MOTO GP – Austrian GP – Race

On the paper, there was quite a posibility that the race could have rain on the track, but nobody imagine how this could impact the outcome of the race. A race that was expected to be one way, but ended on a complete different tone

Race begin with a contested battle up front, as Martin, Quartararo, Bagnaia, Marquez, Miller and Zarco were on the hunt for the lead. With Bagnaia up front followed by Martin and Marquez up front on the first laps.

On the following laps, there was the concern that the rain could appeard, but it was not enough to make a bike change, Quartararo started to charge on the front, overtaking both Martin and Marquez, as the Yamaha started a fight for the lead with the Ducati of Bagnaia

Half of the race done, Bagnaia was still keeping the lead from Quartararo and Marquez, meanwhile Martin, Zarco, Mir, Miller and Binder were separated from the leading group. Bagnaia was using the straight speed to defend of the attacks of Quartararo, meanwhile Marquez was looking for an opportunity to gain against the Frenchman.

Marquez found its way to make a strong charge, as the Spaniard forced Quartararo to made a late brake on turn 2. Now Marquez was chasing Bagnaia for the lead. Johann Zarco and Miguel Oliveira had to abandon after sepatated incidents on track.

Meanwhile the battle was intense up front, the situation started to shaken up, as the track started to get wet because of the rain. With Miller and Rins being the first ones to enter. Eveyone was on the desicion if they should keep the slicks or get on the pits for a bike change. As some laps passed by, the leading group became larger, as Martin, Mir and Binder joined the party. As riders were fighting to keep control on track with slick tires. Eventually everyone entered to the box, except for Brad Binder, who went all in and stayed ln track for the last laps

Now the top 5 was composed by Brad Binder, Aleix Espargaro, Valentino Rossi, Iker Lecuona and Luca Marini on maybe the most unexpected outcome possible, as they were chased by the leading group on wet tyres. The struggle was real on the riders, as they constantly were fighting to keep the traction on track, even the riders with the wet bike were having problems, as Mark Marquez lose control on the first turn, as Quartararo almost crashed with him.

The last lap was a crazy one, as the wet bike group finally catch up with the slick bike group, Bagnaia and Martin overtook Rossi, Lecuona, Marini and Aleix Espargaro, chasing down on Brad Binder, as the South African rider fighted on the tricky conditions and gain his 2nd career win on MotoGP. Bagnaia and Martin closed the podium on a late comeback, as championship leader finishes 7th and minimize what could have beem a bigger lose on points advantage.

Race Results:

1. Brad Binder /// 2. Francesco Bagnaia /// 3. Jorge Martin
4. Joan Mir /// 5. Luca Marini /// 6. Iker Lecuona
7. Fabio Quartararo /// 8. Valentino Rossi /// 9. Alex Marquez
10. Aleix Espargaro /// 11. Jack Miller /// 12. Danilo Petrucci
13. Takaaki Nakagami /// 14. Alex Rins/// 15. Mark Marquez
16. Pol Espargaro /// 17. Cal Crutchlow

DNF: Danilo Petrucci, Johann Zarco

Great result for the KTM manufacturer who grabs a huge win on home soil, like they did with Oliveira on last year’s race. Ducati riders while they keep some hopes for a title, they have to be better if they want to catch Quartararo on the standings. They usually have at least one of their championship contenders not finishing a race on almost every track of the calendar.