Honda's Dani Pedrosa converted his first pole position since 2015 into victory at his home race in Jerez, storming away from the grid and never looking back until the chequered flag fell on the Spanish Grand Prix – the 3,000th race of the MotoGP World Championship.
Pedrosa's Honda team-mate and reigning champion Marc Marquez made inroads in the points battle in second, ahead of a stunning home ride from five-time champion Jorge Lorenzo for Ducati. The top three were split by 14 seconds as they crossed the line.
The race began with a strong start for Pedrosa with Marquez slotting in behind and a tussle over third, with LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow and Yamaha Tech 3's Johann Zarco pushing championship leader Valentino Rossi.
It was Zarco however that won out. The rookie claiming fourth place ahead of Andrea Dovizioso, but it wasn't without difficulty as he fought with both Maverick Viñales and Jorge Lorenzo for the spot throughout the latter stages of the race.
Drama struck further back as Marc VDS rider Jack Miller and Aspar's Alvaro Bautista collided and slid out, before Crutchlow then lowsided into the gravel at Criville – followed shortly by the KTM of Pol Espargaro. After a short tousle with Viñales, Andrea Iannone also tumbled out, with 17 laps to go.
The gap fluctuated at the front but Marquez was unable to make any real impression on Pedrosa’s lead, with the three-time world champion pulling the pin in the final laps to cross the line in clear air for another stunning win – making it 16 years in a row the Spaniard has taken at least one victory in the world championship.
Lorenzo had an incredible race on home soil for a first podium with Ducati, moving past Zarco after a positive weekend all round and pulling away to jubilation for the ‘Spartan’ as he pulled into parc ferme.
Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing) stormed back through from P13 on the grid to follow Viñales over the line to claim seventh, with Jonas Folger (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) solid once again in the top ten to take eighth.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was another who moved through the field, incredibly taking 2016 Jerez winner and championship leader Valentino Rossi for ninth. The ‘Doctor’ found his pace in freefall in the latter laps of the race, struggling with tyre life in the hot temperatures to complete the top ten – but retain the championship lead.
