Resurgent defending World Champion Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda Team RC213V) stalked and finally pounced to take his second successive Grand Prix victory and his third of the season at Indianapolis today, also achieving another historic landmark for Honda, with the company’s 700th GP victory since its World Championship debut 56 years ago.
His rival was Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha), who seized the lead off the line. But Márquez was equal to his rival’s pace and broke the lap record twice in the closing stages as he moved ahead for the first time, then stretched an advantage of 0.688 seconds at the flag.
Livio Loi (RW Racing GP Honda NSF250RW) had earlier won the damp-to-dry Moto3 race to bring the Márquez’s total to 699. Honda’s first world championship race was the Isle of Man TT in 1959; with the first win coming in the 125 class two years later.
While the leading MotoGP pair duelled, Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team RC213V) and title leader Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) were also engaged in an increasingly fierce battle some five seconds behind. They changed places several times as the laps wore down, and Pedrosa led into the last lap. But Rossi made a successful block-pass into Turn Two and managed to deny a podium finish to the Honda man by less than two tenths.
It was Márquez’s ninth straight win in the USA, and a fillip to his hopes of clawing his way back in the championship after a difficult start to the season, including three zero-points race crashes. He is now 56 points adrift of leader Rossi, having reclaimed nine points at the last race, and nine more today. With eight races remaining, he needs to regain an average of seven points at each race to claim a third World Championship in a row.
It was also a fruitful race for Pedrosa, who missed three races earlier in the year for arm-pump surgery. He is steadily gaining ground as he closes on the championship top five.
Cal Crutchlow (CWM LCR Honda RC213V) was the next Honda finisher in eighth, two-tenths behind Pol Espargaro (Yamaha) after a long battle. The former World 600 Supersport champion had started from the second row, but a near collision on only the second corner dropped him out of the top ten on the first lap.
Scott Redding (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Honda RC213V) is the second satellite-team rider on a Factory Option Honda, and added to his points tally with 13th.
Nicky Hayden (Aspar Team Honda RC213V-RS) was the best of four Honda riders on the Open category machine. But Honda’s 2006 World Champion was to be disappointed at the circuit closest to his Kentucky home, finishing 16th, less than one second away from the points.
Eugene Laverty (Aspar Team Honda RC213V-RS) was 19th, and one-race substitute Toni Elias (AB Motoracing Honda RC213V-RS) 22nd, riding in place of injured regular Karel Abraham. Class rookie Jack Miller (CWM LCR Honda RC213V-RS) had been the best qualifier of the quartet, but crashed out early in the race.
Honda MotoGP rider quotes
Marc Márquez, Repsol Honda Team: race winner
“The race went very well, but we were pretty much on the limit. The truth is that Jorge improved a lot during the race, and I didn’t think there would be so many laps in the 1’32s. Even towards the end of the race we did a 1’32.6, which is very fast! We used the strategy of attacking at the end, when there were three laps remaining, and I think it was ideal for taking victory at this circuit. I’m also very proud to have taken Honda’s 700th victory! This is a very special moment for all the team and I dedicate it to all of Honda.”
Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda Team: 4th
“It was a very physical race. We had to fight a lot with the bike because the grip was difficult. The surprise was Valentino. I knew my pace was a little slower than Marc and Jorge’s, but after practice I thought I might be a little closer. However, Valentino made a big step forward as usual and we had to fight for the podium; on the last lap he overtook me on the second corner and I couldn’t return the pass. I’m happy for Honda to have achieved the 700th victory, it’s an honour to have played a part in this impressive statistic!”
Honda Pro Racing