Team Suzuki Press Office – October 27.
Joan Mir: 5th (+ 14.817)
Alex Rins: 9th (+ 16.032)
• Joan Mir claims best ever MotoGP finish.
• Alex Rins struggles at end but retains 3rd in standings.
• Team ready to attack in Sepang in seven days.
Just one week after the Japanese GP it was time to chase the chequered flag again, and Phillip Island played host to a tense and fiercely contested 27-lap Grand Prix.
Team SUZUKI ECSTAR’s riders got off to a good start, despite Alex Rins receiving contact from another rider on the opening lap. The Spaniard quickly recouped and set the fastest lap on the third lap of the race. Determined to get in the mix, he began to fight it out on the edge of the lively Top 5 group. With 15 laps to go he had made it into 4th place but he soon began to lose feeling. Despite his eagerness to finish at the front of the group, Alex had to settle and conserve his tyres. He finished the race in 9th place and retains 3rd place in the championship standings, as both Viñales and Petrucci failed to finish.
Meanwhile, rookie Joan Mir was enjoying working his way up through the field following his 13th place grid spot. Mir took his time and chipped away at the busy group in front of him, picking off fellow riders one by one. As the laps ticked by he found himself able to stick close to the battle for 4th, and on the final straight he got very close to snatching a podium. In the end the youngster took an impressive 5th, his best MotoGP finish. He also climbs up one place in the standings to 12th.
Ken Kawauchi – Technical Manager:
“Joan did a good job today; he was close to the podium and we can really see how he is growing and improving with every race. Alex did well from his grid position, but his pace dropped off a bit as the race went on and he lost some places. We’ll check the data and begin working for next week.”
Davide Brivio – Team Manager:
“It was an exciting race today; we had both riders fighting in the group and making a lot of overtakes. Joan got his best MotoGP finish yet, and we’re happy about this. He came from quite far back and showed that he’s more than capable of fighting with the front riders. Alex got up to 4th and he looked really strong, but then he struggled and he finished 9th. But anyway, we’re pleased with today’s result and we’re looking forward to Sepang next weekend.”
Joan Mir:
“It was a good race today. I’m so happy about the work we’ve been doing behind the scenes, all the steps we’re taking are helping a lot. It’s a shame the conditions weren’t more settled during the weekend, because in the dry I felt really good and I got my best MotoGP result. I wish there had been one more lap today – I was getting close to the podium! But finally, it looks like the better results are coming, I feel great with the bike.”
Alex Rins:
“I’m a bit disappointed because there have been several races where I’ve had really strong and consistent pace – not winning pace because Marc is hard to beat, but podium pace – and I have not been able to convert it to a top result. Today I feel like I could have gone with Cal but it was difficult because I started far down the grid and had to fight a lot. We really need to work on qualifying, being on the front two rows is so crucial. This turned into a sort of ‘survival’ race, and I just had to get the best finish I could. Anyway, I’m ready for Malaysia next week.”
GP of Australia – Race Classification:
1. Marc MARQUEZ Repsol Honda Team 40’43.729
2. Cal CRUTCHLOW LCR Honda CASTROL +11.413
3. Jack MILLER Pramac Racing +14.499
4. Francesco BAGNAIA Pramac Racing +14.554
5. Joan MIR Team SUZUKI ECSTAR +14.817
6. Andrea IANNONE Aprilia Racing Team Gresini +15.280
7. Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati Team +15.294
8. Valentino ROSSI Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP +15.841
9. Alex RINS Team SUZUKI ECSTAR +16.032
10. Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia Racing Team Gresini +16.590
11. Franco MORBIDELLI Petronas Yamaha SRT +24.145
12. Pol ESPARGARO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +26.654
13. Johann ZARCO LCR Honda IDEMITSU +26.758
14. Karel ABRAHAM Reale Avintia Racing +44.912
15. Hafizh SYAHRIN Red Bull KTM Tech 3 +44.968
16. Jorge LORENZO Repsol Honda Team +1’06.045
Not Classified
12 Maverick VIÑALES Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP
82 Mika KALLIO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
53 Tito RABAT Reale Avintia Racing Ducati
Not Finished 1st Lap
20 Fabio QUARTARARO Petronas Yamaha SRT
9 Danilo PETRUCCI Ducati Team
MotoGP World Championship Standings:
1. Marc MARQUEZ Honda 375
2. Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati 240
3. Alex RINS Suzuki 183
4. Maverick VIÑALES Yamaha 176
5. Danilo PETRUCCI Ducati 169
6. Fabio QUARTARARO Yamaha 163
7. Valentino ROSSI Yamaha 153
8. Jack MILLER Ducati 141
9. Cal CRUTCHLOW Honda 133
10. Franco MORBIDELLI Yamaha 105
11. Pol ESPARGARO KTM 89
12. Joan MIR Suzuki 77
13. Takaaki NAKAGAMI Honda 74
14. Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia 53
15. Francesco BAGNAIA Ducati 50
16. Andrea IANNONE Aprilia 43
17. Miguel OLIVEIRA KTM 33
18. Johann ZARCO KTM 30
19. Jorge LORENZO Honda 23
20. Tito RABAT Ducati 18
21. Stefan BRADL Honda 16
22. Michele PIRRO Ducati 9
23. Hafizh SYAHRIN KTM 8
24. Sylvain GUINTOLI Suzuki 7
25. Karel ABRAHAM Ducati 7
26. Mika KALLIO KTM 2
27. Bradley SMITH Aprilia
