Australia: Marquez makes record 70-degree save, Vinales 'step ahead'

Marc Marquez pulling off incredible saves is nothing new, 🎉but on Friday at Phillip Island he simultaneously set a new all-time Mot♔oGP lean angle record.

Joking 𒀰that he was inspired by younger brother Alex's magnificent Moto2 recovery last weekend at Motegi, Marc's latest moment of glory came during the special tyre test that followed FP2 for the Australian Grand Prix.

WATCH: Marquez makes record 70-degree save

Marc Marquez pulling off incredible saves is nothing new, but on Friday 🍸at Phillip Island he simultaneously set a new all-time MotoGP lean angle record.

Joking that he was inspired by younger brother Alex's magnificent Moto2 recovery last weekend at Motegi, Marc's latest moment of glory came during the special tyre test that followed FP2 for the Au🌳stralian Gr♛and Prix.

The test was to gather data on the 2020 Michelin rear tyre construction, but Marquez decided to pair the new tyre with a soft front. The outcome was a dramatic Turn 10 save, which saw Marquez stay on his Repsol Honda despite𓄧 hitting a huge 70-degrees of lean angle (at 67km/h) when the front folded.

"Were riding in like a long run, very smooth," Marqu💞ez explained. "I chose the front tyre yesterday and it was too soft.

"I lost the front, but there was lot of ba⛦nking… I was thinking to give up, but then I thought 'before I give up, I will open the gas to see what happens'.

"Then when I opened the gas, I had a reaction from the bike that wಞas kind of like a wheelie and was able to save it.

"A new record, 70-degrees. My brother motivated me at Motegi! Apa🦋rt from the joke you never want it to happen, also because 𝕴I went out of the track, but anyway I was able to save it."

pulled off yet another groundbreaking save!

— MotoGP (@MotoGP)

Prior to the save, Marquez had finished sixth fastest after a pseudo qualifying session at th🃏e end of FP2.

The Spaniard f꧟eels Yamaha's Maverick Vinales – winner of last year's race - is currently a step ahead of the rest and was seen having a close look at Suzuki's Alex Rins, but feels 'we are not so far'.

"We go out from the box, he was with the new tyre and I was with the used," Marquez said of following Rins. "He started two-𓆉seconds in front of me but then I caught him and just fo🦄llowed him.

"Here at this track Yamaha and S🐽uzuki have very strong points and I just tried to understand to improve for Sunday, because it looks like it will be a dry race.

"I expected to 🐎be more far but honestly speaking we are ꦛnot far. It's true that Vinales is one step in front of everybody but we are not very far. Last year we were suffering more.

"🍌The front stability is not bad, but getting a good drive from the exit is where we are st✃ruggling a little bit more. When we have low grip then we cannot use the torque, then for that reason Yamaha and Suzuki are fast.

"But we will try to adjust, maybe tomorrow we will not have the 🎶chance because it looks like it will rain, but for Sunday."

LCR🧔's Cal Crutchlow was the fastest Honda, in third place.

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