2019 Austria MotoGP Results: Ducati Continues Streak at Red Bull Ring

2019 Austria MotoGP Results

When we previewed the Austrian Grand Prix, we said the reigning five-time MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez may lose some edge following the 28-lap race at Red Bull Ring.

Marquez impressed, leading Friday’s free practice and claiming his third pole at the Red Bull Ring since racing returned to Austria  in 2016. One thing Marquez could never do, though, is win in Austria; he was beat by Ducati machinery every singe time.

And after a back-and-forth battle with Mission Winnow Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso for practically the entire race, Marquez looked like he’d finally achieve a win at the Red Bull Ring – the only venue on the 2019 MotoGP schedule where he never had claimed a victory.

But Dovizioso made a last-turn pass, and earned his second victory of the season, and second win at the Red Bull Ring. This makes for four-straight Ducati wins in Austria since the venue returned to the MotoGP Championship in 2016.

Dovizioso qualified third, and used the Desmosedici GP19’s power to quickly get into second behind Petronas Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo. Dovi took the lead on lap six, and a battle began between him and Marquez. Dovizioso would be credited with leading nine laps, and Marquez 13.

What mattered was Dovizioso crossing the finish line first, 0.213 of a second ahead of Marquez. Quartararo would take the final podium position, 6.117 seconds behind Marquez.

After 11 of 19 rounds, Dovizioso has now tightened the points gap. The Italian has 230 points, trailing Marquez by 58. This was Dovizioso’s second win of the season including his victory at the season opener in Qatar.

“Today I’m so happy, because this victory was really important for me,” Andrea Dovizioso says. “Towards the end of the race I had good right-side grip on the tyre and this allowed me to successfully attempt that incredible overtaking move at the final corner.

“My strategy for the race was to be aggressive right from the opening lap, but Marquez was more aggressive than me. He immediately tried to impose his rhythm but I was always able to respond and in the final stages I think he had more wear on his tires than me so I could stay right on his tail until the end, and attempt that crazy passing move on him at the final corner. I want to thank Ducati and my team because today we did everything just perfectly.”

As for Marquez, he now has earned 10 podium finishes in 11 races, which includes six wins.

“I’m happy because today we made a mistake with the rear tire, immediately I saw all the soft tires had better grip and even their consistency at the end was better than us,” Marc Marquez says.

“Even like this I tried because I’m Marc and I need to try! The second place is good, we missed in the last corner with a lot of sliding but Dovi did an incredible job. Still we are able to leave here with a 58-point lead so we will keep continuing like this. Even when we are not in the best shape, we are able to finish like this which is positive overall.”

Monster Energy Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi finished fourth, just ahead of his teammate Maverick Vinales and Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins.

Rounding out the top 10 were Pramac Racing Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia, Red Bull KTM’s Miguel Oliveira, Mission Winnow Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci, and Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Franco Morbidelli.

The series now breaks for two weeks ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where Marquez’s teammate Jorge Lorenzo is slated to return after injury.

2019 Austria Grand Prix MotoGP Results from Red Bull Ring

Pos.	Rider	Manufacturer	Nationality	Time
1	Andrea Dovizioso	Ducati	ITA	39’34.771
2	Marc Marquez	Honda	ESP	39’34.984
3	Fabio Quartararo	Yamaha	FRA	39’40.888
4	Valentino Rossi	Yamaha	ITA	39’42.490
5	Maverick Viñales	Yamaha	ESP	39’43.445
6	Alex Rins	Suzuki	ESP	39’43.466
7	Francesco Bagnaia	Ducati	ITA	39’50.792
8	Miguel Oliveira	KTM	PRT	39’50.977
9	Danilo Petrucci	Ducati	ITA	39’52.121
10	Franco Morbidelli	Yamaha	ITA	39’55.281
11	Takaaki Nakagami	Honda	JPN	39’57.044
12	Johann Zarco	KTM	FRA	40’00.274
13	Stefan Bradl	Honda	DEU	40’06.733
14	Aleix Espargaro	Aprilia	ESP	40’09.512
15	Karel Abraham	Ducati	CZE	40’22.880
16	Andrea Iannone	Aprilia	ITA	40’46.598

 

2019 MotoGP Point Standings (after 11 of 19 rounds)

Pos.	Rider	Manufacturer	Nationality	Points
1	Marc Marquez	Honda	ESP	230
2	Andrea Dovizioso	Ducati	ITA	172
3	Danilo Petrucci	Ducati	ITA	136
4	Alex Rins	Suzuki	ESP	124
5	Valentino Rossi	Yamaha	ITA	103
6	Maverick Viñales	Yamaha	ESP	102
7	Fabio Quartararo	Yamaha	FRA	92
8	Jack Miller	Honda	AUS	86
9	Cal Crutchlow	Honda	GBR	78
10	Takaaki Nakagami	Honda	JPN	62
11	Pol Espargaro	KTM	ESP	61
12	Franco Morbidelli	Yamaha	ITA	58
13	Joan Mir	Suzuki	ESP	39
14	Aleix Espargaro	Aprilia	ESP	33
15	Miguel Oliveira	KTM	PRT	26
16	Francesco Bagnaia	Ducati	ITA	24
17	Johann Zarco	KTM	FRA	22
18	Andrea Iannone	Aprilia	ITA	21
19	Jorge Lorenzo	Honda	ESP	19
20	Stefan Bradl	Honda	DEU	16
21	Tito Rabat	Ducati	ESP	14
22	Michele Pirro	Ducati	ITA	9
23	Karel Abraham	Ducati	CZE	4
24	Hafizh Syahrin	KTM	MYS	3
25	Sylvain Guintoli	Kawasaki	FRA	3
26	Bradley Smith	KTM	GBR	0