Thailand Grand Prix Buriram MotoGP Race 2018: Márquez snatches the piece from Dovizioso… And the Yamahas!

Marc Márquez performed the show during a qualifying Saturday where he made history. And not only because he will forever remain the first rider to take control of a MotoGP starting grid in Thailand. Because never has a driver dominated Q2 after competing in repechages since the format was introduced in 2013. However, Miller and Crutchlow already showed in 2016 that you can win the race after going through Q1. The championship leader will also attempt this feat this Sunday, which would make him the third Honda driver in the genre. By the way, the same Marc Márquez scored the 78th pole position of his career on the Buriram track, his 50th in MotoGP.

To remember the facts, here is the table as evidence…

 

Buriram MotoGP™	Chronos
Jonathan Rea 2017 (WSBK SP2)	1'32.957
D.1 tests (mid-day)	1'30.912 Marc Máask
J.1 tests	1'30.797 Cal Crutchlow
J.2 tests	1'29.969 Marc Máask
J.3 tests	1'29.781 Dani Pedrosa
FP1	1'31.220 Maverick Viñales
FP2	1'31.090 Andrea Dovizioso
FP3	1'30.399 Andrea Dovizioso
FP4	1'30.693 Andrea Dovizioso
Q1	1'30.031 Marc Máask
Q2	1'30.088 Marc Máask
warm up	1'30.863 Marc Máask
Course
All time lap record	1'29.781 Dani Pedrosa

Valentino Rossi, credited with the second time, will start for the fourth time this year on the front row. The Italian had not done so well since Brno. Andrea Dovizioso, which was already on the front line in Aragón, for its part lifted the first Ducati into third position. This is his fifth start from the front row in the last six races. Maverick Vinales will lead the second row, his best result in qualifying since Misano.

Dani Pedrosa, who dominated the Official Test held on this track last February, set the seventh fastest time in qualifying. Johann zarco qualified in eighth position. The last time he did better was at Silverstone (3rd). Qualifying nevertheless took place in the wet. Danilo Petrucci, current leader in the independent ranking, will complete the third row, which constitutes his worst result since Assen (11th).

Bradley Smith, best KTM representative during these qualifications (15th), will participate in his 100th race. He is the fifth Briton to reach this milestone after Cal Crutchlow, Jeremy McWilliams, Ron Haslam and Niall Mackenzie. During the morning warmup, it was Márquez who was the fastest in 1'30.863, ahead of Red, Casa Particular in Viñales et Dovi. Likewise, we will remember the name of a major absentee due to injury: Jorge Lorenzo.

Otherwise, so far this season, we have been treated to that…

And since the start of the weekend in Buriram, we have seen this…

The always essential question of tires arises here with all the more urgency as the temperatures are 55° on the track and 33° in the air. Michelin has warned: apart from the tough guys, there is no salvation for the 26 laps. It is also the choice of the first line. Iannone is in medium before, like Zarco, Baptist et Miller. Aleix Espargaró honors its soft rear bet with a hard front.

The best start is the prerogative of Márquez before Red et Dovi despite a Crutchlow bleeding who keeps Casa Particular in Viñales behind him. zarco is sixth.Red is in the vacuum of Márquez, he doesn't let go an inch. The first four are in 1'32.5 which is two tenths better than the rest of the peloton.

In the third round, Márquez slams the first 1'31. Nakagami fall at turn 12. Aleix Espargaro is twelfth with its soft rear. in the next round, Red et Dovi also do the 1'31. The Doctor even took the lead thanks to the aspi on the fourth lap.

Dovizioso understands the message and also passes Márquez which is a worrying 1'32.8. But the next lap, he got back into the rhythm. After six rounds, zarco signs his best lap so far in 1'31.8. He is sixth behind Casa Particular in Viñales et Crutchlow.

Eight laps completed and Red stays ahead Dovi et Márquez. Crutchlow is in ambush. After ten rounds, Dovi pass Red to the vacuum cleaner and immediately Márquez takes the wheel of the Ducati. Crutchlow et Casa Particular in Viñales are back in the lead trio. zarco does a 1'31.7 while the leading men are in 1'32...

At turn 1 Red experiences difficulties and regularly loses ground. The halfway point is coming. The verdict on the tires will not be long in coming... On medium front, zarco makes a drop of water on a bend and lets it go Kidneys et Pedrosa. Here he is eighth. The top 5 are gathered in one second!

Syahrin is thirteenth and first of the rookies with 11 laps to go. Pedrosa passes sixth and seems to want to get involved in the fight between Crutchlow et Vinales. The Englishman weakened. Casa Particular in Viñales pass it, then Pedrosa. Here he is under the threat of Kidneys. Who swallows him eight laps from the finish.

Casa Particular in Viñales et Pedrosa are the fastest at this stage of the race. While Dovi et Márquez neutralize each other. Unfortunately, at turn 5, Pedrosa fall…

More Casa Particular in Viñales hold on and sound the charge! He passes Red six rounds from the end. It's only eight tenths of a Dovizioso always in charge. He's the fastest on the track. Kidneys is fifth ahead zarco.

Five laps from the checkered flag, Casa Particular in Viñales joins the leading duo. Márquez unpin and attack Dovi but fails when braking so that the Ducati passes again. Casa Particular in Viñales don't miss a beat. The end of the race is on!

The final fight is superb during the last three rounds. And it's Márquez who will snatch the piece from a valiant Dovizioso just in front of the two Yamahas. The leading square is united into a handful of tenths. zarco is fifth. Syahrin twelfth and best among beginners. Tech3 can smile!

Thailand Grand Prix Buriram MotoGP Race: classification

1	Marc MÁRQUEZ	39'55.722		93	SPA	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	25
2	Andrea Dovizioso	39'55.837	+0.115 / 0.115	4	ITA	Ducati Team	Ducati	20
3	Maverick VIÑALES	39'55.992	+0.270 / 0.155	25	SPA	Yamaha Motor Racing	Yamaha	16
4	Valentino ROSSI	39'57.286	+1.564 / 1.294	46	ITA	Yamaha Motor Racing	Yamaha	13
5	johann zarco	39'58.469	+2.747 / 1.183	5	FRA	Monster Yamaha Tech 3	Yamaha	11
6	Alex RINS	39'58.745	+3.023 / 0.276	42	SPA	Team SUZUKI ECSTAR	Suzuki	10
7	Cal Crutchlow	40'02.242	+6.520 / 3.497	35	GBR	LCR Honda CASTROL	Honda	9
8	Álvaro BAUTISTA	40'02.413	+6.691 / 0.171	19	SPA	Angel Nieto Team	Ducati	8
9	Danilo PETRUCCI	40'05.666	+9.944 / 3.253	9	ITA	Alma Pramac Racing	Ducati	7
10	Jack Miller	40'06.799	+11.077 / 1.133	43	AUS	Alma Pramac Racing	Ducati	6
11	Andrea Iannone	40'11.21	+15.488 / 4.411	29	ITA	Team SUZUKI ECSTAR	Suzuki	5
12	Hafiz Syahrin	40'13.413	+17.691 / 2.203	55	MAL	Monster Yamaha Tech 3	Yamaha	4
13	Aleix ESPARGARÓ	40'17.135	+21.413 / 3.722	41	SPA	Aprilia Racing Team Gresini	Aprilia	3
14	Frank MORBIDELLI	40'18.524	+22.802 / 1.389	21	ITA	EG 0,0 Marc VDS	Honda	2
15	Bradley SMITH	40'19.35	+23.628 / 0.826	38	GBR	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	KTM	1
16	Scott REDDING	40'19.526	+23.804 / 0.176	45	GBR	Aprilia Racing Team Gresini	Aprilia	0
17	Karel ABRAHAM	40'28.229	+32.507 / 8.703	17	CZE	Angel Nieto Team	Ducati	0
18	Xavier SIMÉON	40'32.938	+37.216 / 4.709	10	BEL	Royal Avintia Racing	Ducati	0
19	Jordi TORRES	40'34.926	+39.204 / 1.988	81	SPA	Royal Avintia Racing	Ducati	0
20	Thomas LÜTHI	40'35.143	+39.421 / 0.217	12	SWI	EG 0,0 Marc VDS	Honda	0
21	Pol ESPARGARÓ	40'49.11	+53.388 / 13.967	44	SPA	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	KTM	0
22	Takaaki NAKAGAMI	40'21.117		30	JPN	LCR Honda IDEMITSU	Honda	0
-1	Dani PEDROSA	27'40.766		26	SPA	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	0