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Jorge Lorenzo has criticised Johann Zarco  for a move made by the Frenchman in Sunday’s Japanese GP, as the two riders came together on track in the early stages of the rain-soaked race.

"You saw what happened,” said Lorenzo. “It’s not the first time he’s done this kind of thing – with me but also with two or three other riders."

"But he keeps doing it as though he’s playing on the Playstation on time attack, like there’s no one at the side; very aggressive." 

"I went to his box but he doesn’t understand he’s doing something bad and he won’t change." Added the Majorcan 

"Someone should tell him to be more calm. He thinks he’s right and doing good, and that you or we need to be careful – not that he has to calm down."

"I would like to speak with the Safety Commission to see what we can do, because something could happen in future."

As Lorenzo pointed out, there was another high-profile incident of disagreement about the Frenchman’s aggression earlier in the year that came from Valentino Rossi after the Americas GP in Austin. But now, as then, Zarco maintains that these moments are a normal part of racing.

“I was confident with the front so in Turn 9 I could attack,” explained the Frenchman. “Then he tried to stay on the outside but when I went out the corner I didn’t see him, I didn’t think he could be there and we touched because of my acceleration I went normally on my line and we touched each other."

"It was quite a strong touch but it was normal in the race. Because I was on the inside I got the advantage. Nobody crashed is the good thing."

The rookie – who started from pole - was able to move ahead and stay ahead of the Ducati rider with the move, before starting to struggle more later in the race and moving back to cross the line in P8.

Lorenzo, meanwhile, dropped back earlier as he suffered with rear grip – but was able to counteract the problem somewhat by sliding the rear to generate more temperature in the tyre, fighting back up to sixth at the flag.

source: motogp.com

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There have been some incredible races for Danilo Petrucci so far this season, but the Italian rider - despite leading - hasn't quite been able to crack the top step.

Losing out most marginally at Assen and then now again at Motegi after leading for half race distance, Petrucci says it's what he's racing to achieve.

“This is what I’m here to achieve,” said the Italian when asked if he’d been thinking about it – and he had.

“I was starting to think about my first win but there’s always the same problems: Dovi and Marc! But they had an incredible race, pushing until the last lap, and it was fun to watch from behind.”

Despite the recurring problem of Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez, the Italian was pleased with the podium – and knew the extra soft rear tyre would be a gamble.

“I decided to gamble before the race to put on the extra soft tyre,” says Petrucci.

“At the beginning the bike was very good, and I wasn’t pushing 100%. Then I got a lot of spinning at the rear and the conditions were critical – I couldn’t open the throttle fully on the straight. But I’m happy about my result.”

Next up is Sepang, where the weather can always be a question, and Petrucci eager to give it another shot.

source: motogp.com

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Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez  battled like it was dry in the Japanese GP, with everything coming down to the last lap and last corner.

And like in Austria, it was Dovizioso who won - prepared for the move and able to keep in front over the line. The Italian had been in the lead initially with six laps to go, but then the situation called for a Plan B.

"When I overtook him I wanted to make a gap,” explains the Italian,

"but I didn’t have the rear tyre. So it was just about strategy and being in the right place at the right time. I saw him struggling and I was struggling, but maybe he was over the limit and he made a mistake."

"Already at the start of the lap I knew I would have to do everything perfect two corners before to have the chance."

"I knew Turn 11 was my break, but there were two corners remaining and I knew that anything could happen. It was so exciting to be in this race, to fight with Marc always is, and it was important for the Championship." Added Dovizioso

That it was, with the gap now down to 11 points between the two with three races remaining. But, says Dovizioso, he wasn’t thinking about the Championship:

“Today we didn’t think about the Championship – our speed and the battle were amazing. In the middle of the race I wasn’t as fast as them but I didn’t give up and for sure I took some risks. But I didn’t give up; that was the key to my race.” Commented the Spaniard

Marquez certainly agrees on the risk – and how incredible the race was. “It’s amazing to fight how we did today, and in the rain,” says the reigning Champion.

“We knew before here that it would be difficult, but we tried and in the wet I felt good…but today with a lot of water was more difficult. I pushed and took the risk for a few laps but Dovi was able to be fast, then I made a mistake at Turn 8…my bike was shaking from the slipstream into Turn 11!"

"Today second is ok because we’re in front, but I took a lot of risk. I said I’d try at the last corner and see how it goes like Austria, but it’s great and I’m happy. I’m taking a lot of risk and I don’t know who will win the Championship.”

Dovizioso, meanwhile, seems to think Marquez still has better odds – but echoed his sentiments from the Pre-Event Press Conference.

“It will be very difficult to beat him in the Championship,” confirms the Italian, “but like I said on Thursday, I will try.”

source: motogp.com

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In pouring rain at the Twin Ring Motegi, Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez staged one of the greatest MotoGP duels of all time, putting everything on the line down to the final lap and the final corner.

And despite the best efforts of the reigning Champion, it was Andrea Dovizioso who emerged victorious from ‘Victory’ corner in Japan – taking his fifth win of the season, the seventh of his career, and one of the most spectacular in history.

Marquez was an incredibly close second for his 100th career podium, with Danilo Petrucci completing the podium.

It was Marquez took the lead off the front row, with Jorge Lorenzo soon pouncing on the first lap to take second and then take over in the lead.

Marquez was followed by Petrucci and Johann Zarco, with Dovizioso staging a stunning start to tag on the back. Marquez then fought back as Lorenzo moved back slightly, before Petrucci struck at the front and the trio who would head the remaining laps was decided: Petrucci, Marquez, and Dovizioso.

As the laps ticked down, the two title contenders remained locked together and Petrucci found some clear air in the lead. But with 12 laps to go Marquez made his first move to take over, with ‘DesmoDovi’ then through on his compatriot to keep close company with the Championship leader. They pulled away, and the stage was set.

With six laps to go, Dovizioso attacked at Turn 6, and the cat and mouse continued. Marquez then hit back with a brutal pass in Turn 3 with three laps to go, and the fuse was lit.

Dueling it out with some of the most spectacular racing of the season – and in the pouring rain – it seemed Marquez was holding the cards as the final lap approached.

Pushing hard to catch the race and Championship leader, the gap was hovering just over half a second for Dovizioso, until Marquez suddenly suffered a moment at Turn 8 and the Ducati was back on him.

The Italian struck to take the lead soon after and prepared himself for the aptly-named victory corner - knowing the number 93 was close behind and undoubtedly with Austria on his mind.

The door didn’t prove closed for Marquez as he shot up the inside, but Dovizioso was prepared for the move and kept it together as the Repsol Honda headed wide.

Almost neck and neck over the line, it was ‘DesmoDovi’ who took the victory in a duel that will go down in history – and he cuts the gap to 11 points at the top.

Behind the trio on the rostrum it was a stunning ride for Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) into fourth, as the Italian picked his way through from P12 on the grid as was able to close in on his teammate Alex Rins, then getting past him in the latter stages. Rins was top rookie after his own display of brilliance, however, earlier shadowing Zarco and then moving through as the Frenchman faded.

After dropping back after a stunning start, Jorge Lorenzo was able to move back past those ahead of him to cross the line in sixth for another good haul of points – getting back Aleix Espargaro as his final victim, with the Spaniard coming seventh.

Zarco faded in the latter stages to head home in P8, ahead of a difficult day for Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP). Viñales is now 41 points off Marquez at the top of the table.

Loris Baz completed the top ten as he sliced through in the rain, with Pol Espargaro taking another top result for the Austrian factory in P11.

In twelfth, it was wildcard Yamalube Factory Racing rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga – 2017 Suzuka 8H winner and former MotoGP podium finisher – as the Japanese veteran impressed as ever.

Sam Lowes took his best ever result and some good points in P13, with the points scorers completed by Hector Barbera and Tito Rabat. Valentino Rossi crashed out of contention, but rider ok.

Now the Championship heads for the legendary Phillip Island, with the gap at the top now cut down to 11 points and three rounds remaining. Motegi was a duel that will go down in history, as will 2017. But with whose name engraved on the trophy?

Full race result:

Pos Rider Team Km/h Time/Gap
1 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati Team 146.3 47'14.236
2 Marc MARQUEZ Repsol Honda Team 146.3 0.249
3 Danilo PETRUCCI OCTO Pramac Racing 145.8 10.557
4 Andrea IANNONE Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 145.3 18.845
5 Alex RINS Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 145.1 22.982
6 Jorge LORENZO Ducati Team 145.1 24.464
7 Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 144.9 28.01
8 Johann ZARCO Monster Yamaha Tech 3 144.8 29.475
9 Maverick VIÑALES Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 144.4 36.575
10 Loris BAZ Reale Avintia Racing 143.8 48.506
11 Pol ESPARGARO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 143.5 56.357
12 Katsuyuki NAKASUGA Yamalube Yamaha Factory Racing 143.3 +1'00.181
13 Sam LOWES Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 143.2 +1'00.980
14 Hector BARBERA Reale Avintia Racing 143.1 +1'03.118
15 Tito RABAT EG 0,0 Marc VDS 143.1 +1'03.514
16 Scott REDDING OCTO Pramac Racing 143.1 +1'04.162
17 Bradley SMITH Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 143 +1'06.271
18 Hiroshi AOYAMA EG 0,0 Marc VDS 142.6 +1'13.250
DNF Alvaro BAUTISTA Pull&Bear Aspar Team 142.6 3 Laps
DNF Dani PEDROSA Repsol Honda Team 143 4 Laps
DNF Karel ABRAHAM Pull&Bear Aspar Team 133.9 5 Laps
DNF Cal CRUTCHLOW LCR Honda 137.6 10 Laps
DNF Valentino ROSSI Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 142 19 Laps
DNF Kohta NOZANE Monster Yamaha Tech 3 137.6 21 Laps

source: motogp.com

 

         

 

 

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