Highlights: Marquez claims title lead after Martin crashes out of Sprint
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Marc Marquez claims chaotic Sprint victory at Grand Prix Australia after rival Jorge Martin suffers fractured wrist, Marquez gains championship lead
Marc Marquez claimed the Grand Prix Australia Sprint victory after a fierce battle with Jorge Martin was cut short when the Aprilia rider crashed out of the race. Marquez inherits the championship lead and was joined on the podium by his brother, Alex Marquez, and Fabio Di Giannantonio
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8:31
8:31
THANK YOU FOR READING
Tomorrow will be a massive race for the championship, you suspect. Marquez knows how to twist the knife at opportune times, so he may not let this chance slip, despite the risks posed by the rain.
Right, we'll be back tomorrow/tonight. 3am. Get excited, get to bed.
8:25
8:25
WARNING FOR MARQUEZ OVER SUNDAY
TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson has told Marc Marquez that he cannot afford to let Sunday slip.
8:10
8:10
MARTIN OUT - THE FULL STORY
Here are all the details about Martin's fractured wrist, and what it might mean for the title run-in.
8:01
8:01
FINAL TOP NINE
The confirmed top nine is in.
Ogura finished in P6, but an eight-second penalty has bumped him down to P13.
7:49
7:49
HODGSON SAYS MARQUEZ NEEDS WEEKEND DOUBLE
Neil Hodgson wrote in his column that Marc Marquez needs 37 points this weekend.
He won the Sprint, and tomorrow looks like a tough one to call for the Spaniard.
It's wet, and his main rival will be absent for at least one race. If he pushes hard, he risks an accident, but if he plays it safe, he risks being taken out by a rival.
7:36
7:36
APRILIA LOSE TWO RIDERS
Fernandez have lost two riders in a day.
Trackhouse and Aprilia's factory team can call upon Ai Ogura and Marco Bezzecchi, respectively.
7:23
7:23
THE BATTLE FOR NO. 1
Before that crash, it had been one of the best battles of the season between the two.
Given the stark difference in the bikes, there has generally been a clear advantage for one or another rider, but this Sprint was evenly balanced for the first eight laps.
7:03
7:03
MARTIN FRACTURES WRIST
That could be that - awful for Martin.
A fractured wrist for Martin rules him out for the rest of the weekend.
And, with another round in Malaysia imminent, that might be the world championship race over.
6:35
6:35
MARTIN UNDER PRESSURE
With Alex Marquez enjoying decent pace behind him and Marc Marquez blocking expertly, the pressure was on Martin.
There was some suggestion that the constant need to look for a way out drove him to an error.
6:20
6:20
NEW CONCERNS FOR APRILIA
As well as Jorge Martin for Aprilia’s factory team, Trackhouse - their satellite - have concerns for Raul Fernandez, who withdrew from the Sprint.
Martin crashed in lap eight, but Fernandez also failed to finish, with his broken finger still giving him trouble.
”Raul Fernandez withdraws from the Australia Sprint race suffering the effects of his crash in Indonesia in which he fractured his right index finger – his primary brake control finger,” Trackhouse wrote in a statement reported Crash.net.
”SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team rider No.25 Raul Fernandez was forced to retire from the 13-lap Sprint race at Phillip Island unable to continue on his Aprilia RS-GP26 bike.
”The demanding nature of the Australian track proved to be physically more stressful than the Indonesia Mandalika Circuit, and the level of discomfort too great to continue beyond lap nine.
”After the race, Fernandez went straight to a medical assessment and further news will follow.”
6:16
6:16
MARQUEZ 10 POINTS CLEAR
Marc Marquez is now 10 points clear at the top of the MotoGP world title standings.
This is the biggest advantage he's had in the race for the championship this season.
5:50
5:50
MARC MARQUEZ LEADS DUCATI PODIUM LOCK-OUT IN AUSTRALIAN SPRINT RACE
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Marc Marquez picked up another victory after topping the podium in the Grand Prix Australia Sprint race, catapulting himself to the top of the riders' standings.
The seven-time world champion was engaged in a thrilling battle for the win, but it was cut short when his rival, Jorge Martin, suffered a nasty crash at Turn 8 with five laps remaining.
Marquez was joined on the podium by his brother Alex Marquez, who enjoyed multiple battles on track to defend his second-place position for Gresini.
Fabio Di Giannantonio also found himself on the podium after climbing five positions during the 13-lap shoot-out, finishing in third place for VR46.
This result marked another Ducati podium lock-out, with the new championship leader at the helm.
05:45
05:45
MARC MARQUEZ: 'WE BOTH DESERVE THE VICTORY'
It was a great Sprint race for Marc Marquez, who converted his pole position to another win at the Phillip Island circuit, after his rival Jorge Martin crashed out of the race.
Marquez said: "Yeah, it was a tight battle. I mean, of course, I gave everything.
"I was aggressive, and he was faster than me. But I just tried to defend myself in the best way possible.
"Nice overtakes, and in the end, both of us were riding at the limit.
"Both of us, we deserve the victory because we are pushing a lot.
"But you know, racing is what it is. Today was on my side, but it is super long. So keep calm, keep going, and be happy for today."
05:40
05:40
ALEX MARQUEZ: 'I WAS THE BEST SPECTATOR'
Alex Marquez fought hard to finish in second place after a hectic Sprint race saw him scrap it out with Johann Zarco, Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio for a position on the podium.
Marquez said: "Yeah, quite dramatic. But for me, you know, I was the best spectator there, sitting in third.
"I was trying in the beginning to attack because I felt at the moment that I had a little bit more than them. But then Jorge caught me so fast.
"But later on, you know, I lost them [Marc and Martin] many times in the battle with Pedro.
"Then they created a small gap that was so difficult to recover from. I was at the limit.
"I am really happy with this P2. We are there. We have the feeling, and tomorrow will be a really long race in the wet conditions."
05:35
05:35
DI GIANNANTONIO: 'IT HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART'
Fabio Di Giannantonio joined his fellow Ducati riders on the podium after finishing in third place at the Australian Grand Prix Sprint race.
He said: "This place is so magical. I really love it. I have a special place in my heart for this place.
"The people who come here enjoy the island. You know, it's amazing. So when I come here, I always try to do something more.
"The podium is always important, but here I feel that it is more important. So I enjoyed the race a lot. I did a good race.
"I'm super happy, and yeah, we try to give our best show to these people."
05:30
05:30
HODGSON: IT'S BEEN A 'VINTAGE MARC MARQUEZ DAY'
After a chaotic Sprint race that saw Jorge Martin crash out of the race, Neil Hodgson said on TNT Sports: ”Just another masterclass, isn't it? [Marquez] absolutely controlled the race. Made all the right moves. Went defensive really early; that cost him lap time, but it meant Martin had to try something different.
”Martin decided, 'I'm having a go here.’
”It's gloves off, winner takes all. And it's the smallest of small mistakes. Hit the curb, got behind, and lost the front.
”Martin had full pace. There were mistakes. Just touches the kerb, upsets the bike. That means he can't turn in, but he has to turn in, so he turns in late.
”More aggressive to make the apex, and the front tyre says, 'Not today, mate.' He knows what’s happening, but he’s been greedy. He’s not allowed himself to lose a bit of time. He’d have lost 0.3 seconds.
”More aggressive to make the apex, and the front tyre says, 'Not today, mate.' He knows what’s happening, but he’s been greedy. He’s not allowed himself to lose a bit of time. He’d have lost 0.3 seconds.
”But Marc has been prodding him, prodding him - ‘We’re in a fight.’
"It's been a vintage Marc Marquez day. A wet track where nobody has got any data, who's going to do what, and he's just dominated it. A spirit-crushing day for his rivals.
"Tomorrow is tricky. It's going to be wet; there will be lying water, but that means nothing, because we know how easy it is to make a mistake, to be cleaned out by someone."
13/13
13/13
GRAND PRIX AUSTRALIA SPRINT RESULTS
1. Marc Marquez
2. Alex Marquez
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio
4. Marco Bezzecchi
5. Pedro Acosta
6. Ai Ogura
7. Brad Binder
8. Jack Miller
9. Diogo Moreira
10. Iker Locuna
13/13
13/13
MARQUEZ WINS THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX SPRINT RACE
Marc Marquez wins the Sprint race at the Phillip Island circuit ahead of his brother Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio.
12/13
12/13
MARQUEZ CRUISES THROUGH THE TRACK
Marc Marquez resumed the lead as usual after Jorge Martin's crash during their intense fight for the victory. He was left to defend against his younger brother, Alex Marquez, who had been battling with Fabio Di Giannantonio up to this point.
Di Giannantonio had climbed up three positions and found himself in third place after shooting past Marco Bezzecchi. The pack look to be playing it safe in this final sector after Martin's crash.
9/13
9/13
MARTIN SUFFERS AWFUL CRASH OUT OF THE RACE
The fight at the front of the pack is intensifying as Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin trade the lead position almost every lap. As of Lap 7, Marquez holds the lead of the race, but Jorge Martin's brilliant pace is set to change that.
Lower in the order, Trackhouse riders Ai Ogura and Raul Fernandez were scrapping it out for position in the top ten.
On Lap 8, the order changed once again with Martin snatching the lead from Marquez around the inside of the middle sector before the Ducati rider took it right back.
In an awful turn of events, Martin crashed out of the race at Turn 8, spinning into the gravel and retiring from the race. The championship leader was carried out of the gravel on a stretcher after the high-speed crash.
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Contact as front four battle at Grand Prix Australia Sprint
Video credit: TNT Sports