MM93’s MotoGP Win Streak Continues In Barcelona

The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya produced the most exciting race yet, with Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez securing the victory on the final lap by a mere half second ahead of Movistar Yamaha Team’s Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa. Marquez survived a last-lap scare as his teammate Pedrosa touched his rear wheel; the contact caused Pedrosa to go wide in the turn allowing Rossi to pass.

The win is the 100th for Honda in the modern MotoGP four-stroke era and the top podium finish for Marquez was also historic as it came on the same day as an earlier Moto3 victory for his brother Alex Marquez – the first time 65 years of World Championship competition that siblings have won Grand Prix races on the same day. While Marquez started the MotoGP from the number 3 spot on the grid, brother Alex was the Moto3 pole sitter.

Rossi led for much of the race with the Repsol Honda duo chasing him down in the final stages. Pedrosa appeared to be back in form following his recent arm pump surgery and subsequent problems – only to make that late mistake.

Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) followed the front three throughout the race but was never quite close enough to join the podium fight. He eventually crossed the finishing line 2.7s behind Pedrosa.

Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda MotoGP) rode a lonely race to fifth, staying in position despite running wide early on, while Aleix Espargaro (NGM Forward Racing) finished just under two seconds in front of his brother Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech3) in sixth.

The top ten was completed by Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Andrea Iannone (Pramac Racing) and Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3).

Karel Abraham (Cardion AB Motoracing) crashed out early on, whilst Mike Di Meglio (Avintia Racing) pulled off track midrace, the yellow flags caused by the Frenchman’s excursion initially distracting the front runners in their intense battle at the front.

Alvaro Bautista (GO&FUN Honda Gresini) and Cal Crutchlow (Ducati Team) both retired due to technical issues.