Qatar MotoGP 2018: Dovizioso beats Marquez by 0.027s

Ducati Andrea Dovizioso took victory in a closely fought first MotoGP race of the 2018 season in Qatar; just 0.027s ahead of reigning champion Marc Marquez’s Honda. Dovizioso and Marquez formed part of a 10-bike queue that headed the field for much of the race, with poleman Johann Zarco converting pole position into an early lead aboard the Tech 3 Yamaha.

It wasn't until lap 18 of 22 that Dovizioso and Marquez finally made their moves, both passing Zarco at Turn 1 and quickly distancing the Frenchman to engage in their own private duel for victory. In scenes reminiscent of their battles last year in Austria and Japan, the two 2017 title protagonists ran nose to tail for the final laps, with Marquez attempting a pass at the final corner on the last lap.

But Dovizioso managed to edge back ahead exiting the turn, getting superior traction and out dragging Marquez to the finish line by the tiny margin of 0.027s for his ninth career MotoGP victory. Seven tenths behind the lead duo was Valentino Rossi, who passed Zarco on the same lap as Dovizioso and Marquez but couldn't keep up the pace in the closing laps.

Cal Crutchlow was fourth on the LCR Honda, a further two seconds behind, ahead of Danilo Petrucci's Pramac Ducati. Both had been part of the leading group bottled up behind Zarco, but the extra lap they took to clear the satellite Yamaha allowed the leading three to escape. Zarco ended up slumping to eighth at the finish, losing out to the second works Yamaha of Maverick Vinales and the second factory Honda of Dani Pedrosa in the latter stages.

MotoGP 2017: Grand Prix of France

Maverick Vinales took victory in the French GP at Le Mans after a thrilling duel with Yamaha MotoGP teammate Valentino Rossi ended with the Italian rider crashing on the final lap of the race.

What had been a three-way race for honors between the two factory Yamaha riders and the Tech 3 bike of Johann Zarco had boiled down to a straight fight between Vinales and Rossi in the closing stages. It was home hero Zarco, running soft tyres front and rear that led the opening stages after a great start from third on the grid, with Vinales slotting into second place ahead of Rossi.

But Zarco was unable to pull away from the factory Yamaha’s, both running medium tyres all round, and on lap 7 the Frenchman was passed by Vinales at the Dunlop chicane. From there, Vinales maintained a small advantage over Zarco and Rossi, with the satellite rider holding on to second until Rossi made his move at the Dunlop chicane on the 23rd lap of 28. The Italian's charge continued as he reeled in Vinales and passed him at the same location three laps later.

It seemed Rossi had done enough to seal his first MotoGP win of the season, especially as Vinales cut the track trying to keep up with the 38-year-old on the penultimate tour. But Rossi ran wide on the very last lap at Garage Vert, allowing Vinales through into the lead, before the seven-time premier class champion lost the front end at Turn 11 and crashed out.