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MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

Oct 18, 2019
Petronas Yamaha SRT French rider Fabio Quartararo rides during the MotoGP race for the Thailand Grand Prix at Buriram International Circuit in Buriram on October 6, 2019. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)
Petronas Yamaha SRT French rider Fabio Quartararo rides during the MotoGP race for the Thailand Grand Prix at Buriram International Circuit in Buriram on October 6, 2019. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)

Marc Marquez will be aiming for a fourth successive win when he competes at the 2019 MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan on Sunday. The newly crowned champion is the rider in form and the obvious man to beat on the Twin Ring Motegi track.

Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo will ensure the Spaniard faces strong competition, though. The Frenchman was runner-up at the Thailand Grand Prix earlier this month and in San Marino in September.

Maverick Vinales will also keep the pressure on his countryman, after finishing third in three of his last four races.

         

Race Schedule

Friday, October 18

  • Free Practice 1: 2:50 a.m. to 3:35 a.m. BST/9:50 p.m. to 10:35 p.m. ET (Thursday)
  • Free Practice 2: 7:05 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. BST/2:05 a.m. to 2:50 a.m. ET

           

Saturday, October 19

  • Free Practice 3: 2:50 a.m. to 3:35 a.m. BST/9:50 p.m. to 10:35 p.m. ET (Friday)
  • Free Practice 4: 6:25 a.m. to 6:55 a.m. BST/1:25 a.m. to 1:55 a.m. ET
  • Qualifying 1: 7:05 a.m. to 7:20 a.m. BST/2:05 a.m. to 2:20 a.m. ET
  • Qualifying 2: 7:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. BST/2:30 a.m. to 2:45 a.m. ET

       

Sunday, October 20

  • Warm Up: 1:40 a.m. to 2 a.m. BST/8:40 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Saturday)
  • Race: 7 a.m. BST/2 a.m. ET

           

Live-streaming links: BT Sport App. beIN Sports Connect.

             

Marquez to Hold Off Quartararo Again

Overcoming a serious crash in the practice sessions ahead of the main race in Thailand proved Marquez's power of recovery. The 26-year-old was hospitalised, but he rallied to produce a championship effort:

With the pressure off, Marquez can focus on closing out his season in style. The process will start in Japan, where Quartararo will again come up just short.

Still only 20, the Frenchman has been earning high praise from exalted quarters for his performances this season. Even Marquez felt compelled to admit his nearest rival has been "riding the Yamaha in a good way," drawing comparisons to Jorge Lorenzo, per Lewis Duncan of Motorsport.com.

Meanwhile, Quartararo's Yamaha team-mate, Valentino Rossi, has talked up one of the sport's rising stars:

Aside from earning even more respect from his peers, Quartararo will have the extra motivation of a potential award. Crash.net's Peter McLaren noted how he will win the Rookie of the Year title if he finishes the race with a 75-point cushion ahead of Suzuki's Joan Mir.

Count on Quartararo collecting the individual honour after once again pushing Marquez to the brink.

         

Vinales Primed for Better

Breaking out of the third- or fourth-placed bracket is the challenge facing Vinales. It's one the 24-year-old can master as long as he proves he can finish closer to Marquez.

The Yamaha rider can expect to set a strong pace at Motegi, and he should have banked ample amounts of confidence from his recent appearances on the podium.

There is no denying Vinales has the talent to eventually force Marquez off the summit in the sport. However, the emergence of Quartararao means he needs to accelerate his bid to be the best.

BANGKOK, THAILAND - OCTOBER 06: Maverick Vinales of Spain and Yamaha Factory Racing celebrates the third placeon the podium during the MotoGP race during the MotoGP of Thailand - Race on October 06, 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari
BANGKOK, THAILAND - OCTOBER 06: Maverick Vinales of Spain and Yamaha Factory Racing celebrates the third placeon the podium during the MotoGP race during the MotoGP of Thailand - Race on October 06, 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari

Wherever he finishes, there will likely be fresh questions about his future, after Vinales recently cast doubt on his tenure with Yamaha, telling AS (h/t Ollie Barstow of VisorDown): "I do not know if it is best to continue. Now we are making the difference, but the future is never known. In the end we will have to choose what is best for us."

The time is now for Vinales to start laying down markers about his chances of finishing higher in next season's championship race.

MotoGP Grand Prix of Thailand 2019 Results: Marc Marquez Wins to Secure Title

Oct 6, 2019
Repsol Honda Team Spanish rider Marc Marquez celebrates on the track after winning the MotoGP race for the Thailand Grand Prix at Buriram International Circuit in Buriram on October 6, 2019. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)
Repsol Honda Team Spanish rider Marc Marquez celebrates on the track after winning the MotoGP race for the Thailand Grand Prix at Buriram International Circuit in Buriram on October 6, 2019. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)

Marc Marquez clinched his sixth MotoGP world title on Sunday, beating Fabio Quartararo on the final corner to win the Thailand Grand Prix.

Yamaha's Quartararo was on the brink of a maiden premier-class win but was outmanoeuvred by the Honda rider in the final stages, with the victory enough for Marquez to confirm his spot at the top of the standings for the remainder of the season.

Here is the moment the Spaniard sealed his ninth win in another season in which he has been dominant:

The 26-year-old has an unassailable 110-point lead over Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso, who finished fourth at the Buriram International Circuit. Yamaha's Maverick Vinales was third on the day.

Per Bet365, this is Marquez's sixth premier-class championship and his eighth overall; the triumph means he's won the world title in six of his seven seasons racing in MotoGP:

Marquez has been in a league of his own throughout the campaign, but this was one of the toughest races he has had in 2019, with Quartararo showing why many expect him to be the Spaniard's biggest rival in the years to come.

The Frenchman started on pole for the fourth time in 2019 and led the race for long spells. However, he was unable to shake off Marquez, who hovered ominously as the race crept towards a dramatic conclusion.

The manner in which Marquez managed to secure the victory was a snapshot of why he was won so many titles. The Spaniard kept his composure on the final corners and was able to find a way past Quartararo; when the Yamaha rider made a last-gasp dive for victory on the final corner, Marquez held the racing line and was able to ease back ahead.

Afterwards, Marquez said he was keeping a close eye on the Frenchman with a possible late battle in mind:

While there were scenes of joy for the Honda man as he secured the victory, Quartararo was evidently frustrated:

The 20-year-old isn't the first man to be outfoxed by Marquez, though, and there's no doubt he won't be the last, either.

David Emmett of MotoMatters reflected on the six-time world champion's career and said he deserves to be considered as one of the greats of the sport:

https://twitter.com/motomatters/status/1180760302398386177

Only Giacomo Agostini (eight) and Valentino Rossi (seven) have won more MotoGP titles than Marquez. Given how much of a force the Honda man is and how many years he still has at the top level of the sport, it feels inevitable he will surpass both of those icons.

Even with the championship secured, there's unlikely to be any letup from Marquez in the final four races of the season. If he wins every one, he can match his record haul of 13 wins from the 2014 campaign.

MotoGP Grand Prix of Thailand 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

Oct 4, 2019

Marc Marquez will be crowned MotoGP world champion for a sixth time in his career if he wins the 2019 Thailand Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 26-year-old holds a 98-point cushion at the top of the riders' standings with five races remaining this season, meaning one more victory would be enough to secure a fourth straight championship.

However, Marquez will also have to overcome any possible effects of a short hospital stay on Friday following a crash in first practice, per Lewis Duncan of Autosport.

This is only the second year in which the Thailand Grand Prix has been included on the MotoGP calendar, and the race will again take place at the Buriram International Circuit.

Andrea Dovizioso will make a bid for first place in the hope of keeping the title race competitive, though a minor miracle may be required to stop Marquez at this point. 

       

Race Schedule

Friday, October 4

  • Free Practice 1: 3:55 a.m. to 4:40 a.m. BST/10:55 p.m. to 11:40 p.m. ET (Thurs., Oct. 3)
  • Free Practice 2: 8:10 a.m. to 8:55 a.m. BST/3:10 a.m. to 3:55 a.m. ET

     

Saturday, October 5

  • Free Practice 3: 3:55 a.m. to 4:40 a.m. BST/10:55 p.m. to 11:40 p.m. ET (Fri., Oct. 4)
  • Free Practice 4: 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. BST/2:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. ET
  • Qualifying 1: 8:10 a.m. to 8:25 a.m. BST/3:10 a.m. to 3:25 a.m. ET
  • Qualifying 2: 8:35 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. BST/3:35 a.m. to 3:50 a.m. BST

      

Sunday, October 6

  • Warm-up: 3:40 a.m. to 4 a.m. BST/10:40 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET (Sat., Oct. 5)
  • Race: 8 a.m. BST/3 a.m. ET

Live-stream links: BT Sport App (UK), beIN Sports Connect (USA)

       

Desperate Field Chasing Runaway Leader Marquez 

All signs seem to point to a Marquez triumph in Buriram, either in the race itself or by gaining the necessary two points on Ducati star Dovizioso to officially seal his sixth world crown.

Box Repsol provided a breakdown of the standings heading into the 2019 Thailand Grand Prix:

Only three other riders in the field have managed successive top-two finishes this season—Dovizioso, Alex Rins and Maverick Vinales—but no-one else has recorded three or more.

It speaks volumes for the talent Marquez possesses considering he has finished first or second in his last 11 races; he hasn't placed third or lower in a race he's finished since the Czech Grand Prix in August 2018.

His only failure to finish in the top two this year was his retirement at the Grand Prix of the Americas in April. Aside from that, he has eight wins, five runner-up finishes and a lot of daylight between him and his nearest competition.

Dovizioso would be further outside the title race had he not finished second at the 2019 Aragon Grand Prix last time out, when Marquez clinched a second straight victory:

The Italian finished second at the inaugural Thailand Grand Prix last year, but his goal remains the same: finish in front of Marquez.

Rins, Danilo Petrucci and Vinales all follow in the riders' standings, but they are chasing a rare talent who continues to make supreme feats of skill appear routine, via BT Sport:

Valentino Rossi is in sixth approaching the end of this MotoGP season and hasn't registered a podium finish in five months, with Vinales taking the spotlight as Yamaha's main man.

The 40-year-old was the most recent rider to win four titles in a row when he claimed the championship between 2001 and 2005, and Marquez is out to follow in his footsteps early on Sunday.

MotoGP Grand Prix of Aragon 2019 Results: Marc Marquez Races to Dominant Win

Sep 22, 2019

Marc Marquez continued to stamp his authority on the 2019 MotoGP season, as he coasted to victory at the Aragon Grand Prix on Sunday.

Starting on pole, the Honda rider was sharp off the line and quickly able to put distance between himself and the chasing pack. In the end, he was over four seconds ahead of Andrea Dovizioso in second, while Jack Miller finished in third place after overtaking Maverick Vinales on the final lap.

Success for Marquez in his home country further tightens what was already a vice-like grip on the world championship race. The victory means Marquez now has a 98-point lead over Dovizioso, with just five races remaining in the 2019 campaign.

Here is the moment the five-time world champion crossed the finish line to secure victory:

Given how impressive Marquez was in qualifying, there was a sense he needed to make an error at the start to prevent a processional race.

Unfortunately for the rest of the field, the Spaniard was quick to get away:

Within a lap, Marquez had extended his lead to over one second and those hoping for battles on track turned their attentions to scraps further back in the field, with the Honda man consistently extending his advantage at the head of the race.

The Box Repsol account put the world champion's dominance into some context:

In the early stages, Alex Rins was the unfortunate victim of an error from Franco Morbidelli. The latter lost control of his Petronas Yamaha and took Rins off the circuit with him; the Suzuki rejoined the race in 18th and with plenty of work to do to secure a points finish on the day.

Behind Marquez, the battle for second spot was between Vinales and Miller initially, before Dovizioso joined the squabble, working his way through the field after starting 10th on the grid.

With nine laps remaining, Dovizioso managed to get by Miller and started to hunt down Vinales, who had managed to build a gap in second place.

Per Motorsport Radio, after a challenging week in Aragon the Ducati star was producing on race day:

Eventually, Dovizioso was able to get by Vinales to take second spot with two laps remaining:

The Yamaha's tyres were clearly struggling at the late stage of the race and that allowed Miller to close up on Vinales on the final lap. At the first turn of it, the Australian flew by his rival to secure the final podium position.

Meanwhile, at the front of the race Marquez was in the clear and was able to coast to the chequered flag. It was the Spaniard's eighth win of a campaign that he has dominated for long spells.

Marquez could seal the title in Thailand in two weeks should he win and his rivals struggle. However, it's been evident for a long time that the Honda star was going to be too good for the rest of the field in 2019.

MotoGP Grand Prix of Aragon 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

Sep 20, 2019
Race winner Spain's Marc Marquez steers his motorbike during the San Marino Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Misano circuit in Misano Adriatico, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Race winner Spain's Marc Marquez steers his motorbike during the San Marino Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Misano circuit in Misano Adriatico, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Marc Marquez will hope to continue his dominance on Spanish soil when the 2019 MotoGP Grand Prix of Aragon gets underway on Sunday.

The 26-year-old, who leads the standings again this season, has won this race for the last three years in a row. As well as his record on this track, the defending champion has started the new season in irresistible form, registering wins in Germany, the Czech Republic and most recently San Marino.

While Marquez is the man to beat, Andrea Dovizioso will also be in the mix for the summit position on the podium. He and Ducati team-mate Danilo Petrucci are the Spaniard's closest rivals in the overall standings.

Dovizioso beat Marquez to the checkered flag on the Red Bull Ring on August 11, while Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo finished second in San Marino and third in Austria.

       

Race Schedule

Friday, September 20

  • Free Practice 1: 8:55 a.m. to 9:40 a.m. BST/3:55 a.m. to 4:40 a.m. ET
  • Free Practice 2: 1:10 p.m. to 1:55 p.m. BST/8:10 a.m. to 8:55 a.m. ET

     

Saturday, September 21

  • Free Practice 3: 8:55 a.m. to 9:40 a.m. BST/3:55 a.m. to 4:40 a.m. ET
  • Free Practice 4: 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. BST/7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. ET
  • Qualifying 1: 1:10 p.m. to 1:25 p.m. BST/8:10 a.m. to 8:25 a.m. ET
  • Qualifying 2: 1:35 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. BST/8:35 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. ET

      

Sunday, September 22

  • Warm Up: 8:30 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. BST/3:30 a.m. to 3:50 a.m. ET
  • Race: 12 p.m. BST/7 a.m. ET

      

Live-streaming links: BT Sport App. beIN Sports CONNECT.

         

Marquez Set for Another Win

As talented as he is, Marquez seems to kick his game into high gear whenever he arrives at Aragon.

Expect him to repeat his recent exploits in his homeland and coast to another win. Aside from his comfort on the track, he heads into the weekend in excellent form.

With seven victories to his credit already, Marquez has every reason to feel confident about his chances of making it eight.

If there's one doubt, it's over his Honda bike after he expressed concerns following his win in San Marino, per Autosport.com's Valentin Khorounzhiy: "Of course I know that we have some very weak points and we are working on it, and I know that it's really hard to ride in a good way."

Marquez also noted the threat from improving rivals: "We are trying to improve for next year, because we can see that the opponents, Yamaha, Suzuki, they are working very hard and every race they are better and better."

      

Quartararo, Yamaha Closing the Gap

Yamaha are always competitive with Dovizioso on the bike. However, the emergence of Quartararo is making a bigger impact when it comes to closing the gap on Honda.

Still just 20, the Frenchman is bullish about his chances of beating Marquez on the long straights at Aragon, per Crash.net's Peter McLaren: "The long straights aren't too much of a problem for us, because we showed at the Red Bull Ring and at Misano that as long as you make a good start and five strong laps at the beginning you can be in the fight."

McLaren also noted how Quartararo was on the front for 23 laps at Misano and even overtook Marquez late on.

While his late surge ultimately didn't yield victory, the youngster has done enough recently to prove he can be the Spaniard's most important challenger in years to come:

Dovizioso, Ducati Looking to Rebound

Dovizioso has been battling Marquez for years, and the 33-year-old still has what it takes to produce a win in a clutch race. However,  the Italian hasn't always enjoyed himself in Aragon, finishing fourth on two occasions.

If he can stay in touch but conserve energy for the back straight—a problem in previous years—he can apply genuine pressure on Marquez. Ducati have the engine power to make an impact, provided the track offers more grip, after Dovizioso bemoaned conditions in San Marino, per Lewis Duncan of Motorsport.com.

The early test and practice runs will go a long way to determining how Ducati will fare.

MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino 2019 Results: Marc Marquez Wins on Final Lap

Sep 15, 2019
SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA - AUGUST 11: Fabio Quartararo of France and Petronas Yamaha, Andrea Dovizioso of Italy and Ducati Team and Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team during the MotoGp of Austria - Race at Red Bull Ring on August 11, 2019 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Josef Bollwein/SEPA.Media /Getty Images)
SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA - AUGUST 11: Fabio Quartararo of France and Petronas Yamaha, Andrea Dovizioso of Italy and Ducati Team and Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team during the MotoGp of Austria - Race at Red Bull Ring on August 11, 2019 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Josef Bollwein/SEPA.Media /Getty Images)

The 2019 MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino served up yet another late twist, with world champion Marc Marquez passing Fabio Quartararo with a stunning move on the final lap to bag the win.

Quartararo led for the bulk of the race but could never put any distance between himself and Marquez. The standings leader, who was overtaken in the final lap of both the British and Austrian Grand Prix, out-braked his rival late to cross the finish line first.

Quartararo couldn't believe he lost out on a first win in the final lap:

Valentino Rossi finished in fourth place, behind Maverick Vinales. Marquez's championship lead is now up to 93 points, moving ever closer to a sixth MotoGP world title.

Vinales got way cleanly, while Marquez quickly moved up to third place, passing Franco Morbidelli. Andrea Dovizioso did not have a good start, finding himself in eighth place and well behind his main rivals.

Quartararo held second place after a good start and immediately went after the leader:

He got his man during the third lap, taking the lead with an outstanding move.

Marquez and Vinales engaged in a battle for second place, giving Quartararo the opportunity to build an early lead at the front.

The standings leader soon took his compatriot on the inside:

Pol Espargaro bravely battled to keep hold of fifth place in the background but was eventually overtaken by Rossi.

Marquez patiently hunted down Quartararo, dropping Vinales easily. The latter had a handful of poor laps in a row, but once he regained his composure, he was able to keep the gap under three seconds.

With nine laps to race, Alex Rins' race came to an abrupt end when he lost traction in a corner:

Cal Crutchlow also crashed out.

Rossi kept climbing, passing Morbidelli into fourth place, but all eyes turned to the front as the end of the race drew near. Marquez patiently waited before unleashing his attack with three laps to go and briefly took the lead, only to run wide and lose it again.

He tried again at Turn 8, braking very late and immediately putting distance between himself and Quartararo. The Frenchman was able to make up the ground but couldn't find a decisive overtake.

The next race will be the Aragon Grand Prix on September 22.

MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

Sep 13, 2019

The next chapter of the 2019 MotoGP season will be written in San Marino this weekend, with Honda's Marc Marquez seeking to take another step towards the world title.

Marquez was edged out by Alex Rins in a thrilling British Grand Prix last time out, although Andrea Dovizioso's retirement from the race allowed the Spaniard to extend his lead at the top of the standings. The defending champion now has a massive 78-point advantage with just seven races remaining in the season.

While the destination of the title seems inevitable, recent races have been thrilling spectacles for fans, and San Marino is a circuit that's produced drama down the years.

       

Weekend Schedule (BST)

Friday, September 13

FP1: 8:55-9:40 a.m.

FP2: 1:10-1:55 p.m.

     

Saturday, September 14

FP3: 8:55-9:40 a.m.

FP4: 12:30-1 p.m. 

Q1: 1:10-1:25 p.m.

Q2: 1:35-1:50 p.m.

    

Sunday, September 15

Race: 1 p.m.

     

Live Stream: BT Sport App (UK), beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)

     

Preview

At the British Grand Prix, for the second race in succession, Marquez lost a last-lap battle for victory.

Even with a huge chasm between his position and the rest of the field, finishing second to Rins at Silverstone would have stung the Spaniard. BT Sport shared the final stages of an epic scrap, with the Suzuki rider doing brilliantly to hold off his rival:

The MotoGP Twitter account noted just how close it was between the duo in the dash for the line:

Marquez was still able to extend his lead in the race for his sixth MotoGP crown, because his nearest title rival didn't put any points on the board at Silverstone.

After pipping Marquez to victory in the Austrian Grand Prix, Dovizioso endured a tough afternoon at the British race. The Italian was sent flying off his Ducati after a collision with Fabio Quartararo and was taken away from the circuit on a stretcher.

On social media, the Italian praised the safety equipment he had in place on the day, which prevented the crash from being a lot more serious:

Dovizioso's performance after such a major incident will be one of the main storylines in Sunday's race, but at Misano there's one man who dominates the attention of the fans—nine-time champion Valentino Rossi.

The Yamaha man has yet to get a win on the board this season, and it would be fitting for him to secure his first of the year in front of his many admirers. 

In the buildup to the race, Rossi has been exploring his hometown of Tavullia on his Yamaha M1, prompting scenes sure to provide inspiration for the 40-year-old ahead of Sunday's race:

The MotoGP Twitter account provided an insight into the kind of fanatical backing Rossi will receive in San Marino:

Going into Sunday's race, it's difficult to make a case for Rossi winning, with the Yamaha short of the pace shown by Honda and Ducati. If the MotoGP legend can make it onto the podium, it should be enough to send the fans home happy.

Dovizioso was the winner at Misano a year ago, and after a challenging previous race he will be desperate to bounce back in the best way possible. However, it'll be too much to ask for him to halt Marquez, who has finished in the top two of every race he's finished this season.

Alex Rins Wins 2019 MotoGP Grand Prix of Britain; Andrea Dovizioso Crashes Out

Aug 25, 2019
Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez (2nd R) leads from Suzuki Ecstar's Spanish rider Alex Rins (2nd L) during the Moto GP race of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, central England, on August 25, 2019. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez (2nd R) leads from Suzuki Ecstar's Spanish rider Alex Rins (2nd L) during the Moto GP race of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, central England, on August 25, 2019. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Alex Rins won the MotoGP Grand Prix of Britain on Sunday, while Andrea Dovizioso crashed out in a major accident.

Rins just edged out Marc Marquez on the finish line, sticking a late move to win by the smallest of margins:

Dovizioso made contact with Fabio Quartararo early in the race, sending the Italian flying through the air. His bike also caught fire:

He was taken off the track on a stretcher but got to his feet once he was out of harm's way:

Dovizioso was Marquez's closest competitor in the overall standings entering the race, and Sunday's crash allowed the Spaniard to put even more distance between the two. He now has a 78-point lead, inching ever closer to his sixth world title and fourth in a row.

Marquez took the early lead ahead of Valentino Rossi after Dovizioso's crash shook up the pack. Rins passed Rossi for second, while Maverick Vinales lost ground early but eventually recovered to finish in third place.

Rins and Marquez sat at the front for the duration of the race, churning out several fastest laps between them. Vinales took too long to pass Rossi, and while he eventually started lapping faster than the leaders, he fell just short of catching them.

The battle for the lead turned into a slugfest, with defensive specialist Marquez holding off move after move from Rins:

His rear tyre took a beating, however, and Rins had the advantage in the final three laps. He experimented with a big move on the final corner during the penultimate lap, and when he realised he could stick it, he copied it during the final lap.

There was nothing Marquez could do after pushing his bike to the limit throughout the race:

While he lost out on the top spot in the final corner, the race weekend was still a major success for the 26-year-old. With just seven races left, the defending champion has a massive lead over the rest of the pack.

MotoGP Grand Prix of Britain 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

Aug 23, 2019
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team heads down a straight during the qualfying practice during the MotoGp Of Great Britain - Qualifying at Silverstone Circuit on August 25, 2018 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team heads down a straight during the qualfying practice during the MotoGp Of Great Britain - Qualifying at Silverstone Circuit on August 25, 2018 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)

World champion Marc Marquez will look to maintain his dominance of the 2019 MotoGP season on Sunday at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

The Repsol Honda rider goes into the race top of the standings by 58 points from Andrea Dovizioso in second place. Marquez has six wins from 11 races but was beaten by the Italian last time out in Austria.

This race was cancelled in 2018 due to drainage problems after torrential rain. However, the circuit has since been completely resurfaced and the forecast for the race is dry, per Watch MotoGP on BT Sport:

         

Race Schedule

Saturday, August 24

9:55 a.m. BST/4:55 a.m. ET: FP3

1:30 p.m. BST/8:30 a.m. ET: FP4

2:10 p.m. BST/9:10 a.m. ET: Q1

2:35 p.m. BST/9:35 a.m. ET: Q2

                     

Sunday, August 25

9:30 a.m. BST/4:30 a.m. ET: Warm Up

1 p.m. BST/8 a.m. ET: Race

       

Live Stream: BT Sport App (UK), beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)

        

Race Preview and Top Riders

Marquez has again been the dominant force in MotoGP but has not won at Silverstone since 2014, and Dovizioso took victory the last time the race was run in 2017.

The Italian heads into the weekend in good form after beating Marquez at the Austrian GP with a brilliant final corner pass, as shown by MotoGP:

Dovizioso said after the race that his victory means he will be full of confidence heading into the British Grand Prix, per Bike Sport News:

"Nothing gives you more satisfaction and confidence than a victory, and so we come to Silverstone with our morale sky-high. Even though the characteristics of the British track are not as favourable to us as Brno and Zeltweg, we have already shown that we can also be quick at Silverstone, like in 2017 when we won the race."

Mission Winnow Ducati's Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso (1st) celebrates on the podium after the Austrian Moto GP Grand Prix in Spielberg on August 11, 2019. (Photo by Johann GRODER / various sources / AFP) / Austria OUT / SOUTH TYROL OUT (Photo cre
Mission Winnow Ducati's Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso (1st) celebrates on the podium after the Austrian Moto GP Grand Prix in Spielberg on August 11, 2019. (Photo by Johann GRODER / various sources / AFP) / Austria OUT / SOUTH TYROL OUT (Photo cre

Dovizioso will be a serious threat to Marquez's hopes of picking up his seventh victory of the season, and the Spaniard has had his fair share of problems in the past at the British GP.

The 26-year-old was pipped to victory by Jorge Lorenzo in 2013 when racing with a dislocated shoulder, fell from his bike in the wet in 2015 and was forced out in 2017 with an engine problem.

However, Marquez is optimistic his team can enjoy a strong weekend at Silverstone, per the team's official website.

"Hopefully we can enjoy a great race in Silverstone," he said. "We have certainly had some bad luck in the past, but this year we are showing that we are much stronger at circuits where in the past we haven't been so I am feeling good for the weekend."

Repsol Hona will also be boosted by the return of Lorenzo from injury after an eight-week lay-off:

Yamaha's Valentino Rossi is also one to watch in Sunday's race. The legendary Italian rider has talked ahead of the weekend about his fondness for Silverstone, per Peter McLaren at Crash.net.

"I love Silverstone, it's in my top five favourite tracks," he said. "I like it a lot because it's an old-style track. It's very long, riding a lap is like taking a trip from one place to another, and it's technical—it has everything. When you're fast, it's a great pleasure to ride there."

Rossi has a long and successful history at the track, tasting victory as an 18-year-old back in 1997:

The 40-year-old took top spot on the podium in 2015 and won the race seven times when it was held at Donington Park.

Yamaha traditionally do well at the British Grand Prix, and Rossi would love nothing better than to pick up his first win of the season at Silverstone on Sunday.

MotoGP Grand Prix of Austria 2019 Results: Andrea Dovizioso Beats Marc Marquez

Aug 11, 2019
Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez (L) and Mission Winnow Ducati's Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso ride their motorbikes during the race of the Austrian Moto GP Grand Prix in Spielberg on August 11, 2019 (Photo by VLADIMIR SIMICEK / AFP) (Photo credit should read VLADIMIR SIMICEK/AFP/Getty Images)
Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez (L) and Mission Winnow Ducati's Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso ride their motorbikes during the race of the Austrian Moto GP Grand Prix in Spielberg on August 11, 2019 (Photo by VLADIMIR SIMICEK / AFP) (Photo credit should read VLADIMIR SIMICEK/AFP/Getty Images)

Andrea Dovizioso won the Austrian MotoGP Grand Prix on Sunday, eventually edging out Marc Marquez after a thrilling battle. 

The duo pulled away from the rest of the field and were involved in an engaging scrap at the Red Bull Ring. Marquez led going into the final lap, but Ducati's Dovizioso stayed in touch and was able to bustle past the Honda man on Turn 10, taking a memorable win.

Fabio Quartararo came home in third, with the Yamaha star coming home ahead of team-mate Valentino Rossi.

BT Sport shared the last lap of an incredible race: 

Afterwards, the respect between the two men was clear: 

Despite being beaten by the Italian on Sunday, Marquez remains in total control of the race for the championship. After 11 races, he has a huge 63-point lead over Dovizioso.

After qualifying in pole position, Marquez got away well, and some early squabbles with the Ducati rider were a sign of things to come for the rest of the day.

Initially, their battles allowed Quartararo to come through and take the lead temporarily. However, once the race settled down, Marquez and Dovizioso had the superior pace and were able to find a way past the Yamaha man into the front two positions.

With the Frenchman shifting his focus to finishing in third, the leading pair gave it their all to stay at the head of the race:  

Meanwhile, Jack Miller had a moment to forget behind the leading group, allowing Rossi to move up into fourth spot: 

In the Czech Republic last weekend, Marquez was able to pull away from the chasers and ease to win. But Ducati are a different beast in Austria, and Dovizioso's doggedness kept the advantage at the head of the race to a tiny margin.

Going into the last lap, the two were almost dead level, and given Marquez's form this season, it was going to take something special from the Italian to get past him.

Thankfully for Ducati fans, Dovizioso was able to conjure an extraordinary moment, darting down the inside of his rival before holding his line to take the chequered flag. The MotoGP Memes account hailed the brilliant pass: 

https://twitter.com/MemesMotogp/status/1160531608862154754

The win for Dovizioso is unlikely to change much in the grand scheme of the title race, as Marquez has been dominant over the course of the year.

However, fans will be thankful that the leading competitors have plenty of fight in them yet and will hope for more gripping contests like this for the remainder of the 2019 campaign.

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