One of the most exciting races of the year today in Austria as Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) and Marc Marquez (Honda) had a fierce battle in the second half of the race … ending with an aggressive passing attempt by Marquez in the final corner. Dovizioso, exhibiting the judgment he has gained racing for more than two decades (since a child), more than once squared off a corner to shoot back in front of Marquez (including in the final corner)
Dovizioso took a well deserved third win of the season with Honda teammates Marquez and Dani Pedrosa finishing in second and third, respectively. Behind them, Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati) held on to fourth place after leading several laps at the beginning of the race, and then fading out of the battle for the podium positions. Behind Lorenzo, an interesting fight between three Yamahas ensued.
After a mistake by Valentino Rossi put him back in seventh position, the Yamahas of Johann Zarco and Maverick Viñales moved into fifth and sixth position. Although Viñales closed on Zarco, he was never able to pass him. Zarco crossed the line in fifth place as the first Yamaha … leaving the factory bikes of Viñales and Rossi in his wake. Impressive stuff from the rookie.
Marquez now has a 16 point lead in the championship over Dovizioso. Follow this link to full race results. For additional details and points, visit the official MotoGP site.
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Dovi and his “dress in the wind” fairing is quite spectacular. Zarco deserves a promotion.
MM is dangerous. That’s okay if he risks only himself, that’s his choice. BUT when he risks the lives of others with some of his reckless moves like he did on Dovi, he should be penalized. I admit… he’s got mad skills, even more reason he shouldn’t put others in jeopardy.
I agree. That last corner stunt was over the top. He could have harmed Dovi doing it. MM was beat but was so desperate to win he pulled a dangerous last second cheap trick. Glad Dovi overcame it to win.
They aint playin tiddly winks – its RACING. Almost every Motogp rider could be accused of “dangerous” or “reckless” moves at some point in their careers attempting to beat their opponent – its racing. There needs to be some differentiation. Lets talk about football, soccer, etc etc.etc.
I have amateur road raced bikes and as far as I’m concerned you don’t know the difference between safe & aggressive racing.
1 time I had a competitor come into a corner from behind me out of control on the left of me in a left hand corner already down as I approached the corner. Because of him I had to take evasive action or run his ass over. As it turned out I should have run his ass over. Instead I ran off the track, hit a drainage ditch and bent my front forks. End of racing for me that day before the race even started!
you thought road racing was going to be 100% safe? Especially at this elite lever where guys are paid tens of millions of dollars to win?
Be glad you weren’t hurt and that you didn’t accidentally kill the other guy, even if it was his fault.
Ask the guys who ran over Simoncelli if they would have rather killed him or run off the course and bent their forks.
re: “he pulled a dangerous last second cheap trick.”
as the robot overlord of all things Grand Prix Safety i’m going to allow it…
well that it’s then.
yep, it was a dangerous last second cheap trick… not “that’s racing”. big difference.
There is a very fine line between bold/brilliant and reckless/dangerous mostly depending on whether you are a fan of the offending rider or not.
Inspiring race and very enjoyable to watch. What a great season so far, and it’s still open with no guarantees MM93 will take it. Love seeing Dovi take three wins so far, he’s stuck it out on that tough Duc through thick and thin. Maybe this will be his year…?
On a track that favors Ducatis and to a somewhat lesser extent Hondas Zarco did an amazing job taking it to Vinales and Rossi.
How does Zarco do so well on soft/soft when everyone else running the same speeds is wearing out mediums, or hards? Kid must have a soft touch.
According to Rossi, it is because Zarco is so smooth on the bike, and he is physically small and light.
Harder compound tires don’t always last longer than softer ones. If the guys running harder compounds get a lot of wheelspin before they heat up properly, they’re not gonna get apreciably better wear.
That is quite a complement. Rossi doesn’t always have admirable comments towards Zarco.
Don’t know if you watched much Moto2, but he could ride the heck out of worn tires like no one else on the grid. He is just a really smooth operator.
Fun race to watch.
Was disappointed Rossi couldn’t have been in that mix at the end.
I think the pass MM attempted on Dovi in the final turn could have been disastrous.
It was obvious Dovi didn’t appreciate it much.
Anyway, I think this has been a great year overall to enjoy the sport.
Wow, what a race, and this is the first place where no one bitched about Marquez. I am impressed.
according to marquez his bike is now (finally) sorted out enough that he can now push the bike to it’s limit.
he said feeling the bike at it’s limit during this race was a sweet feeling and the best part of the race.
sounds like bad trouble for the rest of the pack.
re: “he said feeling the bike at it’s limit during this race was a sweet feeling and the best part of the race.”
he’s running the carbon forks. whereas they were only available initially to Ducati, it seems the “exclusive use” time is up and Ohlins has made them available to everybody and their nana (read willing to pony up) from the Bruno test on. Swedes don’t buy into the “free lunch” scam.
Q: why…?
A: they don’t have to.
but the product and the support or coast around outside the points, your choice, let us know what you decide.
buy.
A Ducati rider beating MM’s Honda, head’s up on the last lap?!?
A satellite Yamaha ahead of the factory bikes?!?
Lorenzo ahead of all of the Yamahas (that had to feel good..)?!?
A KTM in the top-10!!!???!!!???
Cats & dogs living together, I tell you..
lol…. and we thought the eclipse wasn’t coming until the 21st
It was a pretty unusual outcome, but this track really favors the Ducatis, with 9 turns in 2.68 miles it likes fast. Great race.
Got that right VLJ..there is no quit in Marquez. Amazing.
What a great race. My wife and I were up and down out of our chairs yelling at the TV, afraid to look away. Dovi has my total respect. What a brilliant ride.
I wonder how much 06 played into Dani’s mind when he and MM and Dovi got side by side. It seemed he backed off after that. Other than that, great ride by Dani coming from 7th or 8th to 3rd, for his 150th podium.
Man, I love MotoGP.
Watching this race, once again I was struck by the thought, “If only Dani had Marc’s heart….”
Often times, Dani seems just as fast as Marc. The difference is, Marc refuses to settle, unless he absolutely has to settle. The thing is, his definition of “absolutely has to” is quite different from Dani’s, or most of the others. The only time Marc settles is when he’s challenging for the championship and flat out can’t win a given race, so he makes the prudent move and takes the maximum points available. Dani makes that decision to settle so much sooner than Marc does, and with so much more room to spare.
Marc takes every last inch of track he can, while Dani puts it into Safety Mode and concedes at the drop of a hat.
Quite simply, it’s the difference between three (soon to be four) MotoGP titles, vs none.
As accurate of an assement as I have ever read.
Re: “Marc takes every last inch of track he can, while Dani puts it into Safety Mode and concedes at the drop of a hat.”
Be fair. None of these guys “puts it in safety mode”. These bikes would be TERRIFYING to a mere mortal rider. Dani has had injuries and setbacks that Marc hasn’t seen yet, as well as the professional consequences of big mistakes on the track. Dani’s career has likely been defined (unless he pulls a rabbit out of a hat), and it’s been a great one. The only “what if’s” are because of guys like Stoner & Marquez, who’ve shown us what that last 1 or 2 percent looks like.
Regardless of what MM does, Dani’s career is worthy of celebration. He’s put in lots of great rides.
Everything you just wrote there specifically supports what I said: Dani puts it in Safety Mode, and he does so with much more room to spare than Marquez, Rossi, or any of the other guys who have won all those MotoGP titles he never won.
Upholding your professional responsibility (get the best results you can through the season, miss as few races as possible, finish high in the championship) is not remotely close to “concedes at the drop of a hat”.
His average season finish over his 17 year professional career is 3.3. Only Valentino Rossi has a higher average of riders currently riding (and including Stoner, who has a 7.18).
re: “None of these guys “puts it in safety mode”.”
yeah, i’m kinda thinkin’ Dan is “keen” on safety. don’t think he ever once played with matches as a kid. i guess it’s all part of being a rock star. unbeknownst, he’s the equivalent of Brad Pitt/Tom Cruise in Spain (true story). that kind of adoration can make you soft, and it’s always been there since his 125 and 250 days.
re: “concedes at the drop of a hat”
folds like a cheap suit. even better when you get paid to do just that. good work if you can find it.
Dani is physically much smaller. He is not getting as much downforce as Marc. Makes a huge difference. His lean angles have to be different and so on.
wow what a race. basically a “conga line” of 5-6 riders at the pointy end for a good portion. even better finish. don’t think i’ve ever seen a DECOY move quite like what Marc pulled luring the Dove out to track limits and then crossing back under him…? (well maybe Vermuelen at Monza or Magny) now THAT was a true “rope a dope”. fortunately for the Dove the move didn’t work, but he was a bit “pizzedoff”… (Ross accent)
look suck it up buttercup, like the man/child said it’s MotoGP.
Win or lose, Marquez is the most fun to watch. Every practice session, every race, every lap, the guy just gives it his all.
I don’t think any other rider takes as many chances or pushes harder.
I agree. The kid is always – always – testing the limits. He more than any other rider on the grid slides that 270hp supercomputer around like a 500cc two stroke. Like him or not, it is an addictive blend of passion, determination, and work ethic he employs, and it is a treat for any fan of racing to see the result of that spill out to the the track.