Marc Marquez started the Australian MotoGP with a mosquito in his ...

11 hours ago

The Sydney Morning Herald

But in one of the best rides of Marquez’s accomplished career, he quickly hauled down the pack, setting a Phillip Island MotoGP lap record of 1.27.900 along the way.

Arriving in Australia with a 10-point lead at the top of the standings, Martin (424 points) held off Bagnaia in third to widen his gap over the reigning champion to 20 points, building on the six-point boost from winning Saturday’s sprint race.

Marquez’s win keeps his title hopes alive, if only mathematically. He trails Martin by 79 points with three race weekends left.

Italian trio Fabio Di Giannantonio, Enea Bastianini and Franco Morbidelli rounded out an all-Ducati top six.

Australian favourite Jack Miller improved from 15th on the grid to finish 11th.

Luck was not on the Queenslander’s side during the weekend as he also fell foul of the local wildlife.

Miller suffered his worst qualifying result at the Victorian racetrack after hitting a rabbit.

A seagull strike then hampered his bike before he eventually crashed out in the sprint.

It wasn’t all misfortune for local riders, with Australian Senna Agius earlier coming from 13th on the grid to claim a third-placed finish in the Moto2.

“It’s not been the easiest of seasons and to get my first podium today, I’m actually a bit emotional,” he said.

“I just can’t believe it, honestly.”

Maverick Vinales made a miraculous recovery to finish eighth after he was airlifted to hospital following a horror high-speed crash with Marco Bezzechi in Saturday’s sprint.

Bezzechi was handed a long lap penalty by stewards for running into the back of Vinales then crashed out of Sunday’s race on lap five, this time without taking any rivals out with him.

Spaniard Pedro Acosta did not start after injuring his shoulder in a scary highside earlier in the weekend.

AUSTRALIAN MOTORCYCLE GRAND PRIX RESULTS

1. Marc Marquez (Ducati) 39 minutes 47.702 seconds

2. Jorge Martin (Ducati) +0.997s

3. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) +10.100s

4. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Ducati) +12.997s

5. Enea Bastianini (Ducati) +13.310s

6. Franco Morbidelli (Ducati) +15.434s

7. Brad Binder (KTM) +15.450s

8. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia) +16.636s

9. Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) +18.757s

10. Raul Fernandez (Aprilia) +19.345s