- 2023-10-22
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SPORTS
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MotoGP Australian GP: Johann Zarco Takes Maiden MotoGP Win at Phillip Island
The Round 16 of MotoGP 2023, MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix took place at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Phillip Island on October 21, 2023.
This time, the main race swapped places with the sprint race due to the extreme weather forecast for Phillip Island on Sunday (October 22), and was held after Qualifying on Saturday (October 21).
In Qualifying, Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) took the pole position with a new lap record 1'27.246s.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) was 2nd behind Jorge Martin by 0.416s.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) had to participate Q1 as with the previous Indonesian GP, but this time, he advanced to Q2 and took 3rd.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati), and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Ducati) kept 2nd row start.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) advanced to Q2 from Q1 along with Francesco Bagnaia, and was 7th ahead of home hero Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing).
Alex Rins (LCR Honda) withdrew Qualifying due to suffer with pain in his right leg despite having made a successful return from injury last weekend in Indonesia.
In the Race, Johann Zarco took his maiden MotoGP™ win. This marks his first victory in the premier class in his 120th attempt since the 2016 Moto 2 world title.
Francesco Bagnaia finished 2nd. Fabio Di Giannantonio scored his first MotoGP podium in third.
Brad Binder was 4th. Poleman Jorge Martin led the race until the final lap, but began to struggle a soft rear tyre gradually, was overtaken by four riders including Johann Zarco, Francesco Bagnaia, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Brad Binder on the final lap, ended up 5th.
Some way behind the lead group, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Ducati) was 6th, following him, home hero Jack Miller was 7th and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) finished 8th.
Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo), rounded out the top 10.
Johann Zarco said, “It feels good. Sometimes you always push and try to catch [this feeling] but sometimes there are other riders that have the pace and have this feeling. As long as you don't catch it, it seems like you cannot win. Like Pecco did three years ago, he has been fighting with the Ducati and won so many races. Jorge… it is his time now. Also, in qualifying he is doing amazing and can control the races, but this one was a special one. Choosing the medium rear tyre was important. I had been thinking when I saw Jorge pull away to at least fight for the podium and this second place. I knew it wouldn't be easy but it was possible. But in the last five laps when Jorge began to drop a lot I thought something even more special was possible today. I'm so happy to have done it. Special emotion. Maybe we can do long races on a Saturday for me. I had to be behind Jorge on the last two laps or last lap because I saved my rear tyre and wanted to catch this acceleration on the last lap that I'm used to having. I could not do it earlier in the race because I would have used too much tyre. I did the manoeuvre at the right moment. I understand with five laps to go that it was possible to catch Jorge. I thought I could also overtake him at turn six, like I did with Marc. But if I had waited at turn four I could have been attacked by another rider. It was important to attack to not be attacked.”
MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix Qualifying Results- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / 1'27.246s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / +0.416s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / +0.468s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +0.598s
- Johann Zarco / Pramac Ducati / +0.657s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / Gresini Ducati / +0.673s
- Marc Marquez / Repsol Honda / +0.766s
- Jack Miller / Red Bull KTM / +0.828s
- Maverick Viñales / Aprilia Racing / +0.847s
- Marco Bezzecchi / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +0.875s
- Pol Espargaro / Tech3 GASGAS / +0.988s
- Enea Bastianini / Ducati Lenovo / +1.041s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / 1'28.324s
- Augusto Fernandez / Tech3 GASGAS / 1'28.435s
- Raul Fernandez / RNF Aprilia / 1'28.607s
- Joan Mir / Repsol Honda / 1'28.841s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / 1'28.925s
- Luca Marini / Mooney VR46 Ducati / 1'29.047s
- Miguel Oliveira POR / Aprilia / 1'29.182s
- Franco Morbidelli / Monster Yamaha / 1'29.419s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / 1'29.832s
MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix Race Results- Johann Zarco / Pramac Ducati / 40m 39.446s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / +0.201s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / Gresini Ducati / +0.477s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / +0.816s
- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / +1.008s
- Marco Bezzecchi / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +8.827s
- Jack Miller / Red Bull KTM / +9.283s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +9.387s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +9.696s
- Enea Bastianini / Ducati Lenovo / +12.523s
- Maverick Viñales / Aprilia Racing / +13.992s
- Luca Marini / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +17.078s
- Miguel Oliveira / RNF Aprilia / +19.443s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / +20.949s
- Marc Marquez / Repsol Honda / +21.118s
- Raul Fernandez / RNF Aprilia / +32.538s
- Franco Morbidelli / Monster Yamaha / +37.663s
- Pol Espargaro / Tech3 GASGAS / +37.668s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / +37.758s
Photo by MotoGP- source : MotoGP
