Brno was wet and the right tyre choice paid off. Phillip Island, although practice was interrupted by weather, was a dry race – and it was Czech GP winner Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) who took the flag once again for a stunning second career win. With Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) crashing out from the lead after he pushed too hard following the title win in Motegi, it seemed that Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was on to spoil Crutchlow’s party – but the Italian couldn’t catch him. Managing the tyres to perfection pushing hard when the sun went in to keep the heat in the rubber, Crutchlow had already said he wanted to win in Phillip Island – but until the flag no one had believed him.