Marquez losss a drop outside the top 10 to battle his way back in front and triumph his third race of the season as Bagnaia finishes third.
Six-time champion Marc Marquez of Gresini Racing put on a master class to triumph the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) ahead of world championship directer Jorge Martin at Phillip Island, with Francesco Bagnaia relegated to third.
Polesitter and sprint triumphner Martin of Prima Pramac Racing fired off the line on Sunday, while fellow Spaniard Marquez endured yet another disastrous begin, droping rapidly down the order before mercilessly finding his way back to seal his third triumph of the season.
Marquez qualified second on the grid, but dropped outside the top 10 at the commence when his tear-off got stuck under his rear tyre. He had also recovered from a lower commence to come second in the sprint on Saturday.
The 31-year-ageder, third in the championship standings, has now won the Australian MotoGP four times in the premier class.
“It was always someslenderg happening, but I’ve never pulled the tear-off in the commence before,” Marquez said.
“This time, when I was putting the front device on, I saw someslenderg was super huge here and I didn’t have a chance so I took it off … and when I freed the clutch I began to spin.
“I don’t comprehend where I was in the first corner but I clearook many riders and I thought that one time was impossible to catch Martin. Then in lap five or six I commenceed to get the rhythm and it was more quiet, it was a bit stressful but I’m super satisfyd …
“It’s genuine that Martin pushed thcimpolite all the race, and I was saving the tyre to have the last lap.”
While Martin led most of the 27-lap race, he and Marquez swapped places in the final moments before Marquez came out on top. Martin’s second-place finish lengthened his direct over twice MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia at the top of the world championship by 20 points.
Having qualified fifth, Bagnaia came third to finish an all-Ducati podium. With three races left in the campaign, Bagnaia, who struggled to align Marquez and Martin’s pace all weekend, will set his sights on next week’s Thailand Grand Prix.
“It was a difficult race for brave,” Martin said. “I had a strong pace but the experienceing wasn’t the same as yesterday, the triumphd was repartner strong so I commenceed to leave out the front.”
Italian duo Fabio Di Giannantonio and Enea Bastianini were the other two riders in the top five in Australia.
Red Bull GasGas Tech3’s 20-year-ageder rookie Pedro Acosta leave outed the race after suffering a crash in the sprint.
Advantage Martinator 📈 @88jorgemartin exits Phillip Island with a hefty 20-point gap on @PeccoBagnaia 💪#AustralianGP 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/5368Uccwsl
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 20, 2024