Even before one of the most bizarre MotoGP main races of the season began at Australia’s Phillip Island on Sunday, Jorge Lorenzo caused a stir on track when he collided with a seagull during the second qualifying session.
To be fair to Lorenzo, there wasn’t much the reigning MotoGP champion could have done to avoid the impact, but the Yamaha rider did have to return the pits to have the unlucky bird removed from his bike fairing.
In a shortened main race championship leader Marc Márquez was black flagged after missing a compulsory pit stop nine laps into the race. Had Márquez won the Phillip Island race with Lorenzo finishing third or lower, the young Spaniard, in his first season in MotoGP, would have clinched the 2013 title. With Márquez out and Lorenzo going on to win the race ahead of Honda rider Dani Pedrosa the championship will now be decided in the remaining two races of the season.
Even before one of the most bizarre MotoGP main races of the season began at Australia’s Phillip Island on Sunday, Jorge Lorenzo caused a stir on track when he collided with a seagull during the second qualifying session.
To be fair to Lorenzo, there wasn’t much the reigning MotoGP champion could have done to avoid the impact, but the Yamaha rider did have to return the pits to have the unlucky bird removed from his bike fairing.
In a shortened main race championship leader Marc Márquez was black flagged after missing a compulsory pit stop nine laps into the race. Had Márquez won the Phillip Island race with Lorenzo finishing third or lower, the young Spaniard, in his first season in MotoGP, would have clinched the 2013 title. With Márquez out and Lorenzo going on to win the race ahead of Honda rider Dani Pedrosa the championship will now be decided in the remaining two races of the season.
