Ducati Lenovo Team’s Marc Marquez on Saturday maintained his perfect start to the MotoGP season when the polesitter won the Americas Grand Prix sprint to remain undefeated and extend his lead in the championship.
Marquez had become the first rider to claim eight poles at a single circuit when he set the fastest time in qualifying earlier on Saturday, and a fifth win in five sprints and races this season moved Marquez to 86 points.
Marquez’s brother and closest competitor, Alex Marquez, of Ducati satellite team Gresini Racing finished second once again, less than a second behind, to move up to 67 points, while factory Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia completed the podium.
Photo: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / USA Today
“It was super close, but it was a nice fight there against Pecco [Bagnaia] and Alex, but in the end, when I put my rhythm I tried to control the gap,” Marc Marquez said.
Despite starting on the second row, Bagnaia stormed off the line from sixth to take the lead into turn one and then again on turn three, before Marc took the place back as the two Ducati teammates aggressively battled for position.
Marc Marquez nearly lost control of his bike on lap one, allowing Alex Marquez and Bagnaia to overtake him, but the polesitter was in no mood to finish third, immediately regaining the lead with a daring overtake to set the tone for the sprint.
However, once Marc Marquez had clear air in front of him at the Circuit of the Americas, he peeled away with his brother in tow, as they put some distance between themselves and Bagnaia in third.
Alex Marquez tried to catch up, but his brother was in a league of his own.
“To be second here in Texas is like a win. If you’re second after Marc, it’s like a win because he’s on another level,” Alex Marquez said.
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