MotoGP: a spectacular triumph for Zarco in Australia
Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) scored his maiden premier-class win at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Round 15 of the FIM MotoGPTM World Championship. The Frenchman completed the thrilling closing lap in front to beat Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo team) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing), while Michelin contributed to a new lap record for Phillip island in qualifying.
Zarco has finally been rewarded with the maiden MotoGPTM victory he has been waiting for since his topflight debut in 2017, and it came in the form of a memorable win in Australia where he emerged as the championship's 61st different victor (and the sixth this season) on Michelin rubber.
The organizers decided to switch the grand prix to Saturday due to the adverse weather conditions predicted for its original Sunday slot. Tire choice for the race proved difficult and there were numerous last-minute changes on the grid as the high track temperature (34°C) prompted Michelin to recommend the medium-compound rear MICHELIN Power Slick.
Zarco - who had qualified in fifth position and was only eighth after the opening lap - chose to pair the medium rear with the hard front, and this combination helped him to slice his way up the order as the race progressed.
He eventually took control on the last of the afternoon's 27 laps when he succeeded in passing his Prima Pramac Racing team-mate Jorge Martin who was in difficulty with a less judicious tire choice (soft rear). Bagnaia also took advantage of the Spaniard's predicament to take the flag in Zarco's slipstream, while Di Giannantonio claimed the first podium finish of his MotoGPTM career.
Martin had started the race from pole position after posting a new track lap record (1m27.246s) but had to settle for fifth behind Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) after leading for 26 laps!
Tire choice was made all the more complex following the decision to bring the bill-topping grand prix a day forward, leaving the riders with only the data from free practice to guide them.
The sprint race will now be held tomorrow (Sunday) when it is scheduled to start at 1pm local time.
Bagnaia (336 points) continues to top the championship standings, 27 and 73 points clear respectively of Martin and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) who completed the grand prix in sixth position.
Next round: OR Thailand Grand Prix, Chang International Circuit (October 27-29)
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