Marquez fends off Yamaha challenge to head MotoGP
Warm Up. With the Championship able to be clinched, Marquez resisted the opposition’s onslaught to lead the way to the race
The Chang International Circuit is set to provide exciting action in the 2019 MotoGP season, as the Championship victory looms for leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). The Spaniard started his day well and set the pace ahead of the 26-lap battle of Buriram, whilst Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) led a quartet of Yamahas right behind the Repsol Honda rider.
Marquez led the way ahead of a crucial afternoon for himself and the Repsol Honda Team, but pole-sitter Fabio Quartararo was right behind him in second position and reeled off a set of low 1’31 lap times. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) came to third place, ahead of teammate Valentino Rossi – the two Factory Yamahas in the same position ahead of the race as they were when they completed the race last season. Completing the top five was the fourth Yamaha in the field, Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT), exactly half-a-second behind Marquez.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) ended up sixth but had smoking pouring off the front end of his Ducati GP19, causing him to return to the pits, although he returned to the track for a practice start.
