Honda's Marc Marquez claimed a sixth win of the season and extended his title lead at the top of the MotoGP standings on Sunday at Phillip Island, putting the Spaniard in prime position to score a fourth championship with just two rounds remaining.
Marquez led Yamaha's Valentino Rossi across the line following an intense eight-way battle for the race win mid-race, which was whittled down to four in the final laps with Rossi beating team-mate Maverick Vinales to second place.
Vinales pipped Johann Zarco by just 0.016 to claim the final podium spot as the top four were separated by just 1.8 seconds.
Title rival Andrea Dovizioso suffered an early run off and was only able to fight back to 13th, leaving Marquez with a 33-point lead in the standings and a lot of work for his rivals if they want to beat him.
Home favourite Jack Miller was seventh for Marc VDS but led at the start as he shot past polesitter Marquez. He even began to pull away before his rivals reeled him and began passing one-by-one, with Miller unable to do anything but watch.
The race for the win was on with one of the most aggressive and hard-fought battles of the season, decade or more, the passes came thick and fast – including a move for Zarco around the outside of Doohan corner – as rubber was left on the road; a little on opponents’ leathers and a little paint was swapped in one of the most incredible fights in history.
Once Marquez was ahead, however, the reigning Champion was able to begin pulling a gap with five laps to go. Pulling the pin as the battle raged on behind him, the number 93 began to sprint away – and the podium fight was down to three by the final laps: Rossi vs Viñales vs Zarco.
With some of the tightest lines ever ridden around the Island at times on that final lap, Rossi was able to take it – but all three were almost neck and neck over the line. And over that line, it was Viñales just edging ahead of the Tech 3 of the Frenchman – taking third for a return to the rostrum but a definite end to his chance at the title. Zarco's fourth, meanwhile, confirmed him as Rookie of the Year in 2017.
After Iannone getting pushed back in the latter stages, Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) took fifth ahead of the Italian, with Miller, Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and another double delight for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing completing the top ten; Espargaro just pipping Smith. Dovizioso suffered late heartbreak after losing out on the drag to the line to both Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Racing) and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) and coming home 13th, with Karel Abraham (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) and Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) completing the top fifteen.
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