- 2024-10-21
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MotoGP Australian GP: Marc Marquez Claims Dramatic Victory at Phillip Island
Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix watched Marc Marquez (Gresini Ducati) claimed his third victory of the season at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Phillip Island on October 20, 2024.
Poleman Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) was 2nd behind Marc Marquez by 0.997 seconds. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) finished in 3rd place.
This marks Jorge Martin extended a 20-point gap over Francesco Bagnaia in the riders' standings with three races remaining in the 2024 season.
Jorge Martin led the race, followed by Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati) and Francesco Bagnaia, while Marc Marquez struggled at the start due to a tear-off sticker getting stuck under his rear tire, dropping him to 13th.
Marco Bezzecchi had taken the long lap penalty he’d been issued for causing a collision with Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) in the sprint and drooped to 19th.
Marc Marquez recovery ran to take 3rd behind them by lap 6 and passed to take 2nd Francesco Bagnaia on lap 12.
He overtook Jorge Martin on lap 24 and extended his lead to take the checkered flag.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati) was 4th ahead of Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo), Franco Morbidelli (Pramac Ducati), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) and Maverick Vinales.
Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) did not start the race due to pain from his left shoulder caused by a highside in the Sprint race.- Marc Marquez said, “Always something happens. I never pull the tear-off at the start because it is dangerous. But this time, as I put the holeshot of the bike [on], something was super-big [in front of my eyes]. I didn't have a chance [to think]. I took it off. Unluckily it went under my wheel. I saw it, I tried to remove it but it was impossible. When I released the clutch it started to spin. I don't know where I was at the first corner but I overtook many riders. I thought it was impossible to catch Martin, then on lap five or six I was more calm. I was saving the tyre to have the last attack. In the end it was my fault, because it's not a rule but with the riders we speak together to try to avoid removing the tear-off on the grid, for you and also for the others. But this time I didn't have a choice.”
- Jorge Martin said, “It was a great weekend, doing the pole position, winning yesterday and being on the podium today. I wanted to win. I tried my best. But actually the feeling wasn't like yesterday. I was struggling to put the power on the ground so I couldn't make a gap to Pecco and Marc, who both improved from yesterday, even though my race was quite strong. In the middle of the race, I started to feel a bit better but then I almost crashed in corner 1. Pecco overtook me, but straight away I was attacking back. I tried to stay in first position for the last few laps, but Marc had nothing to lose, so it was much more difficult from my side to battle. I tried to be close, but he had something else. Maybe not in terms of speed, but in terms of the risk that he can take, or the risk that I can take. I just thought, 'wow, he's aggressive'. [Turn 4] was the only point where I think he was stronger than me. I was struggling a lot with the right side of the front tyre from the 5th-6th lap and it was the only place where I could hear him right behind me.”
Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix Race Results- Marc Marquez / Gresini Ducati / 39m 47.702s
- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / +0.997s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / +10.100s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / VR46 Ducati / +12.997s
- Enea Bastianini / Ducati Lenovo / +13.310s
- Franco Morbidelli / Pramac Ducati / +15.434s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / +15.450s
- Maverick Viñales / Aprilia Racing / +16.636s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / +18.757s
- Raul Fernandez / Trackhouse Aprilia / +19.345s
- Jack Miller / Red Bull KTM / +19.932s
- Johann Zarco / LCR Honda / +20.295s
- Alex Rins / Monster Yamaha / +22.210s
- Luca Marini / Repsol Honda / +24.239s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +24.591s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +30.499s
- Augusto Fernandez / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / +30.533s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / +30.765s
- Marco Bezzecchi / VR46 Ducati / +45.393s
Photo by MotoGP - source : MotoGP
