2018 MotoGP Brno – Ducati 1-2, Marquez The Missile and More!
It feels like forever since the last MotoGP race in Germany at the Sachsenring. The wait has only made the riders hungrier, including Andrea Dovizioso who lines up on pole position. With Rossi and Marquez behind him, along with Lorenzo, Crutchlow and Petrucci behind him, it won’t be easy for him to hold on to that position. Especially if Marquez or Lorenzo get the holeshot into the first corner at the MotoGP Brno.
The grey clouds over the track look very ominous. Here’s to hoping they hold out just long enough for the race to conclude. Rossi makes a fantastic start and grabs the first corner, ahead of race favourites Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso. Lorenzo seems to be getting better starts with the Ducati now he’s finally figured out how to ride it, making a nice jump to front, as does Cal Crutchlow on the LCR Honda.
Dovi soon snatches back the first position spot from Rossi, keeping him at bay while fighting hard for the first position. With Dovi’s pace in practice and qualifying, he is definitely the man to watch. Before the first lap is over, a collision with multiple bikes takes Maverick Vinales, Stefan Bradl and Bradley Smith out of the race. It’s over before it’s even started for these boys.
Rossi gets a brief taste of first position but it’s soon snatched back by Dovi. Crutchlow is catching up to Lorenzo and looking to make moves too! After a miscalculation from Marquez, Marc lands in 4th place after trying to steal 2nd from Rossi. Valentino now sits in a Ducati sandwich between Lorenzo and Dovi.
Marquez is taking some wide lines on these corners, evidently not having enough heat in the tyres to try and challenge. He runs very wide into a right turn, attempts to rejoin and nearly takes Cal Crutchlow’s nose off in the process, sitting the Brit up out of his line and letting Petrucci through! It’s still early doors though and Cal shows promise here for sure!
The temperature is cooler, and the pace is slower but I think it ultimately makes for a more exciting race. With everyone still bunched together and no clear winner yet, it’s a lot more intense than Marquez getting into the lead and clearing off for 20 odd laps. With all the riders changing positions and diving in and out all the time, it makes the race that bit more exciting. In my eyes, it’s what made the race at Assen so brilliant to watch!
Rossi outbreaks Dovi and takes the lead into the stadium section, making it stick and leading the race for the first time since the first corner. He only leads by two tenths of a second and the power in Dovi’s Desmodici behind him can easily wipe that gap off the table. Lorenzo’s battling with Marquez for third has probably taken a toll on the tyres of the Ducati, a bike famous for tearing through its rubber. His pace is getting a touch slower. Or is he backing off to preserve his tyres? Who knows! It’s all games here at the MotoGP Brno.
Dovi dives back under Rossi at the first corner, knocking the Yamaha mainman back into 2nd, which soon turns into 3rd place and Marquez slips underneath. With no room to grab back, it’s looking like third place for Valentino for the time being. With 10 laps to go, Cal Crutchlow slips into 3rd place, a cracking ride from Cal. A podium here for the Brit would be a damn good result!
Rossi is the only one in the top 6 to be running a medium front tyre and it hasn’t served him well. Characteristically, the Yamaha’s struggle with grip at the rear in comparison with Honda and Ducati. But here, it appears the front is a problem now too as Rossi sits in fifth position. With 7 laps to go, it’s unlikely he’ll be bringing home any silverware this time around at the MotoGP Brno. Lorenzo has slipped in to claim 4th position for now.
Dovi is holding his own at the front; fast with defensive lines, keeping Marc Marquez at bay behind him. Marquez might well be holding something in reserve for a last-ditch effort at the Czech GP. But we’ll have to wait and see.
Lorenzo must have been holding some grip in reserve as he moves on Crutchlow into third place, after Cal runs wide on the corner before the start/finish straight. With 4 laps left in this race, Marquez will be looking to pull the trigger and take Dovi’s spot. Dovi’s tight lines are keeping Marquez at bay…just.
Lorenzo takes a sweeping line at the bottom of horsepower hill, carrying loads of corner speed up the hill. He overtakes Marc Marquez before the left corner at the bottom of the hill and then swings underneath his Ducati teammate to secure 1st place! Where did that come from?! Lorenzo was definitely playing games earlier in this race, conserving his tyres for a move like that! Although he runs wide and Dovi sneaks back in for the top spot, that was a definite highlight of this race.
Lorenzo and Dovi trade places, Lorenzo ultimately running wide again and Dovi is having none of it. A Ducati 1-2 here would be a fantastic day for the Bologna bunch! Marquez is still tight on the tails of these Ducati’s, refusing to move from third and waiting on his opportunity to steal the victory. An attempt on 2nd place by Marquez almost sees a collision between the Honda and Lorenzo’s Ducati. As the last lap begins, Marquez takes the tarmac from underneath Lorenzo and sits on second place. Lorenzo is clearly not impressed as he dives under Marc, sitting Marc up out his line and storming around the corner.
As the last laps closes, Dovi hold his own at the front and secures the race victory, followed by teammate Lorenzo and Marc Marquez. A last-ditch effort from Rossi sees him steal 4th place from Cal Crutchlow. A very respectable ride from the Brit, who spent much of this race running with the big dogs at the front of the pack. A cracking day for the factory Ducati team here at the Czech GP though!
Good to see Dovi back on top form with his first win since the opening race of the season at Qatar. If he’s back in contention for the podium in the coming races, it’s going to make the rest of the season very interesting! Until next time at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, ride safe!
Top ten:
1) Dovizioso
2) Lorenzo
3) Marquez
4) Rossi
5) Crutchlow
6) Petrucci
7) Zarco
8) Pedrosa
9) Bautista
10) Iannone
