The Champ Fights Back: Lorenzo To Give Stiff Competition

Jorge Lorenzo has shown he is not yet ready to concede his crown to rookie sensation Marquez without a struggle

Factory Honda rider Marc Marquez served up a bit of déjà vu at the Czech Republic Grand Prix when he won from teammate Dani Pedrosa with Yamaha’s factory team leader Jorge Lorenzo trailing the pair in third.

It was exactly how the three riders had finished at the end of the previous round in Indianapolis where Marquez completed a sweep of the American rounds of the MotoGP World Championship.

It seemed pretty much like the writing on the wall for Lorenzo’s reign as world champion until a race in Silverstone that could only be described as thrilling.

Marquez’s participation was thrown in doubt after a crash on Sunday’s pre-race warmup left him with a dislocated shoulder.

The rookie took his pole position slot, however but lost the lead to Lorenzo at the start. Only to get it back occasionally before the chequered flag which was taken by Lorenzo first. And boy, were they occasions!

The second and final of which came with just two corners from the end of the race where Marquez snatched the lead only for Lorenzo to storm right past again and secure a famous victory.

Lorenzo used his trademark relentless race pace to snatch a win from pole-sitter Marquez yet again in the following round at Misano to draw level with Pedrosa in the points standings.

With five rounds left in the season (at the time of printing) a 34 point lead for Marquez certainly doesn’t look safe. Especially with 25 points for a win and the possibility of crashing and sitting  out a race looming thanks to Marquez’s on-the-edge riding style. Game on still.