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Thai MotoGP 2019 | All category weekend wrap

Round 15 – Thailand, Buriram International Circuit


Marc Marquez  was crowned an eight-time World Champion as he took victory in the PTT Thailand Grand Prix, but it was far from easy going as rookie sensation Fabio Quartararo once again took the reigning Champion to the wire on race day.

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Marc Marquez & Fabio Quartararo – 2019 MotoGP Round 15 – Thailand

The two were locked together on each and every lap, with the final corner deciding it all as Quartararo hit attack mode and dived up the inside, but Marquez kept the better of him. Behind the two, Maverick Viñales completed the podium.

It was Quartararo who kept the lead from pole as the lights went out, with Marquez on his tail from the off as Viñales lost a place off the line. Andrea Dovizioso did the opposite and shot through the pack, up from seventh on the grid to muscle his way into P4 straight away – first mission accomplished.

Despite the start though, Marquez, Quartararo and Viñales started to pull away, with the number 12 particularly keen to make a move on Marquez. Not long after, however, the front two also started to drop Viñales.

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Maverick Vinales – 2019 MotoGP Round 15 – Thailand

Trying to attack Quartararo early doors, Marquez had run slightly wide and from then on, the reigning Champion seemed more content to sit behind the rookie Frenchman – just as he did at Misano. Sometimes further away, sometimes a little closer…sometimes seeming to fade and then suddenly pulling the pin to move back in, Marquez stalked his prey lap after lap.

Viñales couldn’t stay with the pair, and as they moved on to the final lap it was set in stone as another rookie-reigning Champion duel. And the ball was in the reigning Champion’s court, with Marquez trailing the Frenchman as he had all race. But he struck early, where he’d feinted the move a few laps before, outbraking Quartararo at the end of the back straight. Now, it was all on the rookie. Could he stay with him? Could he attack back?

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Fabio Quartararo – 2019 MotoGP Round 15 – Thailand

Throughout the lap the Yamaha was making up the distance on the Honda in the lead, and blasting down towards the final corner it seemed he was close enough. Sure enough, ‘El Diablo’ pulled out, back wheel in the air as he dropped anchor, slamming it up the inside…but Marquez was ready. The number 93 cut back and gassed it towards the line, just able to stay ahead to take the win and a stunning eighth world title, his sixth in the premier class.

Quartararo, meanwhile, was left with another second place – but he was closer than last time, and will surely be closer again…

Viñales completed the podium after another solid but ultimately lonely race, not quite on terms with the duel ahead but nearly ten seconds clear of Dovizioso in fourth, who found race day tougher going in 2019. Second in the Championship, however, seems ever more likely.

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Marquez topped the Thai podium from a close Quartararo and distant Vinales

Alex Rins recovered from a tougher qualifying and tougher start to the race to complete the top five, just two tenths off Dovi by the flag. Franco Morbidelli took P6 and another solid haul of points despite fading a few positions from the start.

Joan Mir took on Valentino Rossi and won, four tenths ahead of the veteran by the flag, and both leapfrogged second row starter Danilo Petrucci. The Mugello winner came home in a lonely P9.

Takaaki Nakagami was the second Honda home as he completed the top ten, ahead of rookie Francesco Bagnaia. Cal Crutchlow suffered braking issues and could only manage 12th at Buriram.

Pol Espargaro was able to take P13 as he comes back from injury, impressive once again and going the distance, with Jack Miller taking P14. Why? The Australian unfortunately hit the kill switch on the grid and had to start from pitlane.

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Jack Miller knocked his kill switch on the grid, sending him back to pitlane to start

Considering that, it was quite a comeback, just edging ahead of Andrea Iannone, who in turn beat Miguel Oliveira.

And so, that’s a wrap on the 2019 Championship fight, although it’s far from the end of the season. Marquez breaks more records and takes home another trophy, and Quartararo takes home yet more experience to keep improving his already impressive armoury. Next up it’s the Twin Ring Motegi…tune in in two weeks, when Marquez could be unleashed…

Marc Marquez

“I am very happy because when you have this big advantage, you need to realise the Championship is very close. But then you need to find extra motivation; an extra motivation was to try to close the Championship in this way. In a nice race with a nice victory. That’s what I did. I mean, Fabio was incredibly fast during the race. I never gave up in the middle of the race, it looked like he was going away but I tried to push. Until the last lap I was pushing, and I never think about the championship – just I was thinking about the race. When I crossed the line, you know, when I arrived…especially with the Repsol Honda Team that they did an amazing job this year. I was very happy dreams come true with all fan club nice celebration. Every year is special. First of all because it is not easy to keep the same ambition, same mentality and especially the team always understand the situation and when we had some problems…you never give up, keep calm and this is so important. This is the most difficult thing. For this reason the pressure is there, and you feel it. You are human and you feel it. Of course, the winter was hard, with a big injury on my shoulder. We didn’t start the season in a hundred percent physical condition. But we’ve managed it in a good way and now it’s time to celebrate all this. Now it’s time to celebrate, time to enjoy. Of course, these last races our intention, our ambition, our mentality is the same. It’s true that when you win the Championship your body switches off one light. We have five lights, switch off one. But we will try to push, one of the targets is to win the triple crown. Constructors we are there, team championship will be difficult. But we never give up. Now it’s time to celebrate… but start 2020 in Motegi!”

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A jubilant Marc Marquez celebrated another World Title with his team

MotoGP Buriram Race Results/Championship Standings

Source: MCNews.com.au

Dorna name Thai Grand Prix best of 2018

PTT Thailand Grand Prix voted best of 2018
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Thailand MotoGP 2018 – Image by AJRN

2018 was an important year for Thailand and MotoGP. On the paddock’s first visit to Chang International Circuit for testing, fans flocked to the track to get their first glimpse of the sport and ahead of the first ever Grand Prix in the country, the pre-event in Bangkok showed the fervor for MotoGP as more than 100 representatives of the media packed in to hear the thoughts of reigning Champion Marc Marquez.

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Thailand MotoGP 2018 – Image by AJRN

There was a lot of expectation but the Thai GP was an incredible success and has now been named the best of the season by the MotoGP Paddock and the decision communicated to the Grand Prix Commission.

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Thailand MotoGP 2018 – Image by AJRN

Newin Chidchob
President of Chang International Circuit

“On behalf of both the people of Buriram and Thailand, we are extremely honored to receive the MotoGP Grand Prix of the year 2018. We are sincerely grateful for the recognition we have received for PTT Thailand Grand Prix. Of course, during the preparation of the event we ran into countless obstacles, but in overcoming them we grew, and ultimately resulted in the success of the event. A big thank you to all our event and circuit sponsors especially the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and PTT Public Company Limited for the immense support during this event. We must also thank the people of Buriram, for showing the capability of Thai people to the world. Many of the unique functions of the event such as the “E-Tan” truck which we utilized as the event’s shuttle bus. The Muay Thai (Thai boxing) expo to showcase Thai martial arts and culture. Not to mention all the volunteers who came to simply pick up the trash and keep the event clean. Everyone really came together to make this sports entertainment experience for our visitors from around the world unforgettable. Lastly, we would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to our good friends Dorna Sports who saw potential in us and gave us the opportunity to be a part of the world’s greatest motorcycle series. We promise to always use the experience gained in every event to create a better PTT Thailand Grand Prix every season. Thank you!”

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Thailand MotoGP 2018 – Image by AJRN

The event at Buriram was also the best attended with over 220,000 people heading to Chang International Circuit over the three days. They were treated to a modern classic as Marquez fought it out with Andrea Dovizioso down to the final corner, coming out on top for the first time in one of the pair’s many head-to-head duels in the last few seasons.

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Thailand MotoGP 2018 – Image by AJRN

Herve Poncharal, President of IRTA

“The whole MotoGP paddock was keen to discover how the new Thai GP would be, we were impatient for it to arrive and there was plenty of expectation. In the end we can be assured it was the best GP of the season due to many different aspects – we expected good, but we didn’t know quite what they would be able to achieve. Everything went smoothly, the commitment of the organisers was fantastic and they faced any problems through the weekend quickly, trying to find solutions as soon as possible. The crowd, the people…every single person involved was happy and always smiling. The fans’ support was incredible, the access to the circuit was fast and they demonstrated that they understood MotoGP – creating a commercial area close to the paddock, giving good exposure to our businesses, investors, sponsors, teams and riders. It’s also significant that a new event in this area – an important region for MotoGP – has achieved this result. It’s a perfect example for other countries to follow and this prize is fully deserved. From my point of view it will be hard for them to improve!”

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Thailand MotoGP 2018 – Image by AJRN

It was an exciting and fitting debut, with the Thai venue and crowds providing the perfect backdrop. Rewarded for the incredible organisation, facilities and atmosphere at the event, the Thai GP will now look ahead to 2019 in a bid to retain the prestigious prize.

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Thailand MotoGP 2018 – Image by AJRN

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports

“I was delighted to welcome Buriram onto the MotoGP calendar and I’m delighted to see the Thai GP be recognised as the best this season. Asia is an important market for the Championship and events like Buriram only further underline the incredible popularity of our sport in the region. They are a perfect blueprint for future events and we’re excited to return to Buriram already.”

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Thailand MotoGP 2018 – Image by AJRN

 

MotoGP 2018 – Thailand Race Results
Chang International Circuit, 26 laps, 118.4 km (1 lap: 4.554 km)
Pos Rider Team Time
1. Marquez M. Repsol Honda 39:55.722
2. Dovizioso A. Ducati Team +0.115
3. Vinales M. Movistar Yamaha +0.270
4. Rossi V. Movistar Yamaha +1.564
5. Zarco J. Monster Tech 3 +2.747
6. Rins A. Team Suzuki Ecstar +3.023
7. Crutchlow C. LCR Honda +6.520
8. Bautista A. Angel Nieto Team +6.691
9. Petrucci D. Alma Pramac Racing +9.944
10. Miller J. Alma Pramac Racing +11.077
11. Iannone A. Team Suzuki Ecstar +15.488
12. Syahrin H. Monster Tech 3 +17.691
13. Espargaro A. Aprilia Racing Team Gresini +21.413
14. Morbidelli F. Marc VDS Racing Team +22.802
15. Smith B. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +23.628
16. Redding S. Aprilia Racing Team Gresini +23.804
17. Abraham K. Angel Nieto Team +32.507
18. Simeon X. Reale Avintia Racing +37.216
19. Torres J. Reale Avintia Racing +39.204
20. Luthi T. Marc VDS Racing Team +39.421
21. Espargaro P. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +53.388
22. Nakagami T. LCR Honda +2 l.
DNF Pedrosa D. Repsol Honda DNF

Source: MCNews.com.au