Maverick Vinales won the Australian Grand Prix as Yamaha celebrated their first victory since 2017 after world champion Marc Marquez was forced to retire following a big crash.

Marquez, who secured his fifth MotoGP title last week, started on pole at Phillip Island but the Repsol Honda star's race did not last long as Vinales snapped Yamaha's 26-race winless streak.

Three-time reigning world champion Marquez was forced to call it quits after the sixth lap following a heavy collision with Yamaha's Johann Zarco on Sunday.

Marquez had just exchanged fastest laps with Andrea Dovizioso before he found himself in trouble as Zarco lost control of his bike and was sent tumbling off the track at turn one.

Spaniard Marquez somehow stayed on his bike but he slowed down and dropped to last place before retiring.

"I just I feel very lucky because I was really close to have a highside," Marquez said afterwards. "For me, I will not complain to Johann because it is a racing incident, at that speed at the end of the straight in slipstreams you feel a lot and maybe he take the drift from me, from Jack, and was so difficult to stop the bike.

"The most important thing is that both riders are okay. Luckily I already done the championship last week, looks like again, one more time in Phillip Island zero points, this time not my mistake but okay, happy that both of us are okay."

Marquez's exit opened the door for Vinales, who held off Suzuki's Andrea Iannone and Ducati rider Dovizioso to finally give Yamaha something to cheer about.

 

IN THE POINTS: 

1. Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha)
2. Andrea Iannone (Suzuki Ecstar) +1.543
3. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) +1.832
4. Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto) +4.072
5. Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) +5.017
6. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha_ +5.132
7. Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) +6.756
8. Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) +21.805
9. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) +22.904
10. Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) +22.940
11. Karel Abraham (Angel Nieto Team) +34.386
12. Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) +35.025
13. Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) +36.348
14. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda) +36.389
15. Xavier Simeon (Reale Avintia Racing) +44.214

 

TITLE STANDINGS: 

1. Marc Marquez - 296
2. Andrea Dovizioso - 210
3. Valentino Rossi - 195
4. Maverick Vinales - 180
5. Cal Crutchlow - 148

1. Repsol Honda - 391
2. Movistar Yamaha - 375
3. Ducati - 353
4. Suzuki Ecstar - 262
5. Alma Pramac Racing - 220