Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso victorious at Austrian Grand Prix

It was an incident-packed Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring for Italian Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso who, on Saturday, announced that he would not be continuing with the Italian factory beyond the 2020 season then went on to take his third victory around the Austrian track in a restarted race over 20 laps.
Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso won the Austrian MotoGP.Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso won the Austrian MotoGP.
Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso won the Austrian MotoGP.

The initial race was red-flagged after one of the scariest MotoGP crashes ever when Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco got tangled up at 200mph on the approach into turn three on lap nine.

Both riders thankfully were not seriously hurt but the Petronas Yamaha went through the air fence and flew over Valentino Rossi’s head while the Avintia Ducati continued across the track in many pieces just missing both Rossi and team-mate Maverick Vinales.

It was a shaken Rossi who returned to his pit and a frustrated Pol Espargaro, the race leader on the KTM at the time of the red flag, who couldn’t believe what had just happened.

In the restart was Australian Pramac Ducati rider Jack Miller who shot in to the lead and had a nearly a second over Pol Espargaro, Dovizioso, the two Suzukis of Alex Rins and Joan Mir.

Drama on lap nine when Espargaro, who had his hands full with the Suzukis ran wide only to get entangled with fellow KTM rider Miguel Oliveira and both crashed out. Rins meanwhile was hot on the heels of the two Ducati’s and followed Dovizioso through past Miller on lap nine and two laps later made his move for the lead. Just as he got the Suzuki ahead of the Ducati he lost the front and down he went. This left ‘Dovi’ in control at the front and by the flag had over a second in hand over Mir who squeezed past Miller two corners from the flag.

Czech GP winner Brad Binder had a sensational race on the KTM from 17th at the start to claim 4th by the flag just ahead of Valentino Rossi on the Monster Energy Yamaha. Fabio Quartararo still leads the title race despite finishing eighth.

“I’m more surprised by the improvement after Brno, the feeling was so bad and in my mind I didn’t have any clear idea of what to change,” said Dovizioso. “But from the experience in the last few years, it was the work we did on small details and on my riding style more than changing the bike like everyone normally does.

“I expected Rins to be strong in the second race and it became a reality.

“If he didn’t crash it would have been very difficult to have beaten him.

“I was struggling a little bit but I was certain in some of the braking areas I would be able to make the gap.”

Jorge Martin took victory in the Moto2 race after it was red-flagged when race leader Enea Bastianini highsided out of the race on lap five.

His bike was in the middle of the track when unsighted Hafizh Syahrin smashed in to the machine.

The incident also involved Edgar PONS and Andi Izdihar. Thankfully no-one was seriously injured.

British start Sam Lowes recovered from sixth to finish fourth by the flag in the restart.

Scot John McPhee finished third in the Moto3 race after three riders in front of him were penalised for exceeding the track limits on the final lap. Albert Arenas won the race from Jaume Masia.