Image: Russell Colvin.

Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins has won the 2022 Animaco Brands Australian MotoGP in a dramatic race that saw title leader Fabio Quartararo fall and Jack Miller taken out at Phillip Island.

Pole-setter Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) grabbed the holeshot, followed by Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) who was equipped with the soft option rear.

The pair stretched out a slim advantage before they were reeled in by the chasing group behind, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Alex Rins moving their way forward.

Unfortunately, Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) was collected by Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) at Miller Corner in what was a heavy impact that ruled both riders out of the race, while running in the lead group.

Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) then fell two laps later at turn two, bringing an end to his race after he suffered earlier dramas at turn four and ran off the track.

With 10 laps to go the top 10 riders were still in touch with the lead group as the battle royale at the front of the field continued to intensify. Entering the closing stages of the race Bagnaia led Rins, Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing), with Rins moving to the front into turn two on the last lap.

Marquez soon found his way back to second but was unable to pass the number 42 and crossed the line P2 in hot pursuit. Bagnaia finished third to take over the championship lead, with Bezzecchi P4 to take Rookie of the Year honours and Enea Bastianini progressively elevating throughout the race to finish fifth.

Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing) was sixth ahead of Martin in P7 – the top seven separated by less than a second. Friday pace-setter Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) completed a 27-lap outing in eighth with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) fading in the second half of the race to P9. Top KTM was Brad Binder (KTM Factory Racing) who rounded out the top 10, as Australia’s Remy Gardner (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) finished his first home GP in the premier class P15.

With round 18 complete at Phillip Island Bagnaia leads Quartararo by 14 in the points standings. Two races remain in the 2022 MotoGP World Championship as the series moves to Sepang next weekend for the Malaysian GP.

Detailed results