The shoe was on the other foot in the Australian MotoGP on Phillip Island on Saturday for South Africa’s Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) when he finished fourth.
The MotoGP has been moved to Saturday because strong winds are forecast for Sunday. The blitz race, as well as the Moto2 and Moto3 races, will then take place.
Binder, who had been second for a long time, was overtaken by youngster Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Ducati) with nine laps to go.
Binder moved back up to second place with five laps to go when he passed Di Giannantonio.
A podium place definitely beckoned.
In the penultimate round, Binder was involved in a crazy battle with Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati), who was the leader in practically the entire race, as well as Johan Zarco (Pramac Ducati), the current world champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) and Di Giannantonio.
Zarco shot to the front, passing Binder and Martin to take his first win in MotoGP.
Binder was moved up to fourth by Bagnaia and Di Giannantonio.
Zarco was first, followed by Bagnaia (+0.201 seconds), Di Giannantonio (+0.477) third, Binder (+0.981) fourth, Martin fifth and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46) sixth.
Bagnaia extended his lead over Martin in the standings with his second place.
Bagnaia (366 points) is now 7 points ahead of Martin (339), followed by Martin (293), Binder (224), Zarco (187) and Aleix Espargaro (185).
