Before the race began it was announced that the race has been shortened from 27 laps to just 19 after issues with the Bridgestones tyres on the newly-resurfaced circuit.
Also all riders will have to pit to change bikes from lap nine or ten.
Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo kept calm in the face of new challenges at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia and claimed the win to close down Marquez’s title lead in the world championship standings. In second place was Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa having been the first of the riders to enter the pits to change bikes he was later penalised to drop back a place luckily for Pedrosa this was done whilst on track and he remained in second position. In third was Lorenzo’s team-mate Valentino Rossi who again was in the midst of a thrilling battle between fourth place man Monster Tech3’s Cal Crutchlow and GO&FUN Honda Gresini’s Alvaro Bautista.
Britons Bradley Smith made a brilliant start on his Monster Tech3 Yamaha machine in sixth. Newly signed for Aspar man Nicky Hayden crossed the finish line in seventh and completing the top ten was Pramac’s Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso following the Ducati rider was Power Electronic Aspar’s Randy De Puniet who came out top CRT rider.
It was a disappointing race for championship leader Marc Marquez who looked very strong in second place before making a huge mistake going on another lap when he should have pitted with Lorenzo on lap ten, but when he did come into the pits to change bike the window had closed resulting in disqualification.
Marquez later said he and his team misunderstood the timing of the bike change.
The World Championship Standings are as follows-
1. Marc Marquez – 298 Points
2. Jorge Lorenzo – 280 Points
3. Dani Pedrosa– 264 Points By Laura Turner
