2018 MotoGP Jerez is go!
After smashing the pole lap record to gain pole position, Cal Crutchlow looks set to make his mark here at the 2018 MotoGP Jerez. But after binning it in Austin, will Cal manage to keep his rivals at bay yet still maintain the great pace he’s had all week? He starts on the grid next to Dani Pedrosa and Johann Zarco, followed by (surprisingly) Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez and Alex Rins. A dismal start to the weekend for Yamaha’s main men, Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales, who start in 10th and 11th respectively. With a sweltering 24 degree heat, this is certainly going to be a tough race for all those involved.
As the grid clears and the race gets underway, Jorge Lorenzo goes full bore up the inside into the first corner, keeping Pedrosa and Zarco at bay whilst pushing Cal Crutchlow into 4th place. Seeing Lorenzo at the front again does make you smile; with various changes happening to the bikes in the factory Ducati camp, both Lorenzo and Dovizioso have commented they were much happier with the setup for this weekend. Whatever changes have been made, it’s definitely working for Jorge Lorenzo!
Marquez may well have started in fifth, but he is already elbows out and diving up on Cal Crutchlow, pushing the Brit back into 5th place. As Zarco leans very wide into the final corner, Marquez immediately seizes the moment and launches into third behind his Repsol Honda teammate. Lorenzo still manages to cling to the top spot. However it is clear that his soft tyre choice, while providing him with grip now, is deteriorating quickly in the heat. Will his grip disappear with his lead?
Lorenzo leads, but for how long?
A very ballsy overtake from Marc Marquez puts him into 2nd place, overtaking Dani Pedrosa into turn 11 and immediately allows Marquez to begin hunting down Lorenzo’s Ducati. Further back, Cal Crutchlow is struggling to find a way past Johann Zarco but just can’t seem to find the opportunity. All the while Alex Rins is sitting right on his tyre, followed by Andrea Dovizioso who can never be ruled out as a podium contender. As the lap changes, Crutchlow dives underneath Zarco, taking 4th place. Maybe Cal has got it in him to make it onto the podium here at the 2018 MotoGP Jerez. A combination of trying to regain 4th place mixed with possibly tyre trouble forces Zarco out wide, moving him back into 7th place.
Marquez is like a shark to blood, hunting down the Lorenzo’s Ducati and waiting for his time to strike. He’s closing the gap ahead, leaving Pedrosa further and further behind. The overtake is coming. It’s inevitable. Maybe he’ll just knock Lorenzo off instead?
For the third time in 4 races, Alex Rins ends up in the gravel. I don’t know what is going on with Alex Rins but throwing points away like this isn’t helping his chances of keeping his seat on the Suzuki. Especially since the rumours of Jorge Lorenzo coming to Suzuki are being echoed louder and louder around the forums and messageboards. Rins needs to spend less time building sandcastles at the side of the track and start finishing some races.
With 19 laps to go, Petrucci overtakes Rossi, snatching 8th place behind Andrea Iannone on the Suzuki. Rossi doesn’t seem to have the pace to keep up with the rest of the pack. Neither does Maverick Vinales, who sits in 12th place behind Franco Morbidelli. The Movistar Yamaha’s are plagued by electrical and mechanical issues according to Rossi. Better hope they get these issues sorted sharpish!
Cal Crash-low
With 18 laps to go, Crutchlow bins it once again, sliding out on the first corner. With such blistering pace during qualifying, seeing him fall again is nothing short of frustrating. As he sits on the tarmac, we can see the level of disappointment and confusion, wondering what happened. Admirably, Cal runs to his bike and begins his race again, however the damage is already done. Another race to forget for Cal Crutchlow. Towards the end of the lap, Marquez finally makes his move on Lorenzo, shooting into first place. We’ve seen this happen before. Unless Marquez falls, this race will be his. Even so, an all-Spanish podium would send the crowds here at the 2018 MotoGP Jerez mental! But with Andrea Dovizioso moving into third place, nothing is set in stone.
Tom Luthi crashes out with 13 laps to go, slipping in the same place as Alex Rins tumbled off only a few laps ago. Luthi falls close to the edge of the track, scattering gravel into the tarmac. As race leader Marc Marquez rounds the same corner later on, his back end slides away on the gravel caused by Luthi’s bike, but holds it perfectly on the line like it never happened and continues his dominance. Brilliant riding from the Spaniard who later widens the gap between first and second place to over 1.5 seconds.
Desmodici dominoes?
The real battling is happening between second, third and fourth. Lorenzo, Dovizioso and Pedrosa each battling for their rightful place on the podium. A brilliant ride from these three riders. However, with just 8 laps to go, it all ends in tears…
Dovizioso has been itching to get past Lorenzo, ready to begin taking chunks out of Marc Marquez’s lead. Dovi makes his move past Lorenzo on the inside leading into the corner, ultimately running wide. Dani Pedrosa tries to capitalise on the mistake made by the two Ducati men, moving up the inside. As Lorenzo tries to rejoin the line, he collides with Dani Pedrosa before riding straight into the path of Dovi, colliding with Dovi’s bike and taking them both out. Pedrosa takes yet another nasty high side, hobbling away from the track. His bike still sits in the middle of the track but thankfully, the Repsol Honda’s bright colours maximise it’s visibility and no one hits the bike as they round the corner. Dovi and Lorenzo exchange some choice words with one another, understandably so. There will definitely be some finger pointing between these three. I couldn’t point a finger at anyone. I can only spectate and speculate. Who do you think is to blame, if anyone? Let us know on social media.
Since three riders have just been wiped out, the podium places have been shuffled, giving a new lease of life to the riders. But with such a gap between Zarco and Petrucci, the real battle is the battle for third. Contenders include Petrucci, Iannone, Miller and Rossi who all charge for third place, particularly Rossi who seems to pick up a second wind and plenty of pace as he passes Jack Miller. Andrea Iannone jumps up the inside of the Danilo Petrucci and into third place. Will this be another podium for Iannone on the Suzuki? He already silenced the critics last week in Texas, taking a well deserved third place. Anything is possible.
Top spot? You guessed it!
As the last lap begins, Marquez and Zarco are simply too far ahead to touch. Iannone holds tight to third place. Marquez crosses the line with a massive lead, grabbing the championship points with both hands at the 2018 MotoGP Jerez. With the Spanish rider stood on the top step yet again, there will undoubtedly be some serious celebrations throughout Jerez tonight!
Top Ten:
1: Marquez
2: Zarco
3: Iannone
4: Petrucci
5: Rossi
6: Miller
7: Vinales
8: Bautista
9: Morbidelli
10: Kallio
All images courtesy of motogp.com
