Lorenzo jumps for joy after win, while Márquez has to limp home
Twenty-year-old wunderkind has fall after serious crash in Friday practice
For Marc Márquez this weekend is going to be one to forget — and that will be no mean feat, given the bumps, bruises and the tiny fracture to his humerus bone that he picked up during a terrifying crash in Friday’s practice session ahead of this weekend’s Italian MotoGP.
The 20-year-old wunderkind, who is in just his first season in the MotoGP category, was set to take second place at the Mugello circuit, but made an unforced error in the dying stages of the race and ended up in the gravel, along with his Honda.
The Spaniard’s fellow countryman, Jorge Lorenzo, cruised to victory on the Yamaha, while another Spanish rider, Dani Pedrosa (Honda), was promoted to second thanks to Márquez’s fall. British rider Cal Crutchlow took the last step on the podium.
It was also a disappointing weekend for home favorite Valentino Rossi, who was involved in an incident with Álvaro Bautista in the opening seconds of the race, sending them both flying into the barriers. The pair walked away unhurt.
But the day was undoubtedly Lorenzo’s, as was clear for all to see as he leapt into the air — no doubt as much for the benefit of the photographers as for the crowd — once up on the podium.
“I am very happy with this win because these last two races have been a bit disappointing for me and for the team,” Lorenzo told the TV cameras after the race. “But we have won again and we have to enjoy that fact.”
After five races, Pedrosa tops the riders’ table with 103 points, while reigning champion Lorenzo is second with 91 points. Márquez is currently third, on 77 points.
Meanwhile, in the Moto2 category the British rider Scott Redding took the checkered flag on the Kalex, with Spain’s Nicolás Terol (Suter) coming in second, just 2.17 seconds behind. Johann Zarco from France was the third man on the podium. The result left Redding at the top of the riders’ table, with Terol in second place.
It was up to the riders in the Moto3 category, then, to provide the almost inevitable all-Spanish podium. Luis Slalom crossed the line first on his KTM, followed by teammate Alex Rins. Completing the trio was Maverick Viñales, also on a KTM. Viñales currently leads the championship, with Slalom second and Rins third.
