MORBIDELLI WINS IN ARAGON AND MARCHES INTO TITLE CONTENTION

Franco Morbidelli wins in Aragon and marches into title contention – Photo: LAT

Despite Honda and Takaaki Nakagami’s strong showing all weekend, it was Franco Morbidelli on the Petronas Yamaha that took the win and in doing so fired himself into championship contention at Aragon.

By DAN McCARTHY

The Italian took the lead on the opening lap when pole-sitter Nakagami crashed out at Turn 5 and controlled the race from there.

From that moment on Morbidelli was never headed and took his second career MotoGP victory ahead of the two factory Suzuki riders.

Morbidelli held a 1s lead for much of the race but extended the margin in the closing laps to take the win by 2.2s from last weekend’s race winner Alex Rins.

Rins was unable to control the second race at Aragon as he did last weekend, but once again beat his championship-leading Suzuki teammate Joan Mir.

Although he is yet to take a maiden MotoGP race victory, Mir has extended his championship lead by rounding out the podium 5.37s behind the race winner.

Factory KTM rider Pol Espargaro finished the race in fourth after overtaking Johan Zarco in the closing laps.

It was a disastrous day for Ducati, Zarco on a year-old machine was the only rider that finished inside the top nine.

Aussie Pramac Ducati rider Jack Miller crashed out of the race at Turn 2 on the opening lap when he and Brad Binder collided, and both tumbled into the gravel.

Championship contender Andrea Dovizioso slipped further back in the title race after finishing the 23 lap encounter in a lowly 13th position.

Zarco held onto fifth after scrapping hard for position with Miguel Oliveira in the closing laps by only 0.038s.

Aside from Morbidelli the other two Yamahas struggled for pace as the race went on, Maverick Vinales finished the race in seventh with former championship leader Fabio Quartararo in eighth.

Tech 3 KTM rider Iker Lecuona finished in ninth ahead of Danilo Petrucci, Cal Crutchlow and Stefan Bradl who rounded out the top 12.

Dovizioso came home a disappointing 13th ahead of the final finishers Tito Rabat and Bradley Smith.

Aleix Espargaro sat in the top 10 with just a couple of laps remaining before the Spaniard suffered a mechanical issue.

Just before the half race distance, Alex Marquez crashed out of podium contention after storming into fourth position.

Likewise fellow Honda rider Nakagami failed to negotiate five corners before crashing out of the race just 24 hours after taking his maiden premier-class pole position on Saturday.

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