The 2017 MotoGP championship will be decided at the final race of the season in Spain after Andrea Dovizioso claimed a much needed victory to keep his title hopes alive, although a fourth place for leader Marc Marquez means he's on the cusp of a fourth crown.
Dovizioso sliced through the rain to catch and pass Ducati team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, Dovizioso was seven tenths clear of the Majorcan at the flag in a 1-2 for the team. Johann Zarco completed the podium after a stunning start, wrapping up the title of top independent team rider.
It was Marquez who took an incredible initial holeshot from the third row, but the reigning champion headed wide along with Lorenzo – allowing Zarco to slice through into the lead. Once there, the Frenchman lit it up to escape into the distance, and Lorenzo moved through to chase the Tech 3 rider down. Marquez slotted into third, with Dovizioso initially the man to lose out – but the Italian soon began to move through.
Zarco’s lead began to diminish, Dovizioso passed Marquez, and then both Ducatis were able to pass the Frenchman. It seemed Marquez would have the pace to take third from Zarco, but the reigning Champion couldn’t make up the ground. At the front, Lorenzo was holding firm as the two red machines streaked away – but the number 99 then suffered a moment at Turn 15 with a foot off the footpeg. ‘DesmoDovi’ saw his chance to strike, then facing down some nervous laps as the end of the race neared. Lorenzo managed to bring it back to seven tenths over the line, with Zarco back on the rostrum in third.
Marquez was eight seconds further back in fourth, with polesitter and team-mate Dani Pedrosa completing the top five after a more promising showing in the wet for the former winner at the venue in similar conditions. Danilo Petrucci put in a superstar performance in the wet as he was forced to start from the back after a technical problem with his number one bike, and moved up to take sixth over the line – a gain of over 15 places.
Valentino Rossi was close to his compatriot by the end of the race to take seventh and only four tenths back, ahead of a more lonely finish for EG 0,0 Marc VDS rider Jack Miller into P8. Maverick Viñales had a tough race for ninth, with Pol Espargaro giving KTM another consecutive top ten finish after another impressive race.
Alvaro Bautista took P11, with the points scorers completed by Bradley Smith, Scott Redding, Hector Barbera and Cal Crutchlow.
It’s now truly everything or nothing for the two title challengers, and the Championship comes back to Europe for the final showdown at Valencia. Marquez leads by 21 points, so it’s a long shot for ‘DesmoDovi’…but never, ever say never.
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