Catalunya MotoGP: Magnificent seven for Marquez

Marc Marquez continued his amazing start to the 2014 season, picking up his seventh win from seven races at the Catalunya circuit today under stormy skies.

Marquez had to fight hard for victory as the factory Yamaha duo of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi led from the the lights.

Rossi moved past his team-mate to take the lead, where he was able to fend off the following Hondas of Marquez and Dani Pedrosa until thefinal few laps.

Marquez ran off the track at turn one as he nearly ran into the back of Rossi, rejoining in third behind Pedrosa.

Shortly after Marquez and Pedrosa both moved ahead of Rossi in the first sector, but slowed up and gave up their positions as it appeared yellow flags were being waved.

The two Hondas wasted no time in retaking the first to spots, and in the last couple of laps pulled away from Rossi, with Lorenzo now out of the battle in fourth.

Pedrosa and Marquez swapped places several times, with Pedrosa right on the back wheel of Marquez on the final lap.

Pedrosa just touched the rear wheel of Marquez at the end of the final lap, running wide and handing the victory to Marquez and allowing Rossi to take second place.

It wasn’t a good day for the Brits in MotoGP. Cal Crutchlow retired with 15 laps remaining and Bradley Smith finishing in 10th position, three places behind his rookie team-mate.

Scott Redding had better luck, crossing the line in 12th place as the leading open class Honda.

1 25 93 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 165.0 42’56.914
2 20 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 165.0 +0.512
3 16 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 164.9 +1.834
4 13 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 164.8 +4.540
5 11 6 Stefan BRADL GER LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 164.3 +11.148
6 10 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA NGM Forward Racing Forward Yamaha 164.1 +14.213
7 9 44 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 164.0 +16.127
8 8 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Ducati Team Ducati 164.0 +16.175
9 7 29 Andrea IANNONE ITA Pramac Racing Ducati 163.9 +18.040
10 6 38 Bradley SMITH GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 163.5 +24.781
11 5 68 Yonny HERNANDEZ COL Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Ducati 162.7 +37.153
12 4 45 Scott REDDING GBR GO&FUN Honda Gresini Honda 162.3 +42.921
13 3 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Drive M7 Aspar Honda 162.3 +43.299
14 2 51 Michele PIRRO ITA Ducati Team Ducati 161.6 +55.157
15 1 7 Hiroshi AOYAMA JPN Drive M7 Aspar Honda 161.3 +59.191
16  23 Broc PARKES AUS Paul Bird Motorsport PBM 161.2 +1’00.906
17  70 Michael LAVERTY GBR Paul Bird Motorsport PBM 161.2 +1’01.284
18  5 Colin EDWARDS USA NGM Forward Racing Forward Yamaha 160.9 +1’06.121
19  8 Hector BARBERA SPA Avintia Racing Avintia 159.8 +1’25.195
20  84 Michel FABRIZIO ITA Octo IodaRacing Team ART 158.8 +1’40.665