Last lap drama drops Aussie down the order in Japan.
The Moto3 race at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan saw Alex Marquez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) take control of the World Championship fight with a stunning win, with Efren Vazquez (SaxoPrint-RTG) and Brad Binder (Ambrogio Racing) also on the podium.
Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Danny Kent (Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo) were both in the hunt for victory on the final lap but ran wide to allow Marquez through for the win. The result sees Marquez open up a 25-point gap at the head of the standings with three races remaining.
Ultimately Marquez crossed the finish line 0.357s ahead of Vazquez who had brilliantly worked his way through from 14th on the grid. Binder picked up the second podium of his career in third place having run with the front group throughout.
John McPhee (SaxoPrint-RTG) was fourth, whilst Miller and Kent touched on the last lap and finished fifth and sixth respectively.
Italian trio Romano Fenati (SKY Racing Team VR46), Enea Bastianini (Junior Team Go&FUN Moto3) and Niccolo Antonelli (Junior Team GO&FUN), along with Alex Rins (Estrella Galicia 0,0), completed the top ten. Rins ran wide early on the first lap and made his way back up from 25th place.
The race came to an early end for Niklas Ajo (Avant Tecno Husqvarna Ajo), Hikari Okubo (Hot Racing with I-Factory), Scott Deroue (RW Racing GP) and Sena Yamada (Liberto Plusone & Endurance), all who fell at Turn 1. Italians Matteo Ferrari (San Carlo Team Italia) and Andrea Migno (Mahindra Racing) fell later on the opening lap with Ferrari able to rejoin.
Alexis Masbou (Ongetta-Rivacold) fell with 14 laps to go and was able to remount briefly. Juanfran Guevara (Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3) took a tumble while chasing the leaders.
Jakub Kornfeil (Calvo Team) and Jorge Navarro (Marc VDS Racing Team) came together mid race, both escaped serious injury. Miguel Oliveira (Mahindra Racing) suffered a big highside fighting for a podium. Luca Grünwald (Kiefer Racing) slid off and remounted in the closing stages of the race.
2014 MotoGP World Championship
Round 15 – Motegi, Japan
Moto3 race results:
1. Alex MARQUEZ
2. Efren VAZQUEZ +0.357s
3. Brad BINDER +0.484s
4. John MCPHEE +0.672s
5. Jack MILLER +1.161s
6. Danny KENT +1.796s
7. Romano FENATI +5.927s
8. Enea BASTIANINI +6.025s
9. Niccolò ANTONELLI +6.527s
10. Alex RINS +6.686s