Dovi wins at a wet Valencia

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) claimed the final MotoGP victory of 2018 in Valencia ahead of Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in a hugely dramatic two-part race.

The red flags came out after 14 laps as heavy rain fell, with several riders crashing out of contention, including world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) and Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP).

In ‘race one’, from second on the line, Rins got the holeshot and produced a stunning opening lap – the Spaniard 1.7 seconds ahead as the field crossed the line, with Viñales getting a good start in second, before Dovizioso used the Desmosedici grunt to get by on the straight. Meanwhile, Pol Espargaro had got off to a flyer from sixth, getting the better of Marquez and Viñales but it was all about Rins – the Suzuki decimating the field to lead by over three seconds after three laps.

However, the rain was relentless and track conditions were deteriorating, leading to several crashes. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Ducati) were both fallers at turn three, as Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Ducati) and Andrea Iannone (Suzuki Ecstar) also crashed out.

Drama then happened at the front. Espargaro crashed out of fourth at turn three; he was able to re-join, with Marquez then crashing on the same lap.

After a chaotic couple of laps, Rossi was now sitting in third behind race leader Rins – whose lead was now two seconds and Dovizioso, with Viñales in hot pursuit of ‘The Doctor’. But then, on lap 13, Viñales suffered a huge crash at turn 13 as the rain continued to hammer down, with Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda) also crashing on the same lap at turn eight.

It was nothing but a race of attrition at this point as Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) then crashed at turn 13 but Dovi and Rossi were closing in on Rins, the gap now down to nothing. The duo then got the better of Rins after the Spaniard was wide at turn 11 but as the leaders crossed the line, ‘Desmo Dovi’ raised his hand and the race was red-flagged on lap 14.

With three-quarter race distance not completed, a 14-lap race was scheduled with only the riders who were classified on lap 13 allowed to re-start, with their positions on lap 13 deciding the order of the grid. A quick re-start procedure was announced and pit lane was open for 60 seconds as the 16 riders made their way to the grid.

The front row held station as the lights went out and all 16 riders safely negotiated the opening exchanges, with Rins leading. However, Dovizioso was once again able to get the power down on his GP18 to power past Rins heading onto lap two – Rossi in close pursuit. The three leaders quickly gapped fourth place Espargaro, with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) – in his swansong ride – tucked in behind the KTM.

The rain was once again starting to fall and conditions were still incredibly treacherous as it soon -became a three-horse race for the final win of 2018.

On lap six, Dovizioso pulled the pin to create a one-second gap back to Rins – a 1:49.921 creating that gap, with 1.5 seconds now splitting the trio. Another fastest lap then followed for Dovi, as Rossi made his move past Rins at turn four – 1.5 seconds the gap to his compatriot with eight to go. However, with six to go, the gap was up to 2.4 and, a lap later, Dovizioso’s lead was over three seconds. But then, ‘The Doctor’ was down at turn 12, lifting Espargaro and KTM up to a podium place.

Everyone held firm and it was last lap time; Dovi’s advantage was four seconds to Rins as both safely waded their way to the finish line – Dovi taking his first win since Misano, Rins grabbing a fifth podium of the year to claim fifth in the championship. Then, emotional scenes followed as Espargaro kept Michele Pirro (Ducati) at bay to take his and KTM’s maiden MotoGP podium – phenomenal from rider and factory alike after the No. 44 rider had crashed in ‘race one’.