Spaniard bags 100th podium as Martin and Bastianini go close at Phillip Island.
Marc Márquez reminded the MotoGP world that he can still challenge for wins as he battled with Álex Rins before ending second for his 100th podium at the Australian GP on Sunday.
– It has been a frustrating season for six-time champion Márquez as he started well before injury spoiled the middle of his year, however he bounced back with fourth and fifth in the last two races.
– Compatriot Jorge Martin started on pole at Phillip Island on Sunday with Márquez second on the grid as the duo pulled clear of the field and title leader Fabio Quartararo slipped down the order.
– Sadly for home hero Jack Miller, the Australian was taken out by Spaniard Álex Márquez at Turn Four – the hairpin at the famous seaside circuit that had been officially titled ‘Miller Corner just this week.
– Frenchman Quartararo crashed out at Turn Two soon after to dent his title hopes as his main rival Francesco Bagnaia began to make a charge, while Spaniard Rins powered through the field for the lead.
– The Ducati of Italian Bagnaia, though, remained strong and he had the lead with three laps to go only for Rins and Márquez to charge past him at Turn Two as the last lap began to set up a fascinating duel.
– The Repsol Honda rider threw everything at the Suzuki rider, nevertheless Rins held on to capture his first 2022 victory as Márquez banked his sole podium this campaign and Bagnaia dug in for third place.
– Márquez, 29, said: “Step by step I started to recover and I was running in a good way. I enjoyed the race and the result was the most important. The weekend was the best one so far this season.”
– Bagnaia now leads the championship for the first time in his career by 14 points over Quartararo with two races left as Italian Enea Bastianini’s fifth place leaves him fourth overall and 42 points behind Bagnaia.
– Martin finished seventh on his Ducati, Frenchman Johann Zarco eighth, South African Brad Binder 10th for Red Bull KTM, Spaniard Pol Espargaró 11th and Portuguese Miguel Oliveira down in 12th.
– Australian Remy Gardner finished 15th in front of his home fans, while Spaniard Raúl Fernández ended in 16th as Álex Márquez did not finish thanks to the incident where he took out Miller.
Australian GP result
1. Alex Rins SPA Suzuki Ecstar 40m 50.654s
2. Marc Márquez SPA Repsol Honda +0.186s
3. Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati Lenovo +0.224s
4. Marco Bezzecchi ITA Mooney VR46 Ducati +0.534s
5. Enea Bastianini ITA Gresini Ducati +0.557s
2022 MotoGP rider standings
1. Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati Lenovo 233pts
2. Fabio Quartararo FRA Monster Yamaha 219
3. Aleix Espargaro SPA Aprilia Racing 206
4. Enea Bastianini ITA Gresini Ducati 191
5. Jack Miller AUS Ducati Lenovo 179