The Michelin-backed Australian round of the 2016 MotoGP World Championship is complete and, once again, it was a weekend to remember for all kinds of reasons aside from the eventual race winners. CycleOnline.com.au breaks down the specifics from race day.

MotoGP

Source: Supplied.

Pole position: Marc Marquez 1m30.189s

Race results:
1. Cal Crutchlow
2. Valentino Rossi
3. Maverick Viñales
4. Andrea Dovizioso
5. Pol Espargaro
6. Jorge Lorenzo
7. Scott Redding
8. Bradley Smith
9. Danilo Petrucci
10. Jack Miller (AUS)
11. Stefan Bradl
12. Alvaro Bautista
13. Yonny Hernandez
14. Eugene Laverty
15. Mike Jones (AUS)
16. Tito Rabat
17. Nicky Hayden

Race time: 40m48.543s
Margin of victory: 4.218s
Laps completed: 27
Fastest lap: 1m29.498s

Championship standings:
1. Marc Marquez 273
2. Valentino Rossi 216
3. Jorge Lorenzo 192
4. Maverick Viñales 181
5. Dani Pedrosa 155
6. Cal Crutchlow 141
7. Andrea Dovizioso 137
8. Pol Espargaro 117
9. Andrea Iannone 96
10. Hector Barbera 84
11. Aleix Espargaro 82
12. Eugene Laverty 73
13. Scott Redding 71
14. Alvaro Bautista 67
15. Danilo Petrucci 65
16. Stefan Bradl 60
17. Bradley Smith 53
18. Jack Miller (AUS) 48
19. Michele Pirro 36
20. Tito Rabat 29
21. Loris Baz 24
22. Yonny Hernandez 20
23. Katsuyuki Nakasuga 5
24. Alex Lowes 3
25. Nicky Hayden 1
26. Mike Jones (AUS) 1
27. Hiroshi Aoyama 1

Verdict:
It was looking as though world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) would simply ride away at the front once he was there, which is what he did until crashing out at turn four with 18 laps still to run. That left Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) at the front and he controlled it beautifully, withstanding pressure from a pushing Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) for his second-career MotoGP victory and first in the dry. Regardless of Marquez’s fall, Crutchlow felt he could’ve won anyway, and on paper it looks as though it was possible. Rossi was impressive from 15th on the grid, as was Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki ECSTAR) from 13th all the way to third after getting the better of Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech3) for position. Aleix Espargaro was also in podium contention on the second Suzuki until he crashed, also at turn four in the final stages. For Jack Miller (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Honda) 10th was positive, although it certainly could have been P7 with better track position, and you’ve got to be proud of Mike Jones to bring the Avintia Racing Ducati home for a point in 15th – exceptional! Look into the results a little bit closer and he was even faster than Eugene Laverty (Aspar Ducati) and Yonny Hernandez (Aspar Ducati) in terms of laptimes on very similar GP14.2 equipment.