Dovizioso wins MotoGP horror show in Austria

In a two-part Spielberg thriller, it was Andrea Dovizioso (Team Ducati) who celebrated victory for the third time in five years at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, after one of MotoGP’s most terrifying crashes bought an end to proceedings just eight laps in.

Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM) was leading when Johann Zarco (Sponsorama Ducati) and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas SRT Yamaha) came together before their machines continued on and into the paths of the riders ahead, missing Monster Yamaha duo of Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales by millimeters. Remarkably, no other riders crashed as a result, and all bar Zarco and Morbidelli lined up for the 20-lap restart.

Miller time

It was Aussie Jack Miller (Pramac Racing Ducati) who got the holeshot in the second, eking out a decent lead before slowly being reeled in and eventually passed by Dovizioso. ECSTAR Suzuki’s Alex Rins looked strong at the half-way point, passing Miller first and making a move on Dovizioso before losing front and crashing out, promoting teammate Joan Mir to third.

Despite a strong ride by the Aussie, Miller eventually lost second place to Mir heading into the final corner, KTM rookie Brad Binder finished fourth, holding off a late-race charge by Rossi in fifth. Taka Nakagami was the highest-placed Honda in sixth ahead of Danilo Petrucci.

Fabio Quartararo rode his Petronas Yamaha SRT machine to eighth, despite starting the second race from last place after a mistake in the first, which was enough to see him hang on to his title lead.

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KTM blues

If Fabio was the rider to benefit most from the restart, then Pol Espargaro gained the least. KTM rider, who looked on track to pick up his first-ever win before the red flag was thrown, showed the same hot-headed approach we saw last weekend in Brno, and crashed out, taking Tech3 KTM’s Miguel Oliveira with him. Oliveira’s teammate Iker Lecuona had his best-ever premier-class result in ninth, one place ahead of Vinales in tenth.

Dovizioso’s win moves him to second in the championship standings, nine points behind Quartararo’s 67. Vinales (48) is in fourth while rookie Binder (41) is in fifth, three points ahead of Rossi (38).

Two-part Moto2

The Moto2 race in Austria was also a two-part affair after a highside from early title leader Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing) caused a pile-up and subsequent red flag. When the lights went out on the restart, it was another Red Bull KTM rookie in Jorge Martin who controlled the race at the front to take his first Moto2 GP win. Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) took second place and with it the title lead, ahead of Marcel Schrotter (Liqui Moly Intact), who rode a lonely race to third.

Marini leads the points on 78, five points ahead of Bastianini, while Martin’s win moves him to third place and on equal points to Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) on 59. Aussie Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR SAG) started from pole position in the opening event but crashed out of the restarted race. He’s now 12th on the ladder.

Albert's arena

Albert Arenas (Valresa Aspar Team KTM) rode a perfectly timed last lap to poach the Moto3 victory from Leopard Racing Honda’s Juame Masia by five hundredths of a second. And while Honda Team Asia’s Ai Ogura crossed the line in third, himself, Daryn Binder (CIP Green Power) and Celestine Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) copped a penalty for exceeding track limits, which promoted Petronas Sprinta Racing Honda rider John McPhee to third.

Arenas has extended his title lead to 95 points over McPhee’s 67, with the Scot now just two points clear of Ogura on 65.

MotoGP action returns to the Red Bull Ring on August 23.