Austrian GP: Departing Dovizioso wins at Red Bull Ring after horror crash
Monday, 17 August 2020
Ducati maintained it's winning streak at the circuit.
Andrea Dovizioso showed Ducati what they will be missing next year by winning a pulsating Austrian Grand Prix after a horror crash brought the red flags out on Sunday.
It was announced on Saturday that Dovizioso will move on at the end of the MotoGP™ season after eight years with Ducati and there should be no shortage of offers to sign him after his magnificent victory at the Red Bull Ring.
The Italian moved into the lead when Alex Rins spun off soon after taking the lead 10 laps from the end of an action-packed race and went on to secure a first win of the season – and his third in the last four years at this track.
Joan Mir passed Jack Miller on the final corners to take second spot at the end of a dramatic race that was stopped on lap nine following a sickening smash.
Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco incredibly avoided serious injury after they tangled at Turn 3 and Valentino Rossi was almost struck by one of their bikes as it flashed across the track at high speed.
Rossi's teammate Maverick Vinales also had a near miss when the two stray bikes hurtled across the circuit in an incident that could have been so much worse.
Spielberg is @AndreaDovizioso's territory! #50DucatiWins | #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/YHETWnejto
— MotoGP (@MotoGP) August 16, 2020
The legendary Rossi showed his incredible character to get back on his Yamaha and finished fifth behind Brad Binder after the race restarted with 20 laps to go.
Championship leader Fabio Quartararo could only finish eighth, so Dovizioso is now just 11 points behind him in second place, while Vinales was back in 10th.
Miller earlier surged into the lead at the start as Vinales slipped back from pole and the Australian also got off to a flyer from the restart to hit the front, but he had to settle for the third step of the podium.
Pol Espargaro led before the restart but crashed out as Ducati won the race for a fifth year in a row.
TOP 10
- Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati)
- Joan Mir (Team SUZUKI ECSTAR) +1.377s
- Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) +1.549s
- Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) +5.526s
- Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha) +5.837s
- Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda) +6.403s
- Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) +12.498s
- Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha) +12.534s
- Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) +14.117s
- Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha) +15.276s
TITLE STANDINGS
Riders
- Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha) 67
- Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) 56
- Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha) 48
- Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory) 41
- Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha) 38
Teams
- Petronas Yamaha 98
- Monster Energy Yamaha 86
- Ducati 76
- Red Bull KTM Factory 60
- Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 50
What's next?
There will be no travelling required for the teams, as they are back at the Red Bull Ring for the Styrian GP next weekend.
