MotoGP: Marquez makes it six on the trot at Austin

An assertive ride saw Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) notch up his sixth straight victory in Austin, Texas, which was hosting Round 3 of the 2018 MotoGPTM World Championship, the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas. The King of COTA was joined on the podium by Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) and Andrea Iannone (Ecstar Suzuki Team), while Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) is back on top of the provisional Riders’ standings. 

Marquez qualified on pole position but was given a three-place grid penalty for slowing Viñales during the latter’s fast lap. Despite starting from fourth place, though, the world champion completed the first of the afternoon’s 20 laps in front. Equipped with medium and hard MICHELIN Power Slicks front and rear, he went on to post a string of quick laps to pull rapidly clear of his chasers, posting his best effort on Lap 5 (2m4.658s). He subsequently went unchallenged to collect his sixth win in a row at the Circuit of the Americas, 3.5 seconds ahead of pole-sitter Viñales.

The opening lap saw Iannone and Marquez both pass Viñales, but the Yamaha rider fought back on Lap 7 to appear in second place which he defended all the way to the flag.

Iannone was third over the line to earn Suzuki’s second consecutive podium finish following Alex Rins’ result for Ecstar Suzuki Team a fortnight ago in Argentina.

Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was fourth, while Dovizioso went back to the top of the points table by coming fifth.

The best-placed Independent Team rider was Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) who was sixth past the post, ahead of Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) who put in an impressive run considering that he was racing with a broken wrist.

Tito Rabat (Real Avintia Racing), Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) rounded out the day’s top 10.

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) led the championship ahead of the trip to the USA but had to settle for 19th spot following a fall.

Marquez – who notched up Michelin’s 399th premier class victory since 1973 – is second in the provisional standings, a point short of Dovizioso (46 points). Viñales (41 points) is third.

Next round: Spanish Grand Prix (Jerez), May 4-6