Ducati Corse’s Andrea Dovizioso became MotoGP’s ninth different winner in 2016 after taking a sensational second career premier class victory in a wet Malaysian Grand Prix.
Rain had been threatening proceedings all weekend, and just moments before the race was due to get underway a torrential downpour forced a delay. After a 20-minute wait, the 19-lap Malaysian Grand Prix got underway with Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo taking the holeshot.
However, the Spaniard’s time at the front only lasted five corners as Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez scythed his way past. Dovizioso got in on the action also, and majestically swooped by the pair of them into Turn 7. The Spaniards then fell victim to Valentino Rossi, the Italian mugging the two of them on the brakes at Turn 9.
The nine-time World Champion took the lead from his compatriot at the penultimate corner, whilst Dovi’s Ducati teammate Andrea Iannone stole second away from him at Turn 15. Iannone used the grunt of the Desmosedici GP16 to great effect down the pit straight and took the lead into the first corner.
The Ducati rider, making his Grand Prix return after four races sidlined with a back injury, held onto the lead for the next few laps, repelling several attacks from Rossi on the fifth and sixth tours. The Yamaha rider eventually made a move stick into Turn 1, whilst behind Marquez was setting the pace in fourth now that his carbon brakes had come up to working temperature.
Iannone and Rossi continued to trade blows as they diced for the lead, all the while Dovizioso kept in touch with Marquez and Australian Grand Prix winner Cal Crutchlow homing in as well. However, the Briton’s valiant charge, riding with a fracture in his left hand, came to an end on lap 12 when he crashed at Turn 2.
Twitter: #CC35 has crashed out of the top 5 down at turn 2!
#MalaysianGP https://t.co/sXZQz46CNF (@MotoGP)
On the same lap, Dovi grew tired of sitting behind his teammate and pounced at Turn 7 to take second. More drama struck behind, as Marquez threw a chance at the victory into the gravel for the second race in a row. The Spaniard was able to remount, but he was now outside of the points. A lap later, another podium contender came unstuck, with Iannone tucking the front-end under braking for Turn 9.
Twitter: #MM93 goes down for the second week in a row!! He’s trying to rejoin!
#MalaysianGP https://t.co/iQuJIN5Kmn (@MotoGP)
This attrition meant that the fight for the victory was now between Rossi and Dovizioso, the Ducati rider rapidly hunting down his countryman. Rossi’s hopes of a first Sepang win since 2010 were dashed when he made a mistake at Turn 1 with five laps to go, the Italian running into some serious grip issues with his front tyre.
This allowed Dovizioso into the lead with ease, and the Ducati rider simply cruised his way to the chequered flag to take his first MotoGP victory since the 2009 British Grand Prix. Rossi was forced to back off in the final few laps but still crossed the line a fine second to secure runner-up spot in the world championship standings ahead of teammate Lorenzo. The Spaniard rounded out the top three having dropped off the pace early doors, Lorenzo only making the rostrum by virtue of the fallers in front of him.
The top five was completed by the Avintia Racing Team, Hector Barbera muscling his way past Loris Baz in the latter stages to take his best result of the season and the Spanish squad’s second double to five finish of 2016. Suzuki’s Maverick Vinales rounded out the top six, his hopes of third in the standings taking a big knock with Lorenzo finishing on the podium. The Spaniard heads to final round with a sizeable 17-point disadvantage to the man he’ll replace at Yamaha next season.
Aprilia’s Alavro Bautista took his ninth top 10 finish of the season in seventh ahead of Jack Miller, Pol Espargaro and Danilo Petrucci. Marquez recovered from his tumble to finish 11th, with Eugene Laverty, Aleix Espargaro, Bradley Smith and Scott Redding the last of the points scorers. Hiroshi Aoyama, on his second MotoGP appearance this year, was 17th with Stefan Bradl 18th after an early fall. Tito Rabat crossed the line last of the classified runners.
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