MotoGP ™ 2018 - Japan - MICHELIN returns to Asia and the land of the rising sun

Marquez jumped from sixth place on the grid, wearing two MICHELIN Power Slicks medium, and it did not take long for the 25-year-old Spanish driver to join the fight in the lead between his closest rival in the championship Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda).
Dovizioso was on pole and led the first 20 laps despite pressure from both competitors. With a soft on the front and a medium in the back, Dovizioso controlled the race before Marquez took the lead in the 21st lap. The battle was then extremely intense between the two best drivers in the world, in complete confidence with their Michelin tires. Unfortunately, Dovizioso dropped in the penultimate round, leaving the Spaniard heading for victory and his seventh world title, including five in MotoGP ™ and three consecutive with Michelin.

Crutchlow cut the finish line in second place after a great fight with Alex Rins (Team SUZUKI ECSTAR) at the end of the race. The three-time Grand Prix winner withstood the pressure of the Suzuki rider for 1 / 10th of a second! Crutchlow wins the First Independent Rider award and increases his lead in this championship. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) continued on his good run from Thailand to finish in fourth place, as in Buriram. Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) took fifth place and reissued his best result of the season. Johan Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) beat another Yamaha, Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP). For his last visit to Motegi before his retirement, Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) finished eighth ahead of Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) and Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) completing the top 10. The MICHELIN Power Slicks and Power Rain were used this weekend at Motegi. The rain was part of Friday, so the drivers had the opportunity to ride in wet conditions, then dry. The good weather returned for the race, with temperatures of 35 ° C recorded on the track, the highest of the weekend. The drivers opted for MICHELIN Power Slicks soft or medium front and rear. Different combinations that prove that the range is suitable for all drivers, all machines and all conditions. Some 55,225 spectators attended this exciting Grand Prix with intense fights throughout the pack.

Cap to the South now for Michelin and the MotoGP ™ paddock for the second leg of the Asia-Pacific journey to Phillip Island, Australia, with the third Michelin® Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, October 28th.