Marquez Wins MotoGP In Austin
AUSTIN, Texas (April, 21, 2013) – In what amounted to a “statement” weekend for young Repsol Honda rider Marc Marquez, the 20-year old Spanish MotoGP rookie not only claimed his very first pole position, but also his very first MotoGP race Sunday, April 21, putting the rest of the field on notice that despite his youth, he will be a force to be reckoned during for the remainder of the 2013 racing season. In doing so, he also became the youngest driver ever to win a Moto GP race—in just his second start—at the first international motorcycle Grand Prix held at the new Circuit of The AmericasTM sports and entertainment complex.
Marquez takes the record, set 21 years ago before he was born, from former American MotoGP rider and two- time series champion Freddie Spencer whose first win came at the Belgian MotoGP race in Spa Francorchamps when he was 20 years, 196 days old. Marquez wins at age 20 and 63 days.
During what seemed like an effortless race, Marquez easily piloted his No. 93 Repsol Honda across the finish line 1.5 seconds ahead of team mate Dani Pedrosa. Third place went to reigning 2012 MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo, riding his No. 99 Yamaha Factory Team bike, who finished 3.3 seconds behind the winner.
Although Marquez started on the pole, teammate Pedrosa, atop his No. 26 Repsol Honda ducked beneath
Marquez on Turn 1 on the very first lap and led for the first half of the race. The two Hondas ran basically nose-to- tail for the first 12 laps of the race before Marquez passed Pedrosa inside Turn 7 on Lap 13, taking the lead for good. A small riding error six laps later widened the gap between the two.
After the race, Pedrosa attributed his lapses to some minor numbness in his left arm, which affected his grip and limited his ability to pilot his bike effectively through corners—especially the esses on the back side of the course.
The two Hondas were clearly superior to the rest of the field and were never seriously challenged. Fourth place finisher Cal Crutchlow, on his No. 35 Monster Yamaha Tech 3 bike, was 6.6 seconds behind at the finish, but no other rider was closer than was 12 seconds behind when the checkered flag fell. Places five through 10 went to Stephan Bradl, Valentino Rossi, Andrea Dovizioso, Alvaro Bautista, Nicky Haden and Andrea Ianonne. Haydn was the fastest American rider in the field and brought his No. 69 Ducati factory team bike across the finish line.
Despite his third-place finish, Lorenzo’s 41 points give him a share of the championship lead, along with Marquez. Prior to the race Crutchlow said his team was aiming for a spot in the top six, so he expressed pleasure after the race for the 13 points his fourth-place finish will provide, boosting him to fifth in the overall points standings, with 24.
Only three of the riders failed to finish. Lukas Pesek lost control and his No. 52 Iota-Suter bike and slid off the course on Lap 14, while teammate Danillo Patrucci had mechanical problems with his No. 9 bike a lap later and retires to the pits. Texas native and fan favorite Colin Edwards suffered a similar fate on lap 11, and finished the race watching from the garage.
