A tactical masterstroke from Honda
helped Marc Marquez to an emphatic victory in the MotoGP Czech Republic Grand
Prix in Brno. On a wet track, Marquez was brought into the pits early to put on
a softer tyre compound, and he was able to make massive gains on the rest of the
field. Eventually he finished 12 seconds clear of team mate Dani Pedrosa in
second place with Yamaha Maverick Vinales taking third.
The victory may prove vital in what
has been a tight MotoGP season, with Marquez extending his lead to 14 points
over Vinales in the race for the world championship; just 10 points had
separated the top four in the standings heading into the battle at Brno. After
a strong getaway from pole position, Marquez was overhauled by Jorge Lorenzo
and found himself slipping back down the field in the early stages. He was
clearly uncomfortable on the wet tyres.
Marquez was able to scythe through
the field, who were toiling on the wet compound, and back to the head of the
pack. As relayed by journalist Simon Patterson, the three-time world champion
had quickly established a massive lead over every other rider. It meant
that after a frantic beginning to the day; quickly the race looked to be over
at the front, with Scott Redding falling back into the pack. In another boost
for Honda, Marquez's team-mate, Pedrosa, moved into second spot.
When he started to pull clear of
third place, the afternoon was beginning to look routine for the two Honda
riders. Marquez, in particular, would have been pleased to see his title
rivals—Vinales, Valentino Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso—out of the podium places.
Indeed, it was Rossi who made for the most exciting viewing late in the race,
with Marquez, Pedrosa and Vinales almost in a procession on their way to the
finish line.
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