by H. Mayor – photo: motogp.com | One of Marc Marquez’s strengths throughout his MotoGP career has always been his precise timing and risk management on the track. At Misano he was faced with one of those big decisions whose consequences would go beyond winning the race or not. He took the risky choice… and got it right. He performed a very tight overtaking manoeuvre on Petrucci on the last lap which got him to the top of the podium and gave him the championship leadership back. With Marquez now drawing level at the lead with Dovizioso (who has the second positions’ record), the championship gets a new twist with just five races left ahead.
Andrea Dovizioso gave his best ever performance at San Marino achieving a well deserved third position at a circuit which has traditionally been challenging for him and with the added difficulty of the wet tarmac. He is now tied with the Spaniard at the top of the standings with 199 points each, reducing the championship victory, together with Viñales (who is just 16 points behind them), to a three people business. Convalescing Rossi and Pedrosa are now too far behind (at 42 and 49 points distance each respectively) to pose a threat. The way things are we are all in for a pulsating battle at the final race.
Jorge Lorenzo
Jorge Lorenzo gave the other surprise of the day, although the joy didn’t last for long. All eyes were set on him following his lightning start despite his not very proficient command of wet-weather races. At Misano he flew on board his bike, taking the lead and setting a few fast laps until he crashed at 22 laps from the end and while holding a very comfortable 5 second margin over the rest of the group. Petrucci, the other star of the day, was then leader followed by Marquez and Dovizioso by a slender margin. Pedrosa on the other hand had an arduous morning fighting for some hard-won points.
When the rain broke (but with the tarmac still wet), Marquez, unlike Dovizioso, changed to dry tyres. Things remained unchanged until the end when the Italian rider was finally left behind as the duel Petrucci-Marquez grew in intensity. This time Marc chose to take a risk: a phenomenal overtake on the very last lap which gave him the victory and made the Championship yet more exciting.
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