MotoGP Buriram: Oliveira masters delayed wet race

Red Bull KTM’s Miguel Oliveira secured his second MotoGP victory of 2022 with another wet weather showcase in Thailand.

Following his Indonesia celebrations, Oliveira bettered the Ducati might of Jack Miller and Pecco Bagnaia to claim the top step of the Buriram podium after starting from the middle of the fourth row in 11th.

MotoGP action got underway an hour later than anticipated after torrential rain hit the Chang International Circuit just in time for the Moto2 race. Mooney VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi commanded the grid for the first time in his, and his team’s, premier class career, with Ducati locking out the front row. Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo, the lone non-Bologna rider in the top seven, split the pack from fourth.

Lights finally out and Bezzecchi kept his head and the holeshot despite running wide at turn one as the Ducati Lenovo pairing of Bagnaia and a hard-charging Miller grabbed second and third. Quartararo dropping down the pack as he regrouped in 17th after a moment on the kerbs. Jorge Martin consolidated fourth on the Prima Pramac with Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez best of the rest in fifth.

Oliveira arrived to demote the Spaniard as lap two wound down. Contact between Aleix Espargaro and the second KTM of Brad Binder saw the Aprilia advance to 11th, a Tech3 rookie duo behind him with Yamaha’s Franky Morbidelli and Binder in the final points positions.

Bezzecchi was told to drop a position as lap three fired up - after going wide at turn one. Miller through to second and ready to take charge as Oliveira’s progress continued to fourth and Luca Marini arrived to fifth. The success was short lived for the VR46 rider, however, as Marini crashed out as lap four neared conclusion, the Italian falling