Record-breaking Marquez on top in Texas

Posted: 14 Apr 2014

Twenty-one-year-old World Champion Marc Marquez displayed yet another near-perfect MotoGP performance at the Circuit of the Americas yesterday… despite a minor wobble at the last corner! The young Spaniard almost lost control of his Repsol Honda when he “lost concentration” for a split second, although this did little to stop him crossing the line more than four seconds ahead of team-mate Dani Pedrosa.

Marquez said after the race: “I’m really happy with this victory, we did a different kind of race. I’ve never led a race from the start to the end before. This time was a little strange and difficult to keep the concentration and I had a little moment when I lost concentration. The race was a little quiet so in the last corner I make a little excitement for my mechanics!”

The US track holds certain significance for Marquez as he won his first ever race there in 2013 – his rookie year. As well as winning yesterday’s race, the Honda rider also broke his own lap record by more than a second, and became one of the only riders in the history of the championship to win the first two consecutive races from pole position. Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso completed the podium in third. 

Meanwhile, former World Champion Jorge Lorenzo was somewhat disappointed with his result in America. The Movistar Yamaha rider could only manage tenth after having to complete a pit lane ride through at the end of lap one as a result of his jump start, which he blamed on mosquitoes.

Lorenzo explained: “When I arrive to the grid, I have too many mosquitos on my visor so I decided to take out the tear off. I never do this and at this moment, I get confused and when I see the red light I thought it was the start of the race. It went red very late. It was difficult to keep calm and not get too stressed and crazy, I have some moments into the last corner with my rear wheel in the grass.

“For all the confusion at the beginning, I couldn’t ride the maximum, I was nervous on the braking but by the time I relaxed, the tyre was already bad.”

Monster Yamaha’s Bradley Smith was the top-finishing British rider in fifth, while Ducati’s Cal Crutchlow crashed out of contention and subsequently broke his hand. Bike Social-supported Scott Redding also had little luck at Austin, crashing out of the race with two laps to go.

The series now heads to Argentina for round three on 27 April.

Circuit of the Americas – race results

Championship standings after two rounds

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