Marquez defeats Dovizioso in last lap thriller

Marc Marquez pic: MotoGP.com

Marc Marquez has edged closer to another MotoGP championship with a last corner victory over Andrea Dovizioso at the inaugural Thailand Grand Prix.

In a highly competitive finish, Repsol Honda’s Marquez took the lead from Ducati Team’s Dovizioso at Turn 5 of the final lap, only for Dovizioso to slid down the inside at the final corner.

In wasn’t to be for Dovizioso, though, with Marquez using better exit speed to reach the line with a slender 0.115s gap, securing his seventh win of 2018.

With just four rounds remaining and a maximum of 100 championship points on offer, Marquez now holds a 77-point lead over Dovizioso.

From pole, Marquez led the opening laps before Valentino Rossi took the advantage, and held sway until Dovizioso swooped in.

Dovizioso would lead the majority of the race until the final five laps where Marquez mounted a real challenge.

The Spaniard tried a number of passing attempts, all of which failed and allowed the Movistar Yamaha pair of Maverick Viñales and Rossi to make it a four-way battle.

Marquez eventually took the lead at Turn 5 on the final lap and withstood the last-corner dive to secure a great win.

Viñales secured his first podium finish since the German Grand Prix, coming home ahead of team-mate Rossi.

Another Yamaha pilot, Johann Zarco, produced a fine ride to secure fifth on his satellite Tech 3 machine, passing Suzuki’s Alex Rins and the LCR Honda of Cal Crutchlow to score a top five place.

Fifth place looked set to go to Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda), who had held the place until Lap 19 when he crashed out.

Nieto Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista finished eighth ahead of the Pramac Ducati pair of Danilo Petrucci and Australian Jack Miller.

The next round of MotoGP is the Japanese Grand Prix at Twin Ring Motegi on October 19-21.

Race results: Thai MotoGP

Championship points