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Australian MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo wins as Marc Marquez disqualified

Last updated on .From the section MotoGPcomments94

MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo wins controversial Australian GP

Jorge Lorenzo's MotoGP world title hopes remain alive after he won a dramatic Australian Grand Prix which saw championship leader Marc Marquez disqualified.

Yamaha's Lorenzo, who started from pole and led throughout, now trails his fellow Spaniard by 18 points going into next week's penultimate race in Japan.

Riders had to change bikes mid-race because of safety concerns over tyres.

But Marquez failed to pit by the required time and scored no points.

After the race, BBC Sport's MotoGP presenter Matt Roberts tweetedexternal-link that Marquez's Honda team had said it was a pit-board error which led to their rider being disqualified.

Dani Pedrosa was second while Valentino Rossi held off the challenge of Britain's Cal Crutchlow for third.

Lorenzo described the race as "crazy" because of the compulsory bike change but his maximum return of 25 points, coupled with Marquez failing to register, means the title race has been opened up.

"We were lucky," said Lorenzo. "Without the mistake from Marc I think he would have been first or second - now the championship has changed so much.

"Before the race we had no chance - a 2% or 3% chance - and now it's 20% or 30%.

MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo savours 'emotional' Australian GP win

"Let's see what happens in Motegi." [the venue for next Sunday's race in Japan]

After setting the fastest time in qualifying, Lorenzo started well from pole and held off Marquez and Pedrosa in the opening lap before looking very comfortable.

Tyre supplier Bridgestone said before the race that they were unable to guarantee the safety of their rear slick tyres beyond 10 laps because of the newly-resurfaced track at Phillip Island.

As a result, it was decided to shorten the race to 19 laps from 27, with a mid-race pit stop.

Pedrosa was the first of the top three to pit on lap nine, while Lorenzo made his change on the following lap.

However, Marquez stayed out on the track until lap 11 and when he rejoined the race he had a minor clash with Lorenzo for top spot but the race leader retained his advantage.

Marquez's hopes of securing the title in his rookie season then suffered a blow when he was shown the black flag for exceeding the maximum number of laps permitted before having to pit.

Result

1. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 29 minutes 07.155 seconds

2. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda +6.936 secs

3. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha +12.344

4. Cal Crutchlow (Britain) Yamaha +12.460

5. Alvaro Bautista (Spain) Honda +12.513

6. Bradley Smith (Britain) Yamaha +28.263

7. Nicky Hayden (US) Ducati +32.953

8. Andrea Iannone (Italy) Ducati +35.062

9. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Ducati +35.104

10. Randy de Puniet (France) Aprilia +37.426

Championship standings

1. Marc Marquez (Spain) Honda 298 points

2. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 280

3. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 264

4. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 214

5. Cal Crutchlow (Great Britain) Yamaha 179

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94 comments

  • Comment posted by Rob Hughes, at 16:32 20 Oct 2013

    @alan bull - If you either watched or bothered to read the article, you'll know that it was a 19 lap race, not 20. As I have said, the pit window was clearly stated at the start of the race and the penalty for missing it was clear. Miss the pit window, and you will be disqualified.
    I don't understand everyone questioning it. It was the same rule for everyone, only the other riders pitted in time!

  • Comment posted by iDominic, at 16:57 20 Oct 2013

    @41
    it makes Moto GP 'look' as though they are trying to prevent a rookie winning

    --

    Ridiculous.

    There was a mandatory pit stop on either lap 9 or lap 10.

    It was mandatory because Bridgestone refused to guarantee the tyres would be safe for more than 10 laps.

    Waiting, even by accident, until lap 11 is clearly not allowed.

    What part of mandatory are you failing to understand?

  • Comment posted by SirDion, at 12:15 20 Oct 2013

    Has a whiff of Lewis Hamilton China 2007 about this. Of course Marquez is still heavy favourites but without the cushion of a full race win in hand, the pressure on him will be immense. He's handled it all extremely well so far, but the line is so close now and the stakes are even higher. I hope it doesn't affect him, he deserves this championship.

  • Comment posted by iDominic, at 18:45 20 Oct 2013

    55. Koenig

    Seems to me, the organizers are either desperate for Lorenzo to win

    --

    How on earth did they know beforehand that Marquez would ignore a mandatory pit stop?

    Did they tell him and his team a different rule to everyone else, and manage to keep it secret?

  • Comment posted by Glenn, at 16:57 20 Oct 2013

    The TV director covering the race was appalling.

    A three-way line-abreast race for the flag for positions 3, 4, 5, so let's have lots of shots of people clapping in the pits and a micro-second of coverage as they are over the line, far too little to experience the run to the line.

    That was what we got for, Cal Crutchlow, and Brad Smith, having an excellent race, got no end of race coverage.

  • Comment posted by Rob Hughes, at 15:26 20 Oct 2013

    I'd like to point out to the likes of Dutchjimbo @17, that the penalty for not stopping within the 'clearly stipulated' pit window was set down in the rule book before the race. They are not trying to stop a rookie from winning, as the rules are black and white on this. Harsh? Yes. Conspiracy? Absolutely not.

  • Comment posted by Laurence, at 13:43 20 Oct 2013

    @8 Marquez should be punished for his team's error. Sometimes the mechanics can do a perfect job all weekend and then the rider throws it in the gravel, and they suffer despite their hard work. Don't get me wrong I think it was a ridiculous rule, but it was made and had to be adhered to. Win as a team and lose as a team

  • Comment posted by Slartibartfast, at 13:27 20 Oct 2013

    Surely the underlying blame for the situation should lie with Bridgestone - if they can't produce a tyre that lasts full race distance then the contract should be taken away and given to a manufacturer who can - unless Philip Island was accidentally resurfaced with sandpaper of course!

  • Comment posted by SinophilinSpain, at 22:15 20 Oct 2013

    Ithink Marc´s confidence will have taken a huge knock, whilst Jorge´s will have grown. I think Japan will be pivotal in the championship and would not like to predict the outcome, except to say Jorge will give Marc one hell of a physical battle for the win; expect elbows, knees, and shoulder barges, it´s not only Marc who can get physical. Dani also has a grudge to settle with Marc.

  • Comment posted by U1688237, at 17:31 20 Oct 2013

    27. Armchair Expert - People seem to forget that Lorenzo entered one race only a day after collar bone surgery (where he finished 6th), and missed the following race because of the same injury. There are many contributing factors to every rider's end of season result. It doesn't all hinge on Marquez being disqualified today.
    Don't forget what happened to Pedrosa 2 races ago because of Marquez.

  • Comment posted by U1688237, at 17:20 20 Oct 2013

    @41. Dutchjimbo MM wasn't the only rider to be black flagged. He wasn't singled him out for unfair treatment. If he or his pit crew can't follow the rules set for every rider it's entirely their fault.
    He was extremely fortunate not to be penalised properly for causing Pedrosa's crash two races ago.
    Lorenzo was majestic today, & his dishing out a bit of MM's own treatment to MM was a nice extra..

  • Comment posted by Orangedog, at 16:38 20 Oct 2013

    Whatever your views, still an exciting race. I don't get some of the posts here though 1. The organisers DID make it clear what lap riders had to pit, Honda just messed it up for Marquez 2. It's clear why Pedrosa got 2nd - he DID drop a place after he pitted, as Marquez got in front of him again 3. The championship IS now wide open - Motegi is a strange track. Marquez could still bin it?

  • Comment posted by iDominic, at 15:29 20 Oct 2013

    26.Deek
    Can anyone explain when Pedrosa gave up a place? He certainly didn't 'let' Lorenzo through?
    --

    He let Marquez through just before Marquez was Black Flagged, ie he dropped from 2nd to 3rd.

    When MM came out of the pits, both JL and DP went past, but DP did give up the place to MM with 6 laps to go just after MM set the fastest lap of the race.

  • Comment posted by Robbie, at 14:37 20 Oct 2013

    The whole thing was a bit of a farce. The idea of letting the bikes come out of the pit lane at such a slow speed was nothing but dangerous. Marquez and Lorenzo were very lucky could have been much worse

  • Comment posted by U14535951, at 13:53 20 Oct 2013

    Swings and Roundabout's comes to mind. Marquez's aggressive style, which saw him knock off Pedrosa and clearly barge Lorenzo at Jerez, and it now seems Karma has come back to bite him. He's a hugely talented rider granted, but the amount of money Honda pump into the team, it's hard to feel sorry for them. At least it keeps it interesting, for another 14 days at least.

  • Comment posted by Rob Hughes, at 12:13 20 Oct 2013

    Crazy result, and couldn't be better for keeping the championship alive! All we need now is for Marquez to be given a final penalty point for blocking coming out of the pit and get demoted to the back of the grid next week, and it really would be going down to the wire! IMO Lorenzo has proved to be the best rider in the last few races, and should make for a great 2014 season!

  • Comment posted by Sportsmad19, at 11:53 20 Oct 2013

    It was a thrilling race. Lorenzo rode immaculately. The problem Marquez has is there is no pit radio so he would have barely any idea of when he had to come in, relying on his pit crew. The title race is much more open now and it could go to Valencia. Marquez is still the favourite but Lorenzo's experience could be significant. What a battle it was between Rossi, Crutchlow and Bautista as well.

  • Comment posted by iDominic, at 21:55 20 Oct 2013

    Dani very clearly dropped back and gave up the place.

    He was 1.370 seconds in front of MM at the point they put out the board telling him he had to drop a place, and behind Marquez within a lap, because he slowed down to let Marquez past.


    And also BEFORE Marquez was Black Flagged. Not by much, but definitely before.

    Did anyone actually watch the race at all?

  • Comment posted by U15661466, at 18:45 20 Oct 2013

    I have no issue at all with the punishment as it was a matter of safety and the same rules applied to everyone. It was decided the tyres weren't safe beyond 10 laps so anyone breaching that were placing themselves and others in danger. I still think he'll win the title and I'd like to see him win it but if he doesn't, I won't have any issue with that at all.

  • Comment posted by U15899505, at 17:11 20 Oct 2013

    FYI this is what MM has to say ;
    "The plan we had was not correct, we though that we could do that lap. We thought we could go into the pit at the end of lap 11. The problem was not with the pit board, that was fine, when I saw ‘Box’ I came in. Now we need to forget about it and just concentrate in Motegi."

    Basic c**k-up, no conspiracy

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