Andrea Dovizioso resisted a last-corner challenge from Marc Marquez to win the Austrian Grand Prix, Ducati’s second victory in as many years in Spielberg. The pair were involved in a nail-biting duel through the closing laps with Marquez trying unsuccessfully to pass the Italian at the last bend, allowing Dovizioso to claim his third win of the year.
The early stages saw contrasting fortunes for the Ducati rides with Jorge Lorenzo blasting into the lead at turn three ahead of Marquez and Dovizioso while Danilo Petrucci completely botched his start from the second row, plummeting down the order as a result. Lorenzo’s spell in the lead was brought to an end by Marquez on lap twelve although the squabbling amongst the Spaniards opened the door for Dovizioso to sneak past them both.
With Lorenzo now slipping into the clutches of Dani Pedrosa on the second Repsol Honda, Dovizioso and Marquez were left alone at the front with Marquez showing supreme confidence and corner speed through the left-handers of turn six and seven. The world champion managed to carve the Ducati up through this section on two separate occasions but with the GP17 so strong in the first sector, Dovizioso was still able to begin the final lap with his nose in front.
The hard work looked to be done once Dovizioso had negotiated turn seven but Marquez was climbing all over the Ducati in the penultimate bend, making a last-ditch lunge inevitable. The Spaniard dived for the inside with both riders drifting wide but crucially, Andrea was ready for the move and ducked back underneath the no.93 to claim victory, giving his rival a nonchalant wave on the way past.
Pedrosa overhauled Lorenzo for third while Movistar Yamaha were left thoroughly underwhelmed with their afternoon after Tech 3’s Johann Zarco beat Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi to fifth. Alvaro Bautista was eighth ahead of Loris Baz while KTM test rider Mika Kallio produced one of the rides of the day to grab tenth spot.
2017 NeroGiardini Motorrad Grand Prix von Osterreich: Result
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