MotoGP USA: Marquez wins after battle with Lorenzo

Honda’s Marc Marquez won the United States round of the 2015 MotoGP World Championship held on a road course built within the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. Marquez won despite being beaten off the line by Yamaha rider and fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo.

The defending double world champion has never been beaten at a MotoGP held on American soil since he made his debut in the premier class of the series in 2013.

At the start of the race, Lorenzo pulled to the inside to take the lead of the race with Marquez and Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa slotting into second and third places respectively.

Marquez remained in striking distance of Lorenzo but it was only three laps from the chequered flag that he could find a way past the fellow Spaniard.

Having got a good exit of the final corner, Marquez dived down the inside of Lorenzo, and made the move stick to record his third victory of the season.

Meanwhile, some quick opening laps had propelled championship leader Valentino Rossi to fourth place, with the Italian rider later passing Dani Pedrosa to maintain his run of podium finishes this season.

Andrea Iannone finished fourth in the Ducati, despite coming under pressure from Tech 3’s Bradley Smith in the closing stages of the race.

Smith’s teammate Pol Espargaro was classified seventh ahead of Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati), who had to make his way from back of the field after a poor start.

Danilo Petrucci was classified 10th on a day Suzuki riders Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro could finish only 11th and 14th respectively.

MotoGP Indianapolis - Race Results (Top 10)

1. Marc Marquez (Honda) 41:55.371
2. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) +0.688
3. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) +5.966
4. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) +6.147
5. Andrea Iannone (Ducati) +21.528
6. Bradley Smith (Tech 3) +21.571
7. Pol Espargaro (Tech 3) +30.378
8. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) +31.607
9. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) +32.821
10.  Danilo Petrucci (Pramac) +34.517