Exhilarating Zarco wins Island GP

By Peter Cleeland

PHILLIP Island Circuit provided the venue for four days of five-star MotoGP action over the weekend. The riders and ensuing MotoGP entourage made their way from the Indonesian Grand Prix in Mandilika to the famous seaside circuit for round 16. The Australian round of MotoGP promised intense and thrilling racing with the leading two riders, Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin desperate for maximum points for the overall championship title: with only 18 points apiece separating the 2022 champion and Pramac Ducati rider.

The program commenced with free practice for MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 category bikes on Friday which was followed by a close round of qualifying for each class on Saturday. There was a three-way battle for the Moto 3 World Championship with Spanish rider, Masia leading by just 16-points from Japanese rider, Sasaki and another Spanish rider Daniel Holgado is third, only one-point behind the Japanese rider. 

In Moto 2 class Spanish rider, Pedro Acosta and Italian rider Tony Arborlino were separated by 65 points with British rider Jake Dixon a further 40-points behind Arbolino. Pedro Acosta has been linked with a move into the premier MotoGP class with the Austrian KTM team. 
Frantic Friday in the premier class saw KTM riders Brad Binder and Aussie Jack Miller go first and second on the time sheets and straight into qualifying two while Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) and the highly popular Marc Marquez (Honda) had to come through qualifying one (Q1) as they occupied lowly 11th and 16th respectively in the washup. Championship contender, Jorge Martin had slotted himself nicely into fouth position with an eye to improving his times during the qualifying two (Q2) session.

In a moment of sheer genius, the race organising committee looked at the weather predictions over the weekend and in their wisdom decided to shift Sunday’s 28 lap event to Saturday scheduling it for a 3.10pm start. The Tissot 12 lap sprint race was then switched to Sunday. 
A large crowd had assembled in warm conditions to witness the goings on of Frantic Friday which gave way to Super Saturday. The word had obviously got around the motorcycle community about the switch in program as a belter of a crowd turned up to witness some stunning action.
In qualifying one Bagnaia and Marquez topped the charts to go into Q2 and as they say the cream rises to the top. In Q2 Ducati rider Jorge Martin nailed pole position with a new lap record of 1.27.767 while Friday’s champ Brad Binder held onto second with Championship leader Bagnaia slotted into third on the front row. For Aussie Jack Miller a now familiar pattern had formed where he dropped back to seventh position on the grid as the pace warmed up.

Yes, the organisers had pulled a masterstroke rearranging the program of events as Saturday was perfect for racing. A dry track with overcast conditions, little wind to speak of and moderate temperatures of 20 degrees. As the punters filled the stands and stood up to 10 deep around the fabulous Island circuit all was in readiness for some stunning competition.

When the lights went out Jorge Martin dropped the clutch and careered off into distance leaving Binder, Bagnaia, Di Giannantonio and Zarco to squabble over the minor placings. Further back Jack Miller had settled into a battle with Marc Marquez, Aliex Espargaro and Alex Marquez. Martin’s dominance of the field was complete as he established a 3.2 second lead which provided him with a comfortable buffer over the rest of the field. 

Jack Miller who had dropped back to ninth position was on the move picking up three places in one lap to move to sixth and considerable distance from the leading bunch. What appeared to be a foregone conclusion instantly turned around in the blink of an eye as leader Martin who got out to 3.5 seconds lead was starting to lose grip in his rear tyre. The hounds were on his scent and overhauling the Spanish rider at an alarming rate. 

On the last lap at turn four Martin was overtaken by teammate Johann Zarco who had occupied fifth place for most of the race but was now making a daring run. Now Zarco, who had a lazy 120 starts without notching a win could see victory was within his grasp. Imagine the emotion running through the Frenchman’s veins. He didn’t disappoint and steered the Pramac Ducati home with Championship leader Bagnaia in second, further extending his lead to 26-points while Di Giannantonio secured a a brilliant third. KTM rider Brad Binder finished .4 of a second off the rostrum in fourth place. Ducati first, second and third a dominant performance by the Italian manufacturer.

For Martin, the race leader for 27 and a half laps, who went backwards quicker than a one wheeled ice cream cart finishing fifth was a disaster as he conceded further ground to Bagnaia in the quest for the title. Grip is everything in MotoGP and the Spaniard’s significant loss of rubber on road was to prove decisive.

The crowd was enthralled by the victory from Zarco who didn’t disappoint in his victory celebrations as he pulled the bike up at the exit to Siberia and gingerly mounted the fence in front of his adoring fans. Balancing on top of the fence in front of the cheering disciples Johann Zarco completed his victory celebrations with a perfectly executed backflip. The throng of spectators went wild with appreciation.

Phillip Island had again produced an amazing sporting spectacle with the French rider breaking through for his first victory after 120 starts. It is very rare for a rider to survive that long at the top level without success, but the champagne would never have tasted as sweet for Johann Zarco. 

A special mention to Aussie Jack Miller who had ridden the absolute sprockets off the KTM coming in sevnth in a very creditable performance.
Soggy Sunday, lived up to the weather forecasters predictions. With the accuracy of an arrow from William Tell’s bow the meteorologists were spot on with gale force winds and sweeping showers rolling across the Island circuit. However, not to be deterred thousands of spectators dressed in a whole lot more than they were yesterday fronted for another dose of upscaled adrenaline and excitement. 

Motorcycle racers cannot pick and choose their lot so the Moto 3 lads bravely fronted perilous conditions which saw four riders go down on the sighting lap. In an exciting race Deniz Oncu snatched victory from Ayumu Sasaki on the final turns of a soaking Australian Moto3 Grand Prix. Oncu's late pass also prevented Sasaki from taking the world championship lead, but he has now closed to within four points of a subdued Jaume Masia. The leading trio were reduced to two when home star Joel Kelso lost touch with Sasaki and Oncu in the final laps, Kelso settling for a safe debut podium. Australian rider, Joel Kelso had ridden out of his skin in an exhibition combining bravery and skill.

The Moto2 600cc machines were next to front the atrocious conditions as showers intensified and track conditions worsened. Infact, the wake left behind the bikes completing the sighting and warm up laps would have had Aussie surfer Mick Fanning waxing his surfboard. Tony Arbolino on his Kalex was a runaway leader when common-sense prevailed and the event was red flagged on lap 10 of 23. As the race was not two thirds complete in distance Arbolino had to settle for half points. Championship leader Pedro Acosta was one of many riders went down in a screaming heap in the treacherous melee.

The MotoGP riders and team managers had a meeting to discuss the merits of running the Tissot 12 lap Sprint race as conditions worsened. It was decided to call off this event due to rider safety concerns which was the only possible rational decision that could be reached. 
The highly successful Australian MotoGP would not be possible without the countless volunteer track marshall’s who freely give of their time and expertise which is greatly appreciated by all spectators and race organisers. Similarly, the first responders namely police, ambulance and paramedics who provide a safe environment for both public and competitors.