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Real racing and lying operators: MotoGP Phillip Island Recap

Contrary to PR releases all week, Moto3 lives another week, Rins takes second in Moto2 and a storming MotoGP race sees Jorge Lorenzo close the gap in a stonker.

By LiamPMcCausland
Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images

Just a short recap this week, we'll be back in full swing for Malaysia next week.

MotoGP

In what was the best MotoGP race of the year, Jorge Lorenzo set the early pace before being caught by Marc Marquez, although this time Lorenzo didn't let him get away, taking the lead back with seven laps left. Andrea Iannone was playing spoiler, leading in the early stages (despite being hit by a seagull) then playing spoiler, keeping Valentino Rossi behind him, then going past Marquez for second briefly. The highlight was this beauty.

The last lap was insane. Marquez and Iannone swapped second and third for the first half, then Rossi took third from Iannone for a few corners. Rossi and Iannone swapped third, when suddenly Marquez mugged Lorenzo and took the win. Iannone held on for third, somehow. What. A. Race.

Lorenzo gets seven points back on Rossi, but it could have been so much better for him. Still, just nine points now, and two races left.

Valentino Rossi 296
Jorge Lorenzo 285

Moto2

Alex Rins was the comfortable winner of the Moto2 race, finishing six seconds ahead of Sam Lowes in second, who in turn was four seconds ahead of Lorenzo Baldassarri in third. Champion Johann Zarco could only finish seventh, but it's all pretty meaningless now, with the title wrapped up.

Moto3

Miguel Oliveira kept the Moto3 championship open by taking the win in a mad race with 16 crashes - two of which were Danny Kent and Enea Bastianini.

Kent fell with five laps to go, Bastianini collecting the back end of the fallen bike and ending his title chance.

Oliveira's win reduces the gap to 40 points, fifth for Kent in either of the last two races gives him the title.