Sepang MotoGP race
Live Text
Sort by
Autosport
And with that shameless plug, our MotoGP Live coverage says good morning, and goodbye. Remember to check out the website for all the news and reaction – in the meantime, here's how Dovizioso sent the title fight to the final round: 
Autosport
We're about to call it a day for our live MotoGP coverage. But before we do – remember that you can switch from two-wheeled bikey drama to four-wheeled muddy fever, by tuning into our Rally GB coverage. Elfyn Evans is chasing a stunning Rally GB victory on his home WRC round. Follow the conclusion from 8.30am here: 
Trophy o'clock. Dovi claims his sixth winner's pot of the year. Deserving podium trio – nobody else was on their level today.
Quote
And here's Dovi, asked if he was worried Lorenzo was going to bolt and win: "Yeah, because he tried to push in the middle of the race. I had a good pace so I was able to manage. The grip was very low and we struggled a lot.
"It was very difficult but our bike today worked very well today. A perfect weekend for me – big thank you to the team, this is the way to work."
"It was very difficult but our bike today worked very well today. A perfect weekend for me – big thank you to the team, this is the way to work."
Twitter
Quote
Lorenzo: "The rear tyre stayed quite constant but not the front. When Andrea overtook me I pushed a little bit, but not at the limit. Second place was OK. Another podium for the year."
Quote
Zarco: "I'm happy I chose this soft rear tyre. It's been key to the podium today. I said to myself if they have it, maybe I can have it to – but I lost the rear two times.
"Fourth position [Marquez] was coming back but I could push again. We've had a nice triple-header. It's good and high motivation for Valencia."
"Fourth position [Marquez] was coming back but I could push again. We've had a nice triple-header. It's good and high motivation for Valencia."
Twitter
Anyway, that's enough philosophical rambling about the merits of bikes and cars. Dovizioso's back in parc ferme celebrating with his team. Very good race for Ducati.
One of racing's perennial problems regardless of the discipline is how to connect the gladiators on track to those in the grandstands. Motorcycle racing's inherent advantage in not cocooning the riders away is a major win there.
In F1, Lewis Hamilton has to break the rules and take his seatbelts off to pull himself three inches out of the car to wave at fans.
In MotoGP, the riders are shaking hands (or fists, if its gets tasty), clapping each other on the back, waving at the crowds...it's easier, of course, but it's definitely better viewing.
In MotoGP, the riders are shaking hands (or fists, if its gets tasty), clapping each other on the back, waving at the crowds...it's easier, of course, but it's definitely better viewing.
One thing that might well be underrated about MotoGP's exposed riders – the body language and interaction on track after the race.
Lovely little pat on the back between Dovi and Petrucci on the cool-down lap. Mutual respect between the Ducati riders (works and satellite).
Twitter
Petrucci beats Rossi to seventh, with Miller, Vinales and Pol Espargaro completing the top 10.
Pedrosa an anonymous fifth after starting from pole. Led for all of six seconds or so.
Marquez finishes fourth. His title celebrations are on ice for now.
Zarco takes third place, great ride from the Tech3 man. How many times has that been said about him this season?
Credit to Lorenzo for what was his best race for Ducati – up until the moment he almost dropped it. Chalk that up as a net win, though, given it's kept Dovizioso's title chances alive.
Checkered flag
Dovizioso won't be thinking about PI right now though. He wins the Malaysian Grand Prix and takes the MotoGP title fight to the final round at Valencia!
Not to be a party-pooper, but how painful is that result in Australia looking right now?
LAST LAP. Dovizioso leads comfortably.
Vinales up to ninth, past Pol Espargaro. Upgrade that crumb to a flake.
Vinales has moved up to 10th, Rossi sets a personal best in seventh. Yamaha feeding off crumbs in this one.
Dovizios's lead is over a second. Just a lap and a half to go. Can he keep it together? It will be a crucial victory in a stunning season for Ducati's lead man.
Rain
Reports of more light rain with two laps remaining...
As it stands, Marquez will take a 21-point lead into the season finale. He'll be the overwhelming favourite, but Dovizioso and Ducati won't care. So far, they've done all they can do in this race.
Right, Dovizioso's lead is almost a second. You'd imagine that's that at the front. Marquez is 6.1s behind Zarco – he's not getting third, let alone second. This is going to the final round.
Unless we've just jinxed it.
Unless we've just jinxed it.
Crash
Gosh. That's incident-worthy – Lorenzo nearly dropped it! No way was that choreographed.
Unless Lorenzo is a master bike dancer.
Unless Lorenzo is a master bike dancer.
Lorenzo went wide into the final corner, Dovizioso nipped through. Four laps to go.
DOVIZIOSO TAKES THE LEAD!
Vinales passed Smith last time around, taking 12th from the KTM. Not much to write home about for the Yamaha. Wet-weather pace found wanting again.
Marquez is 3.8s behind Zarco. He is looking unlikely to take a podium. But if Dovizioso can't pass Lorenzo, Marquez will win the title with fourth.
Another strong start to this lap from Dovizioso. Two fastest first two sectors and the gap's under 0.4s.
Dovizioso's fighting back. Fastest sector, fastest sector, fastest sector...not fastest sector. It's not a new fastest lap, but it's 0.3s quicker than Lorenzo. The gap's 0.6s.
Redding's fallen to 10th. That promotes Rossi to seventh. Vinales still 13th, one place behind Smith.
Six laps to go. Another one like that from Dovizioso and Ducati won't have a choice – team orders will be necessary for Dovi to win, not just helpful.
Ooh. Bad lap from Dovizioso. Lorenzo's posted a personal best and he puts the gap up to a second.
Zarco's stabilised the gap to Marquez. The Tech3 rider's not looking likely to score his first MotoGP win here, but he is a couple of seconds clear of his pursuer.
Stopwatch
This is mesmerising stuff from the Ducatis. Trading fastest sector after fastest sector, lap after lap. Dovizioso's latest fastest lap, 2m13.084s, takes just under a tenth out of his team-mate. Half a second between them.
By: Matt Beer
Published:
Lap:
