MotoGP: World champion Marc Marquez storms to victory in Austin
Sunday 12 April 2015 22:24, UK
World champion Marc Marquez returned to winning ways at the Grand Prix of the Americas to notch his first race victory of the season.
Andrea Dovizioso raced into an early lead off the start line, sprinting away from Marquez who has led in every lap of the last two races at the Austin track, which was added to the calendar in 2013.
Valentino Rossi, who won the season-opener in Qatar, was tucked in behind Marquez in third early on, followed by Bradley Smith in fourth.
Britain’s Scott Redding was an early casualty after losing his front end, taking out Tech 3 rider Pol Esparago in the process.
Marquez powered past Dovizioso on lap five and the Ducati rider found himself in third three laps later when Rossi mange to pass his compatriot and make his overtaking move stick.
Andrea Iannone, who had earlier overtaken Jorge Lorenzo, was soon up to fourth after passing Smith at turn 19 on lap 10, and Lorenzo overtook Smith a lap later before Manxman Cal Crutchlow took sixth place from Aleix Espargaro.
Dovizioso reclaimed second position from Rossi six laps from the end before Iannone was caught and passed by Lorenzo on lap 19.
British duo Smith and Crutchlow finished in sixth and seventh respectively but there was no stopping Marquez who goes third in the Championship with his third consecutive race win in Austin.
But there was double joy for Britain in the Moto2 and Moto3 races. Sam Lowes finished ahead of Johann Zarco and Xavier Simeon to claim his maiden Moto2 race win while Danny Kent claimed his first victory of the season in the Moto3.
Grand Prix of the Americas result:
1 Marc Marquez (Esp) Honda 43:47.150
2 Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Ducati 43:49.504
3 Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 43:50.270
4 Jorge Lorenzo (Esp) Yamaha 43:53.832
5 Andrea Iannone (Ita) Ducati 43:54.734
6 Bradley Smith (Gbr) Yamaha 43:57.707
7 Cal Crutchlow (Gbr) Honda 44:04.117
8 Aleix Espargaro (Esp) Suzuki 44:06.175
9 Maverick Vinales (Esp) Suzuki 44:25.720
10 Danilo Petrucci (Ita) Ducati 44:28.946
