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MotoGP, Ducati one-two: Dovizioso wins to keep the Championship open

Lorenzo leads the race until five laps from the end, then yielding to his teammate, Zarco 3rd, Marquez 4th, Rossi and Viñales lag behind

MotoGP: Ducati one-two: Dovizioso wins to keep the Championship open

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Sepang and Ducati prove to be a winning combination. Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo do a one-two that keeps the Championship open, taking the title fight to the grand finale in Valencia. The Majorcan rode a masterful race, holding onto the lead until five laps from the end with more than a one second gap, then slowing suddenly to leave room for the Italian when the order came from the garage to switch to map eight: “Our bike was very competitive in the wet –Dovizioso said - Although at a certain point in the race I was a bit worried. In any case, I was able to stay calm and I brought this win home.”

So Jorge played his role on the team: “Second place was perfect today - number 99 said - Unfortunately, at a certain point in the race, I was struggling to brake and Dovizioso overtook me.” For Dall’Igna, this is the second Ducati one-two after the one on the Red Bull Ring last year.

In the battle for the title, Marquez takes consolation in a valuable fourth place finish. A calculating version of Marc, who preferred not to risk in mixed conditions. There is now a 21-point gap between him and Dovizioso and the Championship title awaits in Valencia.

And so, Johann Zarco celebrates on the Malaysian podium. The French rider spent the early laps of the race in the lead before letting the Red bikes pass: “I dreamed of finishing on the podium and I succeeded - the Frenchman commented - At the beginning I was fast, but then I had to reckon with the two Ducatis. This result definitely provides great self-awareness for the Championship finale.”

On the wet Sepang track, on the other hand, the M1 machines ridden by Rossi and Viñales lagged behind, respectively seventh and ninth with gaps behind the leader of more than thirty seconds. This performance therefore confirms the limitations of the factory Yamahas in the water. Danilo Petrucci, on the other hand, rode an outstanding race, forced to start from pit lane due to a problem and able to finish in seventh place behind Pedrosa’s Honda.

Miller was eighth and Pol Espargaró was tenth on his KTM, once again in the top ten, with Iannone finishing way behind in eighteenth place.

   

Translated by Jonathan Blosser
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