2015 Pramac Australian MotoGP: Marquez comes out on top down under

The Philip Island Circuit has the reputation of providing fans with fantastic races. The track is wide, and the changing elevations provides great viewing vantage points for the spectators. Wheel to wheel racing is not uncommon, and when the MotoGP fraternity landed in Melbourne, all eyes were set on the possible battle between the two Movistar Yamaha riders, Jorge Lorenzo and Championship Points leader Valentino Rossi. Add to that the possibility of Japan GP winner Dani Pedrosa repeating. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez has shown in recent races that he has seemingly recovered from his errors during the mid-season, and, he has yet to score a point in all his trips to Philip Island. All these factors promised a race that could well surpass any race so in 2015.

 

The front row of the grid saw the Phenom, Marc Marquez, take P1 ahead of the Ducati of Andrea Iannone, with Yamaha rider, Jorge Lorenzo closing up the first row. Even if he’s starting from P3, Lorenzo found consolation with the fact that his team-mate is starting at P7, two rows back. Rossi has to do everything in his arsenal to recover much need places and its corresponding points to limit the eventual damage to his points lead.

 

As the lights went out to start the race, Andrea Iannone took his all powerful Ducati past the Repsol Honda of Marquez and the Yamaha of Lorenzo. But, this was shortlived as Jorge fought back and wheel to wheel they went into turn 8, not backing down. Marquez and Iannone gamely challenged Lorenzo for the lead. Iannone got the lead as they started the second lap, but a seagull wandering on the track hit the Ducati as it flew off. Iannone had to momentarily lift, enabling Lorenzo to re-take postion over the Italian.

 

While this was going on, Valentino Rossi jumped to P4 ahead of Crutchlow and Pedrosa on lap 4. Rossi was hounding the race leaders the following lap. As the laps came tumbling down, messers. Iannone, Rossi and Marquez traded position. No quarter was given, and none taken. It was every man for himself.

 

There were times that it seemed that Lorenzo would run away with the lead and the victory. This was only thwarted by the sheer pace of both the Honda of Marquez and the Ducati of Iannone. Each rider wanted to win and was determined to do anything to achieve it. The lead changed hands more times than you can count. Their pace was simply frenetic.

 

In the dying laps, Marquez was sniffing the exhaust of Lorenzo, while Rossi was hounding Iannone. Fans were beginning to sense something brewing. On the final lap, Marquez came through with a brilliant overtaking manouver to take the lead from Lorenzo. Marc Marquez, never having scored a point in all his trips to Philip Island, now crossed the line as the winner of the 2015 Pramac Australian MotoGP.

 

Jorge Lorenzo followed Marc in 2nd place and with it, the corresponding 20 points to cut the championship lead of Rossi down to 11 points. Ducati rider Andrea Iannone held off the assault of Rossi to take the last step on the podium. “The Doctor” Valentino Rossi, who started at P7, fought his way back to finish in 4th place. This ensured that Vale maintains his lead in the championship standings with 296 points, compared to Lorenzo’s 285 points. Marquez rounds up the top 3 with 222 points to his name.

 

This was Marquez’s 50th career win, 24th in the premier class, and his 5th win this season.

 

On the Manufacturer’s Championship, Movistar Yamaha, with its unsurmountable lead in the standings, claimed their 14th title in the premier class ahead of the 2nd placer, the Repsol Honda team.

 

The teams now head to the penultimate race in Sepang Malaysia. Could this be the race that crowns the 2015 World Champion? Or will the Valencia circuit be the venue?

 

One thing is certain, the on-track action will never waver. Rossi and Lorenzo will be shadowing each other until the checkered flag falls, exerting pressure in the hopes the other will falter, and give us fans a championship battle that would be discussed for years to come.