(Photo by special AE contributor Whit Bazemore)
2019 MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez (No. 93 Repsol Honda Team) won the Japanese Grand Prix for his 10th race victory of the season. The twenty-six-year-old Marquez, who clinched his sixth world title in Thailand, recorded his 54th premier class win, equaling Mick Doohan. His win also secured the constructor's title for Honda. It was the Spanish Honda rider's third triumph at Twin Ring Motegi. French rookie Fabio Quartararo (No. 20 Petronas Yamaha SRT) managed to accelerate ahead of Marquez at the start, but the Spaniard almost instantly regained the lead and stayed there for the remainder of the race. Quartararo, who is set to finish second in the overall standings, clinched the Rookie of the Year title. Italy's Andrea Dovizioso (No. 4 Ducati Team) finished third. (Thanks to BBC Sport.)
(Photo by special AE contributor Whit Bazemore)
Fabio Quartararo is the 2019 MotoGP Rookie of the Year after delivering a sensational, season-long performance.
Editor-In-Chief's Note: We hope you are enjoying the superb photography and insider's perspective of MotoGP racing by special AE contributor Whit Bazemore. MotoGP has become my personal favorite form of motorsport, and to have someone with Whit's talent share his visual art and deep knowledge of MotoGP is truly special for us, and we really appreciate it. By the way, you may recognize Whit's last name; Bazemore began making a living from drag racing when he was sixteen years old, and he is a two-time U.S. Nationals winner and still the fifth-fastest Funny Car driver ever at 333.25 MPH. -PMD
(Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) dominated Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, leading 153 of 277 laps. It was Hamlin's fifth victory of the season, his second at Kansas and the 36th of his career. Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet), who finished .128 seconds behind Hamlin in the double-overtime finish, captured a spot in the Round of 8 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. “This is a great feeling,” said Hamlin. “That car was awesome to dominate that whole second half." The second overtime featured a three-way battle among Elliott, Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Team Penske Ford) and Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford) for the final two spots in the Round of 8. Logano restarted 20th in a damaged No. 22 Ford and finished 17th to secure one of the playoff positions. Keselowski, who entered the race with a 20-point margin over Elliott, was bottled up on the final restart, fell from 13th to 19th in the running order and lost the final playoff berth to Elliott by three points. Four drivers were eliminated after Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway as the postseason field was trimmed from twelve drivers to eight: Keselowski (No. 2 Team Penske Ford), William Byron (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet), Alex Bowman (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) and Clint Boyer (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford). Advancing to the Round of 8 are:
1. Kyle Busch, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 4,046 points
2. Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 4,042 points
3. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 4,037 points
4. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford, 4,030 points
5. Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, 4,028 points
6. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 4,024 points
7. Kyle Larson, No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, 4,011 points
8. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford, 4,009 points
2019 MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez (No. 93 Repsol Honda Team) won the Japanese Grand Prix for his 10th race victory of the season. The twenty-six-year-old Marquez, who clinched his sixth world title in Thailand, recorded his 54th premier class win, equaling Mick Doohan. His win also secured the constructor's title for Honda. It was the Spanish Honda rider's third triumph at Twin Ring Motegi. French rookie Fabio Quartararo (No. 20 Petronas Yamaha SRT) managed to accelerate ahead of Marquez at the start, but the Spaniard almost instantly regained the lead and stayed there for the remainder of the race. Quartararo, who is set to finish second in the overall standings, clinched the Rookie of the Year title. Italy's Andrea Dovizioso (No. 4 Ducati Team) finished third. (Thanks to BBC Sport.)
(Photo by special AE contributor Whit Bazemore)Fabio Quartararo is the 2019 MotoGP Rookie of the Year after delivering a sensational, season-long performance.
Editor-In-Chief's Note: We hope you are enjoying the superb photography and insider's perspective of MotoGP racing by special AE contributor Whit Bazemore. MotoGP has become my personal favorite form of motorsport, and to have someone with Whit's talent share his visual art and deep knowledge of MotoGP is truly special for us, and we really appreciate it. By the way, you may recognize Whit's last name; Bazemore began making a living from drag racing when he was sixteen years old, and he is a two-time U.S. Nationals winner and still the fifth-fastest Funny Car driver ever at 333.25 MPH. -PMD
(Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) dominated Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, leading 153 of 277 laps. It was Hamlin's fifth victory of the season, his second at Kansas and the 36th of his career. Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet), who finished .128 seconds behind Hamlin in the double-overtime finish, captured a spot in the Round of 8 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. “This is a great feeling,” said Hamlin. “That car was awesome to dominate that whole second half." The second overtime featured a three-way battle among Elliott, Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Team Penske Ford) and Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford) for the final two spots in the Round of 8. Logano restarted 20th in a damaged No. 22 Ford and finished 17th to secure one of the playoff positions. Keselowski, who entered the race with a 20-point margin over Elliott, was bottled up on the final restart, fell from 13th to 19th in the running order and lost the final playoff berth to Elliott by three points. Four drivers were eliminated after Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway as the postseason field was trimmed from twelve drivers to eight: Keselowski (No. 2 Team Penske Ford), William Byron (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet), Alex Bowman (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) and Clint Boyer (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford). Advancing to the Round of 8 are:
1. Kyle Busch, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 4,046 points
2. Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 4,042 points
3. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 4,037 points
4. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford, 4,030 points
5. Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, 4,028 points
6. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 4,024 points
7. Kyle Larson, No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, 4,011 points
8. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford, 4,009 points