Dovizioso holds off Marquez to win gripping Austrian MotoGP

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Spielberg, August 14: Andrea Dovizioso won a pulsating Austrian MotoGP after holding off Marc Marquez in a dramatic finale at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday (August 13).

Marquez hunted down Dovizioso in thrilling duel and made one last bold move at the final corner, cutting inside the leader but running too wide to enable the Italian to pass him and seal his third win of the year.

Ducati rider Dovizioso wafted his arm up in reaction to Marquez's last-ditch attempt to take a third victory in a row as the championship leader had to settle for second spot ahead of team-mate Dani Pedrosa.

Dovizioso's triumph, by a margin of only 0.176 seconds, moved him up to second place behind Marquez in the battle for the title, the Spaniard holding a 16-point advantage.

Maverick Vinales is a further eight points back after he could only finish sixth, with Jorge Lorenzo taking fourth spot and Johann Zarco fifth.

It was a disappointing start and finish for Marquez, who was passed by Lorenzo on the first lap after beginning on pole.

Marquez fended off Dovizioso as Lorenzo increased his advantage, but the defending champion slipped back to third briefly before regaining second spot.

As Lorenzo's pace dropped, both Marquez and Dovizioso spent several spells at the front in an exhilarating race but it was the Ducati rider who had the edge.

Marquez threw everything at Dovizioso right at the end of the race as he held nothing back, but the 31-year-old was not to be denied.

Source: OPTA