MotoGP Raceweek: Rins pips Marquez in Silverstone thriller after Dovizioso crash
August 25, 2019 14:20 MYT
Alex Rins snatched a thrilling British Grand Prix victory from Marc Marquez after Andrea Dovizioso and Fabio Quartararo were involved in a huge first-lap crash at Silverstone.
Marquez looked set to hold off Rins and win the race for the first time since 2014 but was denied by his fellow Spaniard in a dramatic finish.
Suzuki Ecstar rider Rins nipped in on the inside of Marquez on the final corner and pipped the championship leader by a margin of 0.013 seconds to take his second win of the MotoGP season.
Dovizioso's last-ditch move prevented Marquez, who was battling wearing tyres, from taking the top step of the podium in Austria last time out and the five-time champion failed to see it out again following a stunning late twist.
Rins pushed the Repsol Honda pole-sitter all the way and was rewarded when he made one last move and exited Luffield expertly to pull off a sweet victory.
WHAT. A. RACE. Pipped on the line! @marcmarquez93 couldn't do anything about that. P2 today but P1 in the championship! #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/xDaE1Fk70M
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) August 25, 2019
An elated Rins said: "Two laps to the end I thought it was the last lap and that's why I overtook Marc on the straight. In the last corner I was unbelievable, so much faster than him. And I did it."
Maverick Vinales worked his way through the field to take third spot ahead of team-mate Valentino Rossi, who started in second.
Marquez was able to increase his championship lead to 78 points as Dovizioso was taken to hospital after suffering a severe blow to the head when he collided with Quartararo's bike after the Frenchman crashed in a nightmare start.
Dovizioso's Ducati caught fire as his hopes of back-to-back victories evaporated, with Quartararo also looking shell-shocked after rising from the gravel.
TOP 10
1. Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar)
TITLE STANDINGS
Riders
1. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) 250
Teams
1. Ducati 317