PRIOR TO SUNDAY, 1085 days had passed since MotoGP last faced off on Phillip Island. And with each passing lap everyone in attendance was reminded how much they had missed it. This was an Australian classic from first lap to last as the entire field engaged in all-out war. From 24 names jostling up front, the lead group was eventually whittled down to 10, before seven riders went at it up front. Alex Rins (Ecstar Suzuki) gave this contest the finale it deserved, claiming the most unlikely of wins in a seven-bike lead group covered by just 0.884sec.
As impressive as the numbers on the timesheets were (5.9sec covered the top 10, the second closest in history), they don’t tell the full story. This was 40 minutes and 50 seconds of pure entertainment. Bunched up by the need to limit rear tyre wear around the track’s long, open turns, overtaking was incessant, the changes of position between the leading four exceeding 60. Come the flag, it felt like no exaggeration to place this alongside the very best contests ever witnessed at the seaside venue.
Contests at this point of a tight championship fight are always heavy on narrative. But not even another Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) meltdown could distract from a wonderful
