Marquez wins thrilling inaugural Thailand MotoGP race in Buriram
BURIRAM ( Thailand): Marc Marquez (pic) won a thrilling inaugural Thailand MotoGP to extend his lead in the championship to 77 points as he goes in pursuit of a fifth premier class title.
Spain’s Marquez edged out Italy’s Andrea Dovizioso at the end of a breathtaking last-lap duel after the pair had swapped the lead several times over the closing stages of a pulsating battle.
Honda rider Marquez finished the race in 39 minutes 55.722 seconds, just 0.115 seconds ahead of Dovizioso’s Ducati with Maverick Vinales on a Yamaha third as just 0.270 seconds separated the top three.
The 25-year-old reigning champion started from pole but lost the lead early on to both Valentino Rossi and then Dovizioso.
But the Spaniard fought back towards the end of the 26-lap race as he and Dovizioso went wheel-to-wheel up front in a battle that had the fans on their feet and screaming.
Marquez took the chequered flag after overtaking Dovizioso on the final bend to secure victory by the slimmest of margins.
“I tried to give everything, I forget the championship, I forget all these things,” Marquez said afterwards.
“The last five laps were very, very, nice for the Thai fans.”
Dovizioso was pleased with the result but said it was “bad to lose the victory on the last turn for sure”.
Marquez now has 271 points, 77 ahead of Dovizioso with a maximum of 100 available in the final four races of season, making him a strong favourite to retain his title.
Marquez also made history over the weekend as he became the first rider to climb out of Q1 to claim pole position, the 50th of his stunning career.
The Spaniard delighted his supporters, who sought out pictures with him and wore caps with his number 93.
Thailand’s first MotoGP is being held in the rural town of Buriram in the northeast, about a five-hour drive from the capital Bangkok.
Thousands of hotel rooms and jobs have been created through a football stadium and the 2014 Chang International Circuit, the only Formula One grade track in the country.
But attendees missed out on seeing star Jorge Lorenzo, who had to pull out of the race after a crash injured his wrist in practice.
Both Dovizioso and Marquez praised the energy and excitement of supporters.
“In Europe the fans have to learn from the Thai fans,” Dovizioso said, while Marquez described the atmosphere as akin to a party.
RESULTS
1. Marc Marquez (Spa) Honda 39:55.722; 2. Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Ducati 0.115 seconds behind; 3. Maverick Vinales (Spa) Yamaha 0.270; 4. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 1.564; 5. Johann Zarco (Fra) Yamaha 2.747; 6. Alex Rins (Spa) Suzuki 3.023; 7. Carl Crutchlow (Bri) Honda 6.520; 8. Alavaro Bautista (Spa) Ducati 6.691; 9. Danilo Petrucci (Ita) Ducati 9.944; 10. Jack Miller (Aus) Ducati 11.077; 11. Andrea Iannone (Ita) Suzuki 15.488; 12. Hafizh Syahrin (Mas) Yamaha 17.691; 13. Aleix Espargaro (Spa) Aprilia 21.413; 14. Franco Morbidelli (Ita) Honda 22.802; 15. Bradley Smith (Bri) KTM 23.628; 16. Scott Redding (Bri) Aprilia 23.804; 17. Karel Abraham (Cze) Ducati 32.507; 18. Xavier Simeon (Bel) Ducati 37.216;
19. Jorbi Torres (Spa) Ducati 39.204; 20. Thomas Luthi (Swi) Honda 39.421; 21. Pol Espargaro (Spa) KTM 53.388; 22. Takaaki Nakagami (Jpn) Honda 25.395; 23. Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Honda DNF.