The rain soaked Twin Ring Motegi circuit of Japan was witness to one of the most spectacular race finishes this season of MotoGP. Ducati Team's Andrea Dovizioso took his fifth win of this year in the Japanese Grand Prix in a final lap showdown with points leader Marc Marquez of Honda. The riders put up one of the most dramatic finishes in MotoGP as the victor seemed uncertain down to the final 'Victory' corner. Marquez finished a very close second with a gap of 0.249 seconds taking his 100th career podium, while Danilo Petrucci of Octo Pramac Racing finished third on the podium. Dovizioso has now closed the gap with Marquez down to 11 points; while Vinales is a distant third with 203 points.
undefinedIt's closing up at the front as AD04 joins the party #Japanese pic.twitter.com/Kbypn5EUGP
—(@MotoGP) October 15, 2017
(Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez battle on the last lap)
Starting from the front row, Marquez took the lead right from the start followed by Jorge Lorenzo of Ducati, Petrucci, Johann Zarco of Tech 3 Yamaha and Dovizioso further back. While Lorenzo briefly took the lead on Lap 1, Marquez was quick to fight back and regain the lead. Dovizioso had a stunning start and quickly passed rivals to take P2, as Petrucci settled into third. In the opening stages itself, it was clear that these riders will be leading the race.
(Danilo Petrucci briefly took the lead in the race but finished third)
As the riders lapped the track, Marquez and Dovizioso moved further away from the rest of the lot, with Petrucci keeping close company. On Lap 12, Marquez made his first move to take the lead from Dovizioso, and all eyes were now on the two riders as a cat and mouse chase was what it seemed like with the pair changing positions. Marquez seemed clear in the lead fending consistent attacks from Dovizioso.
This guy's going to take this thing right to the wire...@AndreaDovizioso pic.twitter.com/w6Bjw8LrjV
— MotoGP™
By the final lap, the sentiment echoed that of the Red Bull Ring fight from earlier this year between the title contenders. With Marquez still in the lead, Dovizioso was trailing behind the Honda rider by less than half a second. The Italian was waiting for Marquez to make a mistake that he would take advantage of and when time came, the Dovizioso made no mistake.
(Andrea Dovizioso sealed his career's seventh win, fifth of this season)
Marquez wobbled on Turn 8 of the final lap, allowing Dovizioso close the gap further, while the former ran wide on the final corner, the opportunity Andrea was waiting for as he made no mistake to take the lead and seal his seventh win of the career. Petrucci went to finish third, 10.38 seconds behind Dovizioso.
Further down, Suzuki's Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins finished fourth and fifth, securing their best result of the season. Lorenzo took the sixth spot, after leading the race briefly, and finished ahead of Aleix Espargaro of Aprilia Racing and Johann Zarco.
(Valentino Rossi's run ended earlier than expected as he crashed on Lap 6)
It wasn't the best day for Yamaha as Valentino Rossi as the Italian crashed on Lap 6, while Maverick Vinales finished ninth behind Zarco. Avintia Ducati's Loris Baz took the tenth place ahead of KTM rider Pol Espargaro. Yamaha's wildcard entry, Katsuyuki Nakasuga of Yamalube factory team finished 12th, ahead of Sam Lowes of Aprilia, Hector Barbera (Avintia Racing) and Tito Rabat (Marc VDS).
With respect to retirements, Honda's Dani Pedrosa retired from the race in the closing stages along with Cal Crutchlow of LCR Honda after two crashes. Aspar Ducati's Alvaro Bautista and Karel Abraham had falls and retired from the race.
