Champ off Marc in Texas
MARC MARQUEZ made it six in a row in Texas last night as he stormed to his first win of the year at the MotoGP of the Americas.
The reigning champion, who took the lead in the first lap, beat Movistar Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales by 3.560secs.
“I didn’t have the confidence to battle, so I was pushing from the beginning,” said Marquez.
“I pushed hard to just try and get away, open the gap and yes, it was a good race.
“I’ve got 25 points and we go to Spain now for the next race. I’m very happy.”
Marquez’s weekend had taken a dramatic turn on Saturday after he scorched to pole eight minutes after a crash but was later penalised for holding up Vinales on track.
Faultless
It meant the Spaniard started from fourth on the grid, but after a faultless start he was second into the first turn behind Andrea Iannone.
He was to get past the Suzuki Ecstar rider as Vinales settled into third ahead of team-mate Valentino Rossi.
Iannone stayed with Marquez for a few laps, making a dive for the lead on lap three, but ran a little wide, just enough for Marquez to steal the spot back and enough to edge out a little gap at the front.
Iannone slowly dropped back, eventually falling into the clutches of Vinales on lap seven.
But it was a miserable afternoon for Britain’s Cal Crutchlow whose title lead disappeared after crashing out on the eighth lap.
Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso finished fifth behind Rossi, moving back into the championship lead on 46 points, just one ahead of Marquez, as Crutchlow dropped to fourth behind Vinales.