MotoGP Australian GP: Zarco steals win from Martin on last lap

Johann Zarco finally scored his maiden MotoGP victory in a thrilling climax to the Australian Grand Prix, as he passed Pramac Ducati team-mate Jorge Martin on the final lap to win.

Zarco took his first top-class win - and his first in grand prix racing since his title-winning 2016 Moto2 campaign - in sensational style, passing a rapidly fading Martin on the 27th and last lap.

Poleman Martin had controlled the race up to that point, but began to struggle in the closing stages having been in a minority of riders to opt for a soft rear tyre.

On the other hand, Zarco had been circulating at the back of a four-rider pack vying for second in fifth place for most of the distance before turning up the wick late on.

He passed points leader Francesco Bagnaia for fourth at the start of lap 22 before repeating the trick on Fabio Di Giannantonio three laps later to grab third, and on lap 26 he made a forceful move at Miller Corner (formerly Honda) on Brad Binder for second.

Martin meanwhile had seen his lead advantage shrink from 2.4s to just four tenths in that time, and by the start of the final lap it was clear he stood very little chance of holding off Zarco, who like the majority was on a medium rear tyre, to the finish.

What felt like an inevitable move for the lead came at Miller Corner, and 33-year-old Frenchman Zarco was able to hang on by two tenths for a long-awaited first premier class win in his 120th attempt.

"It's hard to believe," said Zarco in parc ferme. "I was trying to save the rear tyre as well as possible because normally on the last few laps I can handle the tyre well. I was surprised to see Martin dropping down, so I thought something was possible.

"After so many races of trying to do it, it's a really high emotion. I need to swallow it, take it well and enjoy tonight."

Bagnaia meanwhile finished second to strengthen his title bid, taking advantage of Zarco forcing Binder wide on the penultimate lap before slicing his way through Di Giannantonio and then picking off the struggling Martin with ease.

Gresini Ducati rider Di Giannantonio, who still doesn't have a ride for 2024, scored his first MotoGP podium in third, with Binder fourth and Martin limping home in fifth.

With Martin slipping to fifth Bagnaia now takes an enhanced championship lead of 27 points into Sunday's sprint race.

MotoGP Australian Grand Prix - race results:

Driver Info

Cla	Rider	#	Bike	Laps	Time	Interval	km/h	Retirement	Points
1	J. Zarco Pramac Racing	5	Ducati	27	-				25
2	F. Bagnaia Ducati Team	1	Ducati	27	+0.201 0.201	0.201			20
3	F. Di Giannantonio Gresini Racing	49	Ducati	27	+0.477 0.477	0.276			16
4	B. Binder Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	33	KTM	27	+0.816 0.816	0.339			13
5	J. Martin Pramac Racing	89	Ducati	27	+1.008 1.008	0.192			11
6	M. Bezzecchi Team VR46	72	Ducati	27	+8.827 8.827	7.819			10
7	J. Miller Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	43	KTM	27	+9.283 9.283	0.456			9
8	A. Espargaro Aprilia Racing Team	41	Aprilia	27	+9.387 9.387	0.104			8
9	A. Marquez Gresini Racing	73	Ducati	27	+9.696 9.696	0.309			7
10	E. Bastianini Ducati Team	23	Ducati	27	+12.523 12.523	2.827			6
11	M. Viñales Aprilia Racing Team	12	Aprilia	27	+13.992 13.992	1.469			5
12	L. Marini Team VR46	10	Ducati	27	+17.078 17.078	3.086			4
13	M. Oliveira RNF Racing	88	Aprilia	27	+19.443 19.443	2.365			3
14	F. Quartararo Yamaha Factory Racing	20	Yamaha	27	+20.949 20.949	1.506			2
15	M. Marquez Repsol Honda Team	93	Honda	27	+21.118 21.118	0.169			1
16	R. Fernández RNF Racing	25	Aprilia	27	+32.538 32.538	11.420
17	F. Morbidelli Yamaha Factory Racing	21	Yamaha	27	+37.663 37.663	5.125
18	P. Espargaro Tech 3	44	KTM	27	+37.668 37.668	0.005
19	T. Nakagami Team LCR	30	Honda	27	+37.758 37.758	0.090
dnf	A. Fernandez Tech 3	37	KTM	12				Accident
dnf	J. Mir Repsol Honda Team	36	Honda	10				Retirement
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