Franco Morbidelli clinches second MotoGP victory of season at Motorland Aragon

Pole-setter Takaaki Nakagami on the LCR Honda made a great start but slid out at Turn 2, while behind him South African Brad Binder tagged the rear of Australian Jack Miller as the pair tumbled out of the race.

Morbidelli was now leading with Ecstar Suzuki’s Alex Rins on his tail. Johann Zarco had the Esponsorama Racing Ducati in third followed by Maverick Vinales on the Monster Energy Yamaha and the second Suzuki of Joan Mir.

Repsol Honda youngster Alex Marquez was on the move and by half race distance had moved into fourth after starting 10th, but disaster struck on lap 14 at Turn 2 when the Spaniard lost the front and slid out a possible podium finish.

At the front Morbidelli was in total control and he crossed the line over two seconds clear of the Suzuki team-mates Rins and Mir.

Red Bull KTM rider Pol Espargaro fought his way through from ninth on the grid to finish fourth. Zarco had a great battle with Miguel Oliveira on the Tech 3 KTM over the closing laps to take fifth.

Championship contenders Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo had a bad day at the office finishing sixth and eighth but are still second and third in the title race.

Morbidelli said: “That was an amazing race. I knew I had to make an aggressive race and when I saw clean air in front of me I just decided to give everything I had.

“The concentration was very high, the riding feeling was amazing and the twenty-three laps went away so fast. It was incredible and I knew I had to give everything.

“The consistency was there and we adjusted the bike well to be fast the whole race so I was able to focus on riding precisely. I had so much fun. This win is for the team and now we’re back in the game, 25 points behind the top.”

It was a perfect weekend for British star Sam Lowes as he claimed his third win on the trot to become the first British rider to win three in a row in the intermediate class since Phil Read back in 1971.

From pole position the 30-year-old was in a class of his own, stretching his lead on every one of the 21 laps to finish over eight seconds clear of Italian’s Fabio Di Giannontonio and Enea Bastianini.

The Marc VDS rider now leads the world championship by seven points from Bastianini with three rounds remaining.

“I’m very happy,” said Lowes.

“I was the fastest guy all weekend and I got a good start and made the race. I said to myself before these last three races that if I can win them I have a chance of the championship.

“We will give everything we need in the next three races.”

British Petronas rider Jake Dixon had a good result as he snatched seventh on the final lap from Agusto Fernandez.

Leopard Racing’s Jaume Masia took Honda’s 800th race win at the Teruel Grand Prix with his second Moto3 victory in a row at the Aragon circuit ahead of Japanese KTM duo of Ayuma Sasaki and Kaito Toba.

Scotland’s John McPhee had to work hard yet again after qualifying down in 17th place on the Petronas Honda.

The Scot had fought his way through to third with a lap to go but lost out to Albert Arenas - who still leads the championship - and Celestino Vietti on the final lap to finish sixth in the race and hold sixth in the championship.