked by Rossi who has won seven times at Philip Island. Damien Cudlin is also getting black flagged for pitting too late.
It's the final lap. Jorge Lorenzo is going to win this race. Rossi holds off Crutchlow through the Honda hairpin and MG corner. Bautista passes Crutchlow. Jorge Lorenzo wins it! He's blown the championship wide open with just two races to go. Rossi gets third and Crutchlow beats Bautista to the line!
#99 Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha
The penultimate MotoGP race of the season will be next weekend in Japan, at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Motegi, Japan.
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