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MotoGP Grand Prix of Thailand 2018 Results: Marc Marquez Wins Inaugural Race

Oct 7, 2018
Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez celebrates on the podium after winning the MotoGP race of the inaugural Thailand Grand Prix at Buriram International Circuit on October 7, 2018. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo credit should read LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images)
Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez celebrates on the podium after winning the MotoGP race of the inaugural Thailand Grand Prix at Buriram International Circuit on October 7, 2018. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo credit should read LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images)

Honda's Marc Marquez took a thrilling win in the first-ever MotoGP Grand Prix of Thailand on Sunday, narrowly beating Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati and Maverick Vinales of Yamaha to increase his championship lead and move closer to another world title.

The Spaniard battled Dovizioso during the final lap and cut underneath the Italian on the last corner to hold on for the win. Vinales was less than three-tenths of a second behind the winner. Here are the results from the race:

As shared by MotoGP's official Twitter account, Marquez finally overcame the last-lap hoodoo that has been the only real smudge on his 2018 campaign so far:

The 25-year-old four-time champion has dominated MotoGP once again this year and now has a massive 77-point lead in the standings. He could win the title as early as the next race in Japan. For a look at the overall standings, visit MotoGP's official website by clicking here. 

Marquez came into the race coming off a win at Aragon, and with Jorge Lorenzo sidelined due to injury, he was expected to finish well and add to his advantage in the championship standings.

He took the lead from pole position but was passed by Valentino Rossi a few laps into the race. Dovizioso also got the pass, and the trio built a lead over the course of several laps.

Vinales eventually got into fourth place and started bridging the gap to the leaders. Rossi couldn't keep up with Dovizioso and Marquez, who opened up their battle toward the end of the race. 

Lorenzo was watching the whole way and praised his two rivals for the great battle they served up:

While the final results shows yet another win for Marquez, this race was anything but routine. The Chang International Circuit showed its potential for excellent racing in this debut Grand Prix, producing one of the best races of the season.

The next race will take place at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan. Marquez has only taken a single race win in MotoGP in Japan, while Dovizioso is the defending champion. 

MotoGP Grand Prix of Thailand 2018: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

Oct 5, 2018
BANGKOK, THAILAND - OCTOBER 03: Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team rides the bike on the street during the pre-event 'A.P. Honda Race to the Dream Event' on October 3, 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)
BANGKOK, THAILAND - OCTOBER 03: Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team rides the bike on the street during the pre-event 'A.P. Honda Race to the Dream Event' on October 3, 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)

The MotoGP Grand Prix of Thailand will make its debut on Sunday, kicking off the Pacific leg of the calendar with a brand new race at the Buriram International Circuit.

Marc Marquez leads the overall standings heading into Thailand after winning the last race in Aragon. The four-time world champion is the clear favourite to win the title this year as he sports a huge lead over Andrea Dovizioso, Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

Here is a look at the race schedule.

Saturday, October 6

MotoGP Q1: 8:10 a.m. BST/3:10 a.m. ET

MotoGP Q2: 8:35 a.m. BST/3:35 a.m. ET

Sunday, October 7

MotoGP WUP: 3:40 a.m. BST/10 p.m. ET (Saturday)

MotoGP Race: 8 a.m. BST/3 a.m. ET

BT Sport (UK) and BeIN Sports (U.S.) will carry coverage of the event. For live stream options, access the BT Sport App or beIN Sports CONNECT.

   

Here is a look at the new track, with the two long straights clearly visible:

The riders already tested on the Hermann Tilke-designed track in February but will have to adjust to different weather conditions in October. Exit speeds into the long straights will be crucial as they provide excellent opportunities for overtaking, while the technical sector is a fast one and should provide spectacular racing.

Honda dominated testing and are expected to do the same in the race, but it's never easy to predict the outcome on a new track. Here are some top riders to keep an eye on.

   

Marc Marquez, Honda

Barring a major disaster, Marquez will add his fifth world title during the Pacific leg and do so in style.

The 25-year-old is the best racer on the grid, riding one of the best machines on the grid. He has come across as exceptionally relaxed during the media promo tour in Thailand, and for good reason:

Marquez doesn't have to win in Thailand and is expected to limit his risk-taking the rest of the season. He's a safe bet to make the podium, regardless, unless he crashes out or the weather acts up―which isn't out of the question in Thailand.

   

Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati

Dovizioso has consistently made the podium in his last four races―including two wins―and has put himself in a great position to finish the year in second place as a result.

He currently sits ahead of Rossi by 25 points in the standings, and given the latter's poor form―no podium finish since Germany―he should like his chances of adding to his advantage in Thailand.

   

Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati

Per MotoGP.com, Lorenzo dislocated a toe and suffered a fracture during his crash in Aragon, and it's unclear how much the injuries will impact his racing moving forward.

He uploaded this photo to social media of himself walking on crutches just days ahead of the Thailand GP:

While consistency has been an issue for the Spaniard, he remains one of the fastest men on the grid, evidenced by his multiple race wins. If he can deal with the injury and has a good day, he may be one of the few riders able to beat Marquez to the top spot.

MotoGP Grand Prix of Aragon 2018 Results: Marc Marquez Tops Andrea Dovizioso

Sep 23, 2018
ALCANIZ, TERUEL - SEPTEMBER 22: Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team celebrates the third position in MotoGP at the end of the qualifying practice during the MotoGP of Aragon - Qualifying at Motorland Aragon Circuit on September 22, 2018 in Alcaniz, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
ALCANIZ, TERUEL - SEPTEMBER 22: Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team celebrates the third position in MotoGP at the end of the qualifying practice during the MotoGP of Aragon - Qualifying at Motorland Aragon Circuit on September 22, 2018 in Alcaniz, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Repsol Honda star Marc Marquez blazed a trail to victory at the 2018 MotoGP Grand Prix of Aragon on Sunday and beat second-place Andrea Dovizioso to extend his advantage at the head of the 2018 leaderboard.

Marquez and Dovizioso jostled for position at the lead from the first flag to the last, but it was the Spaniard who made the most of Jorge Lorenzo's opening-lap crash to clinch his first win in more than two months.

The leader now boasts a 72-point cushion over Dovizioso at the top of the standings and doesn't look likely to be caught with only five races remaining, as he continues to search for a third consecutive MotoGP crown.

Lorenzo was an unfortunate victim at Turn 1 and was involved in a big crash that saw him thrown up off his bike, the pole leader falling out of contention at the very first hurdle, via BT Sport (UK only):

Dovizioso took advantage from there and went about his predictable head-to-head with Marquez, while Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins engaged in a battle of their own for third.

Alvaro Bautista came to Aragon having secured a top-10 finish in his last seven successive races since his last retirement, but he skidded out at Turn 14 for his second early finish of the campaign, via Fox Sports (U.S. only):

Britain's Cal Crutchlow was also disappointed to crash out of the race early and fell victim at Turn 1 as Lorenzo did.

Lorenzo's Ducati team-mate, Dovizioso, was best-placed to make the most of his comrade's crash and secure points for the manufacturers, who were a close second to Honda coming into this race.

But Marquez was at his fervent best and a constant pest for the Italian to consider, making one of his major passes with 10 laps left to go:

Iannone bided hit time, and the fight between Marquez and Dovizioso ocassionally looked like it could give way to a third challenger, though they would fence off their battle every time the Suzuki rider neared.

In the end the Italian underdog had to settle for third—his third podium this year—as Marquez recovered from a wide angle with a few laps remaining to steer on course and get out ahead of Dovizioso by half a second or so.

It was sufficient, though, and Marquez let his emotions run upon ending his three-race winless streak, not to mention winning in Aragon for the third year in succession:

Dovizioso could be proud of his effort, but the standings already look conclusive. To put that into context, Dovizioso could win the next three races, and Marquez would still be ahead as long as he finished 15th or higher in each.

There's a two-week turnaround until the Grand Prix of Thailand, which will hand Marquez another opportunity to underline his world championship credentials.

MotoGP Grand Prix of Aragon 2018: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

Sep 21, 2018
MISANO ADRIATICO, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 09: Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team and Jack Miller of Australia and Alma Pramac Racing (R) round the bend during the MotoGP race during the MotoGP of San Marino - Race at Misano World Circuit on September 9, 2018 in Misano Adriatico, Italy. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)
MISANO ADRIATICO, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 09: Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team and Jack Miller of Australia and Alma Pramac Racing (R) round the bend during the MotoGP race during the MotoGP of San Marino - Race at Misano World Circuit on September 9, 2018 in Misano Adriatico, Italy. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)

MotoGP returns to Spain this weekend for the 2018 Grand Prix of Aragon.

Marc Marquez will be eager to win on home soil at the Motorland Aragon circuit in Alcaniz, particularly after Jorge Lorenzo won in his native Catalan Grand Prix in June.

Lorenzo will have his sights set on maximum points too, though, as will closest rival Andrea Dovizioso.

Here's the complete schedule for Grand Prix from the free practice through to the race:

                 

Friday, September 7

  • 8:55 a.m. BST/3:55 a.m. ET: Free Practice 1 (FP1)
  • 1:05 p.m. BST/8:05 a.m. ET: Free Practice 2 (FP2)

           

Saturday, September 8

  • 8:55 a.m. BST/3:55 a.m. ET: Free Practice 3 (FP3)
  • 12:30 p.m. BST/7:30 a.m. ET: Free Practice 4 (FP4)
  • 1:10 p.m. BST/8:10 a.m. ET: Qualifying 1 (Q1)
  • 1:35 p.m. BST/8:35 a.m. ET: Qualifying 2 (Q2)

                  

Sunday, September 9

  • 9:40 a.m. BST/4:40 a.m. ET: Warm-Up
  • 1 p.m. BST/8 a.m. ET: Race

         

TV Info: BT Sport 2

Live Stream: BT Sport App, beIN Sports CONNECT

                   

The Grand Prix of Aragon is always an exciting race and has featured some thrilling battles for the podium over the years:

Runaway championship leader Marquez has only missed out on the podium twice this season, but he hasn't taken the chequered flag since winning the German Grand Prix in July.

Aragon has been a fruitful hunting ground for him in the past. He has won there three times in MotoGP including the 2016 and 2017 races, so he has the pedigree to come out on top.

He'll have stiff competition from compatriot Lorenzo, though, who can also expect plenty of support from the local fans.

The 31-year-old has won there twice himself, and he has shown plenty of pace recently by taking pole at the British Grand Prix before its cancellation and the San Marino Grand Prix, not to mention his victory in Austria.

Dovizioso will also have a say. He has won two of the last three races this season, most recently in San Marino:

The Italian is 67 points behind Marquez, so his championship hopes are slim at best, but at least he'll want to ensure he holds onto second place over the final six races of the season.

Aragon has not had a non-Spanish winner in MotoGP since Casey Stoney won there back-to-back in 2010 and 2011, but on current form Dovizioso has as good a chance as any of breaking that run.

MotoGP2 Racer Sacked After Pulling Rival's Brakes in San Marino Grand Prix

Sep 10, 2018
DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 15: Romano Fenati of Italy and Marinelli Snipers Team smiles in paddock during the MotoGP of Qatar - Previews at Losail Circuit on March 15, 2018 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)
DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 15: Romano Fenati of Italy and Marinelli Snipers Team smiles in paddock during the MotoGP of Qatar - Previews at Losail Circuit on March 15, 2018 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)

MotoGP 2 driver Romano Fenati has apologised for grabbing the brakes of a rival in the middle of the San Marino Grand Prix, an act that got him disqualified and later sacked by his team.

As reported by the Mirror's Alex Richards, after Fenati and Stefano Manzi clashed earlier in the race, the former leaned over and grabbed Manzi's brakes at the speed of 125mph, nearly causing him to crash.

Fenati has now apologised in a statement on his official website (h/t Richards):

"I apologise to the whole sporting world. This morning, with a clear mind, I wish it had been just a bad dream. I think back to those moments, I made a disgraceful gesture, I was not a man!

"A man would finish the race and then go into Race Direction to try and get justice for the previous episodes. I should not have reacted to provocations. The criticisms are correct and I understand the resentment towards me.

"I want to apologise to everyone who believed in me and all those who felt hurt by my actions. An image of me and of the sport has come out, [and] everything [looks] horrible. I'm not like that as those who know me well knows!"

Fenati went on to acknowledge he has an "impulsive character" and said he did not seek to justify himself, but simply to apologise.

Yahoo Sports shared a clip of the incident:

The fallout has been swift for the 22-year-old, who was sacked from his current team, Marinelli Snipers, and has also lost his ride for the 2019 season:

According to Richards, Fenati has made headlines for unsportsmanlike behaviour on the bike before. In 2015, while racing in Moto3, he received a penalty for kicking out at an opponent during warm-ups.

As shared by MotoGP's official Twitter account, British rider Cal Crutchlow has called on officials to ban the Italian from the sport completely:

Francesco Bagnaia took the race win in San Marino after starting from pole position. The Italian holds a narrow lead over Portugal's Miguel Oliveira in the championship.

Fenati's best result this year came in France, where he finished seventh. Last year, he finished in second place in Moto3, winning three races.

MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino 2018 Results: Andrea Dovizioso Dominates

Sep 9, 2018
Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez (C), Ducati Team's Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo (L) and Ducati Team's Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso compete during the Austrian MotoGP Grand Prix race at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria on August 12, 2018. (Photo by Jure Makovec / AFP) (Photo credit should read JURE MAKOVEC/AFP/Getty Images)
Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez (C), Ducati Team's Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo (L) and Ducati Team's Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso compete during the Austrian MotoGP Grand Prix race at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria on August 12, 2018. (Photo by Jure Makovec / AFP) (Photo credit should read JURE MAKOVEC/AFP/Getty Images)

Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso won the 2018 MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino on Sunday, while Honda's Marc Marquez strengthened his lead in the championship with a second-placed finish.

Jorge Lorenzo crashed out in the final laps, handing Marquez second place on a platter and pushing Cal Crutchlow into the top three. 

Valentino Rossi, who entered the race as Marquez's closest rival in the overall standings, finished in a disappointing seventh place. The championship standings can be found here. 

Here are the race results, via MotoGP writer Simon Patterson:

The Ducatis made a fine start and immediately started working on building a lead, knowing Marquez would have to battle his way forward before he could hunt them down.

Lorenzo did fine work early, but Marquez made his first impressive move in the second lap with this superb pass on Jack Miller:

Miller would crash out of fourth place soon after.

Maverick Vinales struggled for pace early, while Dovizioso chased team-mate Lorenzo, posting some excellent times. He'd make the pass on the sixth lap, but at this stage, the championship leader had nearly caught up to the duo:

In the background, Crutchlow had excellent pace, moving up the field into fourth place. He had a ton of ground to make up to catch the front three, however. Dovizioso continued to lead the way in lap times, putting all kinds of pressure on Lorenzo and Marquez.

Soon, his lead was up to more than a second, and Marquez had to do something. He got the pass on Lorenzo Lap 14, courtesy of a mistake from the Ducati rider:

But he couldn't shake Lorenzo, who opened up a brilliant fight for second place that greatly aided his team-mate in the lead. It was the Ducati man who would come out on top after the skirmish, regaining his spot.

Heading into the final laps, the duo started to post faster lap times than Dovizioso, setting up a thrilling finale. Lorenzo, desperately trying to catch his team-mate, crashed out of second place to give Marquez a free run at the leader:

Marquez ran out of time to mount an attack, however, as Dovizioso held on for the win.

While the Ducati man was the race winner, Sunday's result marked yet another major step toward a fifth championship for Marquez. Dovizioso moved past Rossi in the overall standings but has an enormous 67-point gap to make up. Rossi sits three points further back in third place.

The next race will be at Aragon, where Marquez has won the past two.

MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino 2018: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

Sep 7, 2018
Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez rides during a MotoGP qualifying session of the motorcycling British Grand Prix at Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, southern England, on August 25, 2018. (Photo by OLI SCARFF / AFP) (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez rides during a MotoGP qualifying session of the motorcycling British Grand Prix at Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, southern England, on August 25, 2018. (Photo by OLI SCARFF / AFP) (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)

There's no change at the top of the MotoGP 2018 standings after the British Grand Prix was cancelled last month due to heavy rain at Silverstone. It means Marc Marquez still leads the way entering Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

The Honda rider is 59 points ahead of Yamaha's Valentino Rossi. Meanwhile, Jorge Lorenzo is still in the mix on 130 points and will enter this race as the in-form rider, having won in Austria during August.

         

Friday, September 7

  • 9:55 a.m. BST/4:55 a.m. ET: Free Practice 1 (FP1)
  • 2:05 p.m. BST/9:05 a.m. ET: Free Practice 2 (FP2)

           

Saturday, September 8

  • 9:55 a.m. BST/4:55 a.m. ET: Free Practice 3 (FP3)
  • 1:30 p.m. BST/8:30 a.m. ET: Free Practice 4 (FP4)
  • 2:10 p.m. BST/9:10 a.m. ET: Qualifying 1 (Q1)
  • 2:35 p.m. BST/9:35 a.m. ET: Qualifying 2 (Q2)

           

Sunday, September 9

  • 9:40 a.m. BST/4:40 a.m. ET: Warm-Up
  • 2 p.m. BST/9 a.m. ET: Race

         

TV Info: BT Sport 2

Live Stream: BT Sport App, beIN Sports CONNECT

Rossi will be looking to make a statement after injury denied him the chance to compete in last year's race, per the MotoGP official website. Rossi is targeting a place on the podium.

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP's Italian rider Valentino Rossi enters the pits during the MotoGP third free practice session of the motorcycling British Grand Prix at Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, southern England, on August 25, 2018. (Photo by OLI SCA
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP's Italian rider Valentino Rossi enters the pits during the MotoGP third free practice session of the motorcycling British Grand Prix at Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, southern England, on August 25, 2018. (Photo by OLI SCA

He last won this event in 2014, but the Italian has the pedigree and desire to add to his six victories at Misano. It's a tally Marquez can't match, even though the 25-year-old took first place last year after just missing out on the podium in 2016.

Landing on the podium again will add to what is already looking like a commanding lead for Marquez.

Italian Rossi may enjoy home advantage, but Marquez thinks his recent success on the track will be a bigger factor, per Crash.net (h/t Alex Wood of the Daily Express): "Misano is a twisty track and a slower one compared to others on the calendar, with a lot of braking and acceleration. It's been a good circuit for us in the past."

Similar confidence has been expressed by Lorenzo, who believes Ducati has the bike to challenge the top riders this weekend, per GPOne.com. Team-mate Andrea Dovizioso expressed a similar sentiment, setting his sights on Marquez after being denied the chance to compete at Silverstone.

NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Andrea Dovizioso of Italy and Ducati Team rounds the bend during the MotoGp Of Great Britain - Free Practice at Silverstone Circuit on August 24, 2018 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Andrea Dovizioso of Italy and Ducati Team rounds the bend during the MotoGp Of Great Britain - Free Practice at Silverstone Circuit on August 24, 2018 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)

There's plenty of competition for the leader, but Marquez has the psychological edge, having won here in 2017. He's also under less pressure thanks to a healthy advantage in the standings, so Marquez should pass the checkered flag first.

MotoGP Grand Prix of Britain 2018: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

Aug 24, 2018
Spain's rider Jorge Lorenzo of the Ducati Team celebrates on the podium after winning the MotoGP race at the Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)
Spain's rider Jorge Lorenzo of the Ducati Team celebrates on the podium after winning the MotoGP race at the Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo will be the top riders likely to win the 2018 MotoGP Grand Prix of Britain at Silverstone on Sunday.

Marquez and Honda top the standings, yet Ducati will have confidence after Andrea Dovizioso and team-mate Lorenzo finished first and second, respectively, at the Czech Republic Grand Prix on August 5.

Things were different in Germany in July, when Marquez asserted himself on the track at Sachsenring. The Spaniard was third in the Czech Republic but still finished ahead of Rossi, who needs a win for Yamaha.

The schedule this weekend will see the main race take place before Moto2 to ensure there is no clash with the German Formula One Grand Prix, per Simon Patterson of Motor Cycle News.

Saturday, August 25

  • 9:55 a.m. BST/4:55 a.m. ET: Free Practice (FP3)
  • 1:30 p.m. BST/8:30 a.m. ET: Free Practice (FP4)
  • 2:10 p.m. BST/9:10 a.m. ET: Qualifying (Q1)
  • 2:35 p.m. BST/9:35 a.m. ET: Qualifying (Q2)

            

Sunday, August 26

Time: 1 p.m. BST/8 a.m. ET

TV Info: BT Sport 2

Live Stream: BT Sport App, beIN Sports CONNECT

Full schedule available, per the MotoGP official website

                

Despite recent setbacks, Rossi is cautiously optimistic about his chances. In particular, the Italian values his familiarity with Silverstone, per GPOne.com: "We now go to Silverstone, a track that I really like. As usual, with my team we will work strongly to achieve the best results. I hope that at Silverstone we can be fast, so I can have a good race."

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP's Italian rider Valentino Rossi competes during the Austrian MotoGP Grand Prix race at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria on August 12, 2018. (Photo by Jure Makovec / AFP) (Photo credit should read JURE MAKOVEC/AFP/Getty
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP's Italian rider Valentino Rossi competes during the Austrian MotoGP Grand Prix race at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria on August 12, 2018. (Photo by Jure Makovec / AFP) (Photo credit should read JURE MAKOVEC/AFP/Getty

History is on Rossi's side since he has won this race eight times, more than any other rider. However, recent experiences don't bode well for him and fellow Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales, since the team hasn't won a premier-class race in the last 21 attempts, per MotorSport Magazine's Mat Oxley.

There is no such problem for Marquez, who won in Germany and claimed victory at the DutchTT in July. The Spaniard is wary of the impact conditions at Silverstone may have on the race, per Crash.net's Peter McLaren: "At Silverstone, the weather is another opponent to take into account, but whatever the conditions, it's a circuit that I like and where I was fighting for victory last year."

While Marquez is bullish about the possibility of dealing with rain, McLaren noted he hasn't won at Silverstone since 2014, particularly when he struggled on a wet track three years ago.

Marquez struggled with the wet conditions at Silverstone in 2015.
Marquez struggled with the wet conditions at Silverstone in 2015.

Doubts about Marquez and Rossi make Lorenzo a stronger candidate to win. After all, he won in Italy and Barcelona in June, before tasting victory again in Austria. In between, he finished second in Brno.

It's a fine run of form from the 31-year-old, who is showing enough credentials to prove he can deny Marquez a seventh world championship.

Jorge Lorenzo Overcomes Marc Marquez to Win 2018 MotoGP Grand Prix of Austria

Aug 12, 2018
Winner Spain's Jorge Lorenzo (L) celebrates with the trophy next to third placed Italy's Andrea Dovizioso on the podium of the Austrian MotoGP Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria on August 12, 2018. (Photo by ERWIN SCHERIAU / APA / AFP) / Austria OUT (Photo credit should read ERWIN SCHERIAU/AFP/Getty Images)
Winner Spain's Jorge Lorenzo (L) celebrates with the trophy next to third placed Italy's Andrea Dovizioso on the podium of the Austrian MotoGP Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria on August 12, 2018. (Photo by ERWIN SCHERIAU / APA / AFP) / Austria OUT (Photo credit should read ERWIN SCHERIAU/AFP/Getty Images)

Jorge Lorenzo continued to pull himself back into the MotoGP title race after overcoming Marc Marquez to win the 2018 Grand Prix of Austria on Sunday and hand Ducati victory for the third successive year at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.

Marquez failed to convert pole into victory for the first time this season but nevertheless extended his lead at the summit of the riders' standings and now holds a 59-point cushion over Valentino Rossi, who came sixth.

Lorenzo finished second at the Czech Grand Prix last Sunday and took his third win of the campaign in Austria, depriving Marquez of the chance to complete his set of MotoGP victories, with Austria still the last venue to be checked off his list of wins.

MotoGP provided a comprehensive rundown of Sunday's classification:

Lorenzo had two wins to his name in 2018 coming into this race, and the veteran didn't attempt to hide his happiness after adding a third to his collection.

The Red Bull Ring only returned to the MotoGP calendar in 2016, since which Italians Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso, both of Ducati at their points of victory, had accounted for both wins.

The race began with Lorenzo and Dovizioso following Marquez in second and third, respectively, and the leader was actually getting faster as the early laps rolled by and confidence soared, via MotoGP:

The Ducati pair endeavoured to cut down Marquez's lead but were racing against a rider who had won all three of the races so far in 2018 in which he started on the pole.

The early performance of Marquez and his ability to hold off the Ducati assault was all the more impressive considering he was the only rider who opted for a hard rear tyre, per motorsport writer Beatrice Zamuner:

Honda had another impressive display from Cal Crutchlow, who held his spot in fourth but was a long way from breaking the top three, where Dovizioso, Lorenzo and Marquez sprang acres ahead of their competition. Ducati's Danilo Petrucci was another not far from breaking that hierarchy, though he could only finish fifth.

Further down the ranks was Yamaha duo Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales, who finished sixth and 12th, respectively, and never looked capable of challenging at the climax of a disastrous week in Austria.

The constructor had already expressed sadness with their performance in Spielberg, and Saturday saw Rossi go public with his own dissatisfaction, which struggled to improve on Sunday, via BT Sport (UK only):

Lorenzo finally wrestled the lead from Marquez and led his countryman by several tenths of a second for six laps, until a wide run at Turn 3 saw the latter take first, only to switch places again just one lap later.

The battle for first reached fever pitch in the last two laps and saw the genuine quality of both riders bubble to the top as Marquez proved his class in defence. The Ducati capitalised upon the gaping straight before Turn 1 and pushed Lorenzo into a last-gasp lead, which he managed to see out with an error-free end:

Marquez missed an opportunity to reclaim first just after that manoeuvre and was a deserving runner-up in the end, left to wait until 2019 before he can again attempt to finally taste victory at the Red Bull Ring.

A good day for Ducati and an even better day for Lorenzo saw the Spaniard keep his constructor in the seat of power in Austria, although their win still wasn't enough to prevent Marquez boosting his title claim.

MotoGP Grand Prix of Austria 2018: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

Aug 10, 2018
Andrea Dovizioso of Italy leads a pack during the MotoGP competition of the Czech MotoGP at Masaryk Circuit on August 05, 2018 in Brno, Czech Republic. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP) (Photo credit should read MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/Getty Images)
Andrea Dovizioso of Italy leads a pack during the MotoGP competition of the Czech MotoGP at Masaryk Circuit on August 05, 2018 in Brno, Czech Republic. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP) (Photo credit should read MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/Getty Images)

Marc Marquez holds a 49-point advantage over Valentino Rossi coming into Sunday's 2018 Austrian Grand Prix, but Andrea Dovizioso's second win of the season has added some spice to the MotoGP standings.

The Italian scraped a sensational victory at the Czech Grand Prix last Sunday, and Jorge Lorenzo took third to seal a Ducati one-two on the podium, where Marquez had to settle for third.

Dovizioso's first win since the opening race of the season and just his third podium finish of the campaign will give him new belief in the championship stakes, but more than that will be required to restrain Marquez.

Ducati's star rider is also boosted after winning the 2017 Grand Prix of Austria, the only race on this year's MotoGP schedule at which Marquez is yet to taste victory, with the Thailand Grand Prix set to make its debut in October.

Michelin Motorsport posted a breakdown of the current riders' standings:

Read on for discussion of the top riders to watch out for at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, on Sunday, complete with a schedule for this weekend's action and live-stream information.

          

Saturday, August 11

8:55 a.m. BST/3:55 a.m. ET: Free Practice (FP3)

12:30 a.m. BST/7:30 a.m. ET: Free Practice (FP4)

1:10 p.m. BST/8:10 a.m. ET: Qualifying 1 (Q1)

1:35 p.m. BST/ 8:35 p.m. ET: Qualifying 2 (Q2)

                                

Sunday, August 12

1 p.m. BST/8 a.m. ET: Race

The full schedule and times can be found on the MotoGP website.

Live-stream options are available via the BT Sport App and beIN Sports CONNECT.

      

Preview

Some way off matching last season's career-best win total of six races, Dovizioso needs to begin closing the gap on Marquez if the championship is to stay within sights, having only triumphed twice so far in 2018.

That being said, Dovizioso has the same number of victories that he did coming into last year's Austrian Grand Prix, which sparked a kick in form and a more heated rivalry with Marquez in particular, via BT Sport (UK only):

What's more, he has one more race this season in which to best 2017's win total and hopefully make the climb from silver medal to his first gold, although the 68 points between him and the leader with nine races left is daunting.

The 32-year-old is closing toward the end of his career while the irrepressible Marquez, 25, has arguably yet to peak, difficult though that may be to believe based on his achievements thus far:

The Red Bull Ring has several long stretches down that Ducati can hope Dovizioso kicks on and puts some pressure on Marquez again, with the Spaniard still yet to win here since Austria returned to MotoGP in 2016.

But there's another Ducati star, Lorenzo, who sent a reminder to his peers last Sunday by finishing second for his third podium of the year, and he'll be out to challenge again after finishing fourth here in 2017.

Lorenzo's third place was largely down to a terrific pass from the veteran near the end of the Czech Grand Prix, and the 31-year-old posted a daring declaration ahead of his return to battle this weekend:

Ahead of his move to Honda this summer to replace Dani Pedrosa, Lorenzo has only a handful of opportunities to make the most of his time with Ducati, and this track could be one of the best chances to do so.  

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