Just like during the German Grand Prix, the rain stopped shortly before the start of the MotoGP race making tire choices difficult. The grid was bustling with Michelin technicians responding to last-minute requests from drivers and teams.
At the last moment, Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi make a risky bet and opt for the hard at the back then their rivals, Iannone, Dovizioso and Marquez choose the tender. The second machines are ready in the pit lane, all equipped with rain before the start.
Marc Marquez got the best start ahead of Iannone and Dovizioso. Viñales, A. Espargaro and P. Espargaro are in ambush. Lorenzo and Rossi were relegated to 10th and 12th positions at the start of the second round. As the track dries, the teams adjust the second bikes for the dry.
Dovizioso and Iannone take the advantage in the third round in front of Marquez under threat from Redding. The Briton gains the upper hand over the Honda driver and takes 3rd place. Riding the GP15, Redding keeps pace with the two official Ducatis. The three leaders are widening the gap on the peloton.
Behind, A. Espargaro completes 5th place ahead of his teammate Viñales and Barbera. Official Yamaha riders are experiencing a nightmare and find themselves excluded from the Top 10 with Rossi 12th and Lorenzo 14th after 3 laps. Barbera overtakes Marquez in the eighth round and tries to get back on Dovizioso.
After nine laps, the soft tires wear out and the situation seems to benefit Rossi who begins his comeback. Lorenzo is then 14th, then 12th at halfway. In front Iannone goes it alone in front of Redding. Dovizioso, victim of a technical problem (at the front) returns to his box. He leaves again, but does not agree with his team's choice to go intermediate. He will give up a few laps later.
Cal Crutchlow, only driver on the hard track front and rear with Loris Baz, made an excellent comeback to 4th place behind Barbera, Redding and Iannone and ahead of Rossi and Viñales. Baz is 10th ahead of Lorenzo. The Mallorcan takes the gamble of changing machines to switch to slicks, but he will change bikes the next lap…
On your mind, Iannone tries to maintain Crutchlow's assault, but the Italian lost 6 laps from the finish: his soft front tire was destroyed lap after lap. Barbera loses to Rossi and Marquez.
Like Crutchlow, Baz makes an exemplary comeback up to 4th position. The Frenchman finished just off the podium behind Rossi and Marquez. Barbera completes the Top 5 ahead of Laverty, Petrucci and Iannone. Lorenzo is the big loser of this race and finishes in 17th position.
In the World Championship rankings, Rossi moved up to 2nd position, 53 points behind Marquez and 6 ahead of Lorenzo.
Photo credit : Sky Sport MotoGP
| Pos | PTS | Pile | Country | Team | Motorcycle | difference | ||
| 1 | 25 | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | Honda LCR | Honda | 47'44.290 | ||
| 2 | 20 | Valentino ROSSI | ITA | Yamaha Motor Racing | Yamaha | +7.298 | ||
| 3 | 16 | Marc Márquez | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | +9.587 | ||
| 4 | 13 | Loris BAZ | FRA | Avintia Racing | Ducati | +12.558 | ||
| 5 | 11 | Hector BARBERA | SPA | Avintia Racing | Ducati | +13.093 | ||
| 6 | 10 | Eugene LAVERTY | IRL | Pull & Bear Aspar Team | Ducati | +13.812 | ||
| 7 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | ITA | OCTO Yakhnich bow | Ducati | +23.414 | ||
| 8 | 8 | Andrea Iannone | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati | +24.562 | ||
| 9 | 7 | Maverick VIÑALES | SPA | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | +24.581 | ||
| 10 | 6 | Tito RABAT | SPA | Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS | Honda | +37.131 | ||
| 11 | 5 | Yonny HERNANDEZ | COL | Pull & Bear Aspar Team | Ducati | +39.911 | ||
| 12 | 4 | Dani PEDROSA | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | +41.097 | ||
| 13 | 3 | Pol Espargaró | SPA | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | +43.202 | ||
| 14 | 2 | Stefan BRADL | GER | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | +45.687 | ||
| 15 | 1 | Scott REDDING | GBR | OCTO Yakhnich bow | Ducati | + 1'02.201 | ||
| 16 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | SPA | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | + 1'18.841 | |||
| 17 | Jorge Lorenzo | SPA | Yamaha Motor Racing | Yamaha | 1 Tour | |||
| Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 7 Tours | ||||
| Bradley SMITH | GBR | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 8 Tours | ||||
| Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | 9 Tours | ||||
