Maverick Viñales handed the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team their second win of this season as he dominated the Malaysian MotoGP, taking the chequered flag ahead of Marc Marquez.
However, a P2 on the day meant Marquez not only extended his run of 1-2 finishes to 15 on the trot but he also set a new record for the most points in a single season: 395.
Finally, Viñales stops Marquez’ run
Marquez arrived at the Sepang circuit seeking a sixth successive MotoGP win. It wasn’t to be.
The Spaniard bears some of the blame having crashed in qualifying, leaving him 11th.
Fabio Quartararo and Viñales took the top two spots on the grid.
Viñales was quick to attack Quartararo with the Petronas Yamaha SRT rider showing his displeasure as he came off second best in that battle.
While Quartararo continued to fall down the order, Marquez began to work his way towards the front but, by the time he made it up into second, Viñales was comfortably ahead and cruising to victory.
It was the 24-year-old’s first P1 since the Assen MotoGP.
Look how much it means to @mvkoficial12! 💪#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/vvhfVsUtG4
— MotoGP™ 🇲🇾 (@MotoGP) November 3, 2019
He said: “It was an incredible race. We prepared really good.
“I felt I had good potential at the start and took the lead in the first two splits.
“I just kept pushing and pushing. Being in first place is amazing.”
Marquez brought his Honda home in second place, earning him 18 championship points.
That put the 2019 World Champion up onto 395, the most points ever scored in a single MotoGP season.
Andrea Dovizioso held off Valentino Rossi to the line, extending the Italian’s run of races off the podium to 15.
Battles, flying body work and penalties
There was a furious battle for the places just off the podium with Alex Rins crossing the line in fifth place.
It, however, could have been a very different story for the Suzuki rider who lost a wing when he clashed with Jack Miller at the final corner.
Miller’s Pramac Ducati also took a hit and later lost bits of bodywork down the main straight.
Miller was P8 with Franco Morbidelli and Quartararo sandwiched between the protagonists.
Johann Zarco was a late retirement after he was hit by Joan Mir as they battled over seventh place.
Mir’s antics earned him a long lap penalty and he fell to P10 behind Danilo Petrucci.
💥 @JohannZarco1 is OUT after an incident with @JoanMirOfficial!
The Spaniard has been handed a Long Lap Penalty! ⚠️#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/1Lt6N80TYK
— MotoGP™ 🇲🇾 (@MotoGP) November 3, 2019
South Africans in action
It was a mixed day in Malaysia for the Binder brothers, the South African contingent in the junior classes.
Brad Binder claimed his second win in a row with the Red Bull KTM rider taking the chequered flag 0.8s ahead of Alex Marquez.
It was, however, Marquez’s day to celebrate as he secured the Moto2 title.
As for Darryn, his afternoon was cut short when he crashed out of the Moto3 race with seven laps to go.
Johann Zarco LCR HondaCal Crutchlow LCR HondaAndrea Iannone Aprilia Aprilia Miguel Oliveira Tech3 KTMHelp support journalists, the guardians of independent journalism, through our student media initiative that gives a voice to students and their generation! Find out more…Tags: MotoGP
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