Johann Zarco claimed his first MotoGP victory in Australia.

Posted 1 years ago

France's Johann Zarco won a thrilling Australian MotoGP on Saturday with a last-lap overtake to clinch a maiden victory ahead of Francesco Bagnaia, who stretched his world championship lead.

The Pramac ace passed teammate and world title contender Jorge Martin in a nail-biting finale to take the chequered flag just 0.201secs clear of Italy's Bagnaia on his Ducati.

The double Moto2 world champion made his MotoGP debut in 2017 and has come close on several occasions to his first victory, but always came up short.

Going without a win in his racing career since the 2016 Moto2 Valencia GP, Zarco snatched a maiden MotoGP class victory on the last lap of a thrilling Australian GP on Saturday from Pramac team-mate Jorge Martin.

Gresini rider Fabio Di Giannantonio came third at a blustery and overcast Phillip Island, with KTM's Brad Binder fourth.

Pole-sitter Martin led for 26 laps of the 27-lap race, but his soft rear tyre was cooked at the death and he couldn't hang on as grip deserted him.

The Spaniard ended fifth in a setback to his world title hopes, with Bagnaia now 27 points ahead with four grand prix left in the 20-leg season.