www.motorcyclenews.com 68 SPORT MOTOGP | ROUND 16 | PHILLIP ISLAND DEFIANT KENT THREATENED GOLD AND GOOSE Team restructuring at Speed Up has brought a smile back to Lowes’ face WITH SACK LOWES NOW ABLE TO RUN Kent may sit out f nal two races af er tension WITH THE PACK with his Ajo team and Jack Miller reaches a head Reigning World Supersport champion challenger Miller down to the wire at and takes me straight out. I got told that Sam Lowes was less than two seconds MATTHEW BIRT Twin Ring Motegi, and the Australian KTM and Husqvarna had asked Aki to away from a stunning maiden Moto2 AT PHILLIP ISLAND had buckled under pressure when a kick me out for the last three races, podium in Australia. MOTOGP REPORTER missed gear cost him a podium and put and the only way I could ride was if I [email protected] Second in the early laps, Lowes was a massive dent in his bid to deny Alex helped Jack. I tried helping him and a podium threat until fading front Marquez the world crown. he takes me out. I was into the corner grip saw him settle for a Moto2 career Danny Kent unleashed some thunder Kent’s attacking strategy in Japan and Jack released the brakes and his best of fifth. Down Under with a series of explo- clearly riled team boss Aki Ajo, who rear wheel hit my front wheel and I The Speed Up rider, who has been sive post-race comments after he was felt he should have respected Miller’s slid into Binder.Ó rejuvenated since his Italian squad the victim of more Moto3 mayhem in championship challenge, even though Kent then threatened to change tack axed two team personnel last month, Australia. the British rider claims no direct team again this weekend by adopting an said: “I thought I was going to get a The Brit failed miserably to bite his orders were issued. every man for himself tactic. podium and that’s why I can’t help but tongue after his podium hopes were There was no grey area in Australia. ÒIf you see me in FP1 in Sepang then feel disappointed. But Luthi is coming ended in controversial fashion on the Kent was sat down by Ajo in a tense pre- you’ll know they agreed that I can go off the back of a mega win in Japan, penultimate lap. weekend summit and he sensationally out and race my own race. If not it is Vinales is going to MotoGP, and Rabat Kent, riding his Ajo Motorsport-run claimed the team boss had instructions because they have not accepted it. ENGLISH STEPHEN and Kallio are fighting for the title. It Husqvarna, was third and right on the to sack him if he refused to obey team I’m willing to miss the last two races Look out, coming through! Miller (8) was a big step forward and I learnt so tail pipes of Alex Marquez and Alex Rins orders in Phillip Island! because it is not good for my career if I goes in hot, standing up Kent (52) much. I just didn’t quite have their pace when home hero Jack Miller launched Speaking exclusively to MCN, the can’t go out and race for the win and in when the tyres were worn and the fuel a daring and aggressive lunge on the 20-year-old said: ÒI had team orders these last two races I could have won.Ó dropped. But from where I have been brakes at the tight Turn Four hairpin. that I couldn’t do anything with Jack Kent said Miller shot himself in the it is a massive step. It is the first time I Miller, onboard his Ajo Motorsport and then he comes up the inside of me foot by instigating the collision, as Kent have been in the lead group and held KTM, went in hot on the brakes and could have taken points off Marquez. their pace.” Kent claimed contact with Miller Miller took a stunning win by 0.029s Ever since Speed Up boss Luca pushed him into South African Brad ‘It is not good for from the Spaniard but still trails Boscoscuro fired two crew members Binder, causing both to crash out. Marquez by 20 points with two races three races ago, Lowes has battled All hell broke loose after the cheq- my career if remaining. inside the top 10 in each race. uered flag though, with the nor- I can’t go out Kent added: ÒYou would have And he added: “The atmosphere is mally placid Kent slamming his Ajo thought he would be careful because so much better and as a rider 70% is in Motorsport team-mate Miller and the and race for Jack could have won it and I could have your head, so when you feel happy and team management. been second because I wasn’t allowed GOLD AND GOOSE confident you can get those results. I The bad blood that poured out of the win’ to beat him, that way he could have got Hard-riding Miller disputes contact have proved myself right and the results Kent stemmed from the previous week- more points back on Marquez. In a way are now showing.” end’s Japan clash. Kent had raced title DANNY KENT he didn’t really help himself.Ó Johnny Blackshaw James Hillier Motorcycle accident experts who go the extra mile TEXT 10INJURY TO 88802 FOR AN IMMEDIATE Congratulations to Johnny Blackshaw and all the other competitors at Brands RESPONSE Hatch. A Big Well Done to JB for coming 2nd at the Anglesey Grand with a new lap record of 1.26.2 We are looking forward to catching up with all of our riders and teams over the next few weeks and we will be preparing for all of the shows over the winter months. Remember all you bikers be safe out there. © Jon Jessop photography Please like and share our Facebook page for a chance to win tickets to each round of BSB :HDUHDÀUPRIVSHFLDOLVWSHUVRQDOLQMXU\VROLFLWRUV 0800 1 44 40 55 @AccAdviceSol who go the extra mile for their clients. www.accidentadvicesolicitors.co.uk Please contact us for friendly, professional advice on Authorised and regulated by the accidentadvicesolicitorsracing DQ\LQMXU\\RXKDYHVXVWDLQHGRYHUWKHSDVW\HDUV 6ROLFLWRUV5HJXODWLRQ$XWKRULW\12 #MCNwednesday BUYING & THIS WEEK NEW BIKES FEATURES GARAGE EVENTS SELLING SPORT October 22 2014 69 Australia is known for CHAMPIONSHIP DASHBOARD its legendary surf, but this isn’t exactly PHILLIP ISLAND 19/10/14 what Danny Kent had in mind MOTOGP ■ Length: 2.764 miles MOTOGP ■ Corners: 12 – 7 left, 5 right Valentino Rossi ■ Longest straight: FINAL POSITIONS 25 points 0.559 miles 1 Perfect bike set-up ■ Race conditions: MOTOGP maximised tyre life Dry, 16° air temp, 29° track temp Pos Rider Nat Race time Jorge Lorenzo 20 points 1 Rossi ITA 40’46.405 2 Admitted he was lucky to 2 Lorenzo SPA +10.836 get second place 3 Smith GBR +12.294 4 Dovizioso ITA +14.893 Bradley Smith 5 Barbera SPA +30.089 16 points 6 Bautista SPA +30.154 3 Kept his nerve to take an 7 excellent first podium Redding GBR +30.158 8 Aoyama JPN +33.166 9 De Angelis RSM +33.577 RACE TOP SPEEDS FASTEST RACE LAP POSITIONS 10 Hayden USA +34.144 Gains and losses 11 Hernandez COL +39.468 1’29.605 (grid v finish position) 12 Petrucci ITA +56.684 13 Laverty GBR +1’12.813 DOVIZIOSO Valentino Rossi Lap 9 1 Rossi 14 Di Meglio FRA +1’28.050 Yamaha 7 £ DNF Crutchlow GBR 26 laps 212.07 1’28.408 2 Lorenzo DNF Espargaro P SPA 24 laps GP qualifying Yamaha 3 (Marquez) £ DNF Espargaro A SPA 20 laps MPH 3 Smith DNF Bradl GER 19 laps Moto2 race 1’33.066 1 (Vinales) Yamaha £ DNF Marquez SPA 17 laps Moto3 race 1’36.302 4 Dovizioso 6 FINAL POSITIONS Circuit lap record: (Miller) Ducati £ MOTO2 Pedrosa 1’28.108 5 Barbera 9 Ducati £ LAPS LED THIS SEASON Pos Rider Nat Race time 6 Bautista MOTOGP TOP SPEEDS Q Q Q 11 Marquez Lorenzo Rossi Honda £ 1 Vinales SPA 39’10.419 QPedrosa Q Bradl QDovizioso 2 Luthi SWI +1.329 212.07 mph Dovizioso QIannone (2) QBautista (1) 7 Redding 6 3 Honda £ Rabat SPA +1.504 209.46 mph Crutchlow 13 11 19 8 Aoyama 4 Kallio FRA +1.843 5 209.03 mph Bautista 4 Lowes GBR +3.292 Hond a £ 6 Cortese GER +11.697 208.78 mph 79 Bradl 184 9 De Angelis 14 7 Schrotter GER +11.777 Yamaha £ 208.72 mph Smith 8 Aegerter SWI +18.276 Kent’s back wheel tags the front wheel Kent’s body language says it all, the 89 10 Hayden 5 9 Simeon BEL +18.282 of Binder (11) and the pair go down fed up Brit is in no rush to remount 208.22 mph Barbera Honda £ 10 Torres SPA +18.478 11 Nakagami JPN +18.514 12 CHAMPIONSHIP MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP MOTO2 CHAMPIONSHIP MOTO3 Rossi FRA +18.560 13 Morbidelli ITA +18.834 Riders after 16 rounds Riders after 16 rounds Riders after 16 rounds Miller: ÔWe never touchedÕ 14 Baldassarri ITA +19.224 Pos Rider Nat Points Pos Rider Nat Points Pos Rider Nat Points 15 Folger GER +19.437 16 Cardus SPA +33.238 Hard riding Jack Miller removed 2015, told MCN: “I was in hot and 1 Marquez SPA 312 1 Rabat SPA 310 1 Marquez SPA 251 17 Salom SPA +33.776 himself from Kent’s firing line had nowhere to go.