Home News Honda secures 2017 MotoGP Constructor Title

Honda secures 2017 MotoGP Constructor Title

Honda has secured the 2017 MotoGP Constructor Title in Malaysia, with the Rider Title to be decided in Valencia

In typical Malaysian fashion, the sun that had shone until half an hour before the start of the MotoGP race was replaced by a sudden heavy thunderstorm that, while not long lasting, left the track completely soaked.

Reigning MotoGP Champion, Marc Marquez, who had specced a rain front and a medium rear tyre, got away brilliantly from the third row and completed the first lap in third place. He was passed by Andrea Dovizioso on the fifth lap, and when he realised that he could not match the pace of the three frontrunners, he settled for fourth place which, combined with the achievements of Dani Pedrosa and Cal Crutchlow this season, earned Honda the 2017 MotoGP Constructor title. It was the manufacturer’s 23rd such crown in history, and the sixth out of the last seven seasons.

Dovizioso, who started from the third row in third place, didn’t get a perfect start and had to battle with Pedrosa on the opening lap. The Italian then caught and passed Marquez on lap 5, before setting after the leading duo made up of Zarco and Lorenzo. On lap 9 both Ducati Team riders passed the Frenchman and then Dovizioso was able to overtake his team-mate five laps from the end and hold on to first place until the chequered flag.

“It was a truly perfect weekend, Dovi said.  We were quick in every session, both in the dry and in the wet, and today in the rain we dominated. Here at Sepang, Jorge and I really had a bike advantage, because our Desmosedici was very fast, and we managed to administer the gap in the best possible way even though track conditions were very difficult because there wasn’t much grip. I’m very pleased for the win which keeps my hopes alive for the title, and even though I know it will be very difficult at Valencia because it’s a track where Marquez always goes well, we’ll be going to Spain with confidence to try and bring home the victory.”

With Dovizioso winning the race in front of Jorge Lorenzo and Johan Zarco, Marc will arrive at the season finale in Valencia leading the standings by 21 points over the Italian.

Dani Pedrosa, who had been the fastest rider in Saturday’s dry conditions, wasn’t the happiest man when the rain started to fall, but a completely different setup prepared by his team, and the decision to use a soft rear tyre, allowed him to keep a decent pace and take fifth place, just behind his teammate.

MotoGP Sepang Top 10

1

DOVIZIOSO Andrea

4

ITA

25

Ducati Team

Ducati

44’51.497

2

LORENZO Jorge

99

SPA

20

Ducati Team

Ducati

0.743

3

ZARCO Johann

5

FRA

16

Monster Yamaha Tech 3

Yamaha

9.738

4

MARQUEZ Marc

93

SPA

13

Repsol Honda Team

Honda

17.763

5

PEDROSA Dani

26

SPA

11

Repsol Honda Team

Honda

29.144

6

PETRUCCI Danilo

9

ITA

10

Octo Pramac Racing

Ducati

30.380

7

ROSSI Valentino

46

ITA

9

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP

Yamaha

30.769

8

MILLER Jack

43

AUS

8

EG 0,0 Marc VDS

Honda

35.238

9

VINALES Maverick

25

SPA

7

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP

Yamaha

38.053

10

ESPARGARO Pol

44

SPA

6

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

KTM

39.847

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