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Marc Marquez top dog again in MotoGPThe Sheriff is back in town – Spain’s multi-time former world champion Marc Marquez cruises to victory at the MotoGP race in Austin, Texas.

Spain’s multi-time former MotoGP world champion was unstoppable in Texas at the weekend as his incredible race pace saw him break away to take his second win of the 2021 season and take the Repsol Honda team’s 450th premier class podium.

Long gone were the hints of rain that had hindered the start of the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, the sun shining as the American national anthem echoed along the main straight before the 20-lap MotoGP race.

When the lights went out, Marquez and his Repsol Honda Team RC213V rocketed forward to lead the field out of turn one.

From here there was no looking back as the eight-time world champion set an unmatchable pace over the following 20 laps.

From lap five to lap 15, Marquez never went slower than a 2’04.9 to open up a gap of over four seconds to France’s Fabio Quartararo. There was simply no stopping Marquez on Sunday in Austin as he claimed his seventh win at the circuit.

Marquez’s second win of 2021 also brings with it the 450th podium for the Repsol Honda Team since 1995 in the premier class.

With 98 podiums in the iconic Repsol Honda Team colours, Marquez is the second most successful rider in terms of podium finishes for the team behind Dani Pedrosa with 112 top three results.

This brings Marquez’ personal win tally to 58 in the premier class and moves him to seventh in the world championship standings with 117 points.

The entire MotoGP paddock will now enjoy a brief moment of rest after three races, and a test, in the last four weekends.

Action resumes back at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli on October 22 for round 16 of the 2021 MotoGP World Championship season.

“The plan was to do exactly what we did today: start well and fight into the first corner, take the first few laps a bit easy and then when the tyres start to drop a little bit – that’s when I would start to push,” said Marquez.

“It’s exactly what I did and I saw the gap increasing with my lap times in in 2’04 highs, very consistent and comfortable. In the last few laps I was very tired and it wasn’t easy to keep my concentration but Fabio was far behind and my instincts said he would not risk anything as he’s fighting for the championship.

“Today is a great day, I want to say thanks to the whole of HRC and the Repsol Honda Team who have worked so well all weekend.

“It’s been a hard season to understand everything, I was really looking for this victory because we know we had a good chance here.

“It was nice to win here for Nicky Hayden and also for the Viñales family, I have known them since I was eight years old and it’s a hard year for them and for the world of racing.”

Photo courtesy Honda

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Results MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas 2021:

  1. Marc Marquez (ESP), Honda 41:41.435
  2. Fabio Quartararo (FRA) Yamaha +4.679
  3. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati +8.547
  4. Alex Rins (ESP), Suzuki +11.098
  5. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati +11.752

 

Rider Standings after 15 of 18 rounds:

  1. Fabio Quartararo FRA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)    254
  2. Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati Team (GP21)     202   (-52)
  3. Joan Mir SPA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 176   (-78)
  4. Jack Miller AUS Ducati Team (GP21)     148   (-106)
  5. Johann Zarco FRA Pramac Ducati (GP21)  141   (-113)
  6. Brad Binder RSA Red Bull KTM (RC16)    131   (-123)
  7. Marc Marquez SPA Repsol Honda (RC213V)        117   (-137)
  8. Aleix Espargaro SPA Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 104   (-150)
  9. Maverick Viñales SPA Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 98     (-156)
  10. Miguel Oliveira POR Red Bull KTM (RC16)    92     (-162)
  11. Jorge Martin SPA Pramac Ducati (GP21)  82     (-172)
  12. Alex Rins SPA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)        81     (-173)
  13. Enea Bastianini ITA Avintia Ducati (GP19)   71     (-183)
  14. Takaaki Nakagami JPN LCR Honda (RC213V)   70     (-184)
  15. Pol Espargaro SPA Repsol Honda (RC213V)        70     (-184)
  16. Alex Marquez SPA LCR Honda (RC213V) 54     (-200)
  17. Franco Morbidelli ITA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)    40     (-214)
  18. Iker Lecuona SPA KTM Tech3 (RC16) 38     (-216)
  19. Danilo Petrucci ITA KTM Tech3 (RC16)       37     (-217)
  20. Luca Marini ITA Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)     30     (-224)
  21. Valentino Rossi ITA Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)   29     (-225)
  22. Stefan Bradl GER HRC (RC213V)    13     (-241)
  23. Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Team (GP21)     8       (-246)
  24. Dani Pedrosa SPA Red Bull KTM (RC16) 6       (-248)
  25. Lorenzo Savadori ITA Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 4       (-250)
  26. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)   3       (-251)
  27. Tito Rabat SPA Pramac Ducati (GP21)  1       (-253)

 

 

 

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