Marc Márquez claimed a brilliant victory on home turf at Arágon, slicing his way through the field to snatch a 16-point lead in the MotoGP standings.
The Honda rider started fifth after falling during qualifying on Saturday, but the #93 had a pace advantage over his rivals and quickly climbed up the order to claim his fifth win of the season.
Andrea Dovizioso, who was tied on wins and points with Márquez heading into the event, limited the damage to his title hopes as he finished second followed by Maverick Viñales to make it three different manufacturers on the podium.
Jorge Lorenzo snatched the lead at the start of the race, leaving Viñales to head the chasing group before team-mate Valentino Rossi struck and set off after the Ducati in the lead. With the number 25 heading wide soon after, that let both Dovizioso and Marquez move past – and the front four were able to pull away.
Viñales was at the head of the second group and stalked by Pedrosa as Rossi was able to close in on the Ducati in the lead. As it remained impossible to call, Marquez attacked the ‘Doctor’ and headed too deep – even cutting up the inside of Lorenzo as he briefly shot into P1 and then into the run off. But the number 93 recovered quickly and made the move stick on the number 46 at the final corner, then able to duel past Lorenzo to take the lead and his fifth win of the year.
Pedrosa had taken Viñales at Turn 1 and was able to reel in Rossi and then Lorenzo with some signature stunning pace despite his second row start, with the Movistar Yamaha duo then left to fight it out for fourth. Hard racing didn’t give away a recently broken leg for Rossi, but Viñales was able to push his way past and at least limit the damage in the standings.
Just behind Rossi over the line, the fight for sixth was won by Aleix Espargaro at the venue where he took his first premier class podium, as the Spaniard impressively held off Dovizioso in the latter stages – who in turn defended seventh from Alvaro Bautista after struggling more in the latter stages of the race.
Johann Zarco took ninth after a more difficult weekend including a trip through Q1, ahead of Pol Espargaro completing the top ten for the Austrian factory – making steady progress for another impressive result. Impressive was also an adjective for the man behind him, wildcard and teammate Mika Kallio, who took P11 after going straight through to Q2 on Saturday.
Motegi changed everything in 2016. Now the paddock returns to the Japanese venue after a very different season – but it’s Marquez ahead once again. With four races to go, however, it’s anyone’s game.
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