Marco Bezzecchi Recovers From Hitting Seagull To Win Australian Motogp Sprint Race

Marco Bezzecchi deed a seagull but still won a white-knuckle Australian MotoGP sprint title connected Saturday, while Alex Marquez’s sixth-place inched him person to sealing 2nd successful nan world championship.

France’s Fabio Quartararo threw down nan gauntlet successful qualifying erstwhile he shattered Bezzecchi’s Phillip Island thigh grounds group a time earlier to slope his 5th rod of nan season.

But nan laser-focused Italian, starting from second, simply had excessively overmuch powerfulness successful his Aprilia to clinch his 3rd sprint triumph successful nan past 4 races.

He did truthful contempt colliding pinch a vertebrate astatine nan start, which near feathers hanging from his bike.

Gresini’s Marquez stormed from sixth to first astatine nan opening corner, but by nan extremity of thigh 1 it was chap Aprilia rider Raul Fernandez intimately followed by Bezzecchi pinch Quartararo down to sixth.

They opened a spread to Marquez earlier Fernandez seemingly took power erstwhile Bezzecchi went wide connected thigh seven, losing a second.

But Bezzecchi regrouped and came surging back, passing nan Spaniard connected thigh 10 and cruising location up of him to triumph by 3.149secs.

“It was a beautiful difficult because astatine nan opening I deed a large bird, unluckily for him, especially, but besides for me, because I sewage scared,” Bezzecchi said.

“But fortunately thing was surgery connected nan bike. Then erstwhile we started nan sprint, I had a batch of fun.”

Bezzecchi celebrates connected nan podium aft his sprint win. Photograph: Joel Carrett/EPA

Fernandez was second, Pedro Acosta filled nan podium successful third, pinch Jack Miller 4th and Fabio Di Giannantonio 5th successful chilly conditions. Quartararo came seventh.

“I was very relaxed connected nan bike. I saw Marco had really bully pace,” said Fernandez. “I tried my maximum, but erstwhile I saw that I couldn’t travel Marco, I conscionable tried to survive.”

Bezzecchi’s exploits came successful nan absence of recently crowned world champion Marc Marquez, who needed enarthrosis room aft nan Italian slammed into him successful Indonesia a fortnight ago.

Bezzecchi must service a double long-lap punishment – fundamentally five-to-six seconds – successful Sunday’s main title for causing nan incident, making his chances winning that title overmuch harder.

Alex Marquez, Marc’s younger brother, stretched his lead complete two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia successful nan conflict to clinch 2nd successful nan standings to 92 points.

He needs to beryllium 111 points clear astatine nan extremity of nan play to seal nan deal.

Australian ends MotoGP front-row drought

In an earlier qualifying convention for Sunday’s expansive prix, Australia’s Miller qualified connected nan beforehand statement for nan first clip successful much than 2 years, grabbing 3rd spot.

Quartararo group a caller thigh grounds to declare pole, pipping Bezzecchi successful second.

But Pramac Yamaha rider Miller pulled disconnected nan astonishment of nan session, lifting himself from Q1 to unafraid third.

Australia’s Jack Miller smiles aft finishing 3rd during qualifying. Photograph: Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images

It was nan first clip successful 749 days Miller has managed to get connected nan beforehand row, giving himself a chance of pulling disconnected a maiden Australian MotoGP win.

“I was honestly really shocked,” nan 30-year-old said. “Even connected nan first tally there, conscionable happy to get done Q1.

“I was really happy pinch nan first emotion and we improved connected nan clip connected nan utilized tyre.”

Ideal conditions astatine nan location Victorian way person allowed for riders to put down immoderate sizzling times.

Less than 24 hours aft Bezzecchi claimed nan thigh grounds successful believe and became nan first rider to spell nether 1.27, Quartararo took it to different level connected Saturday pinch a clip of 1.26.465.

Miller connected his Prima Pramac Yamaha connected Saturday. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

After enduring a difficult play to beryllium 18th successful nan title standings, Miller thought his clip was slow owed to being truthful acold down Quartararo.

Miller’s chances of a breakthrough triumph will beryllium boosted by nan truth Bezzecchi needs to service nan double long-lap penalty.

The main title connected Sunday has been shifted backmost an hr owed to looming bedewed weather. Organisers confirmed nan Australian GP will commencement astatine 3pm connected Sunday, alternatively of 2pm, pinch up to 4mm of rainfall and damaging winds forecast for Phillip Island.

With Agence France-Presse and Australian Associated Press