PHILLIP ISLAND: Italian legend Valentino Rossi won his first Australian MotoGP in nine years after world champion Marc Marquez crashed out while holding a big lead at Phillip Island on Sunday.
Rossi, one of the sport’s greats with nine world championships across all classes, swept to the front when Marquez came to beat home teammate Jorge Lorenzo and Britain’s Bradley Smith. It was a popular victory for the 35-year-old Italian, who celebrated his 250th premier-class race with his 82nd victory at one of his favourite tracks.
It was Rossi’s sixth premier-class win at Phillip Island and his first since 2005 to extend his phenomenal record to 15 podium finishes in 18 trips to Australia.
Marquez, who clinched back-to-back world titles last weekend in Japan, had looked set to comfortably win his first MotoGP at Phillip Island with a massive four-second advantage on his dominant Repsol Honda bike. But the Spanish ace lost control of his front wheel on lap 18 of the 27-lap race and crashed out, leaving Rossi to take over and go on and win by 10.836 seconds.
“When I saw Marc crash it was a surprise, and to finish first at Phillip Island after my last victory here in 2005 is a great achievement,” Rossi said.(AFP)