MotoGP: Lorenzo does it again, Marquez extends series lead, Dovi crashes again

June 18, 2018

It was another vintage Jorge Lorenzo victory at the Catalan GP taking the win by over four seconds to secure his second consecutive win, for the first time since Le Mans and Mugello in 2016. Marc Marquez crossed the line second at his home Grand Prix to extend his series lead, whilst arch-rival Valentino Rossi took another third place and top Yamaha honours.

Lorenzo from pole didn’t guarantee a Lorenzo lead at turn one, as defending champion and series leader Marc Marquez came through, into first place. Andrea Iannone and his Suzuki also made a great start, slotting into second place on the opening laps, with Lorenzo pushed back to the bronze medal position, albeit only momentarily.

The Spaniard wasn’t leading for long however, keeping his composure to get past Iannone and Marquez to lead into the first turn on the second lap. From there, it was hammer time. His teammate Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was also tucked up behind the number 93 in third. However, it was drama for the Italian, who crashed out of a third GP in the last four. Dovizioso’s championship chances have taken a dramatic dip, now alienated down the series’ pecking order.

Rossi was a distant third at the chequered flag but made it yet another podium finish to remain second in the standings, with Cal Crutchlow riding to finish as top Independent Team rider in fourth. The Brit was locked in a battle with there outgoing Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa in the latter part of the race before getting ahead of the Spaniard.

Maverick Viñales’ opening lap woes continued, with the home rider finishing the first lap down in P10 after starting fourth. Vinales’ main issue seems to be reaction time off the line. The Spaniard managed to salvage disappointing sixth at the flag, holding off Tech 3’s Johann Zarco, with the two battling throughout the race. Danilo Petrucci crossed the line eighth for his fourth consecutive top ten, with fellow Ducati rider Alvaro Bautista seven seconds further back in ninth, for his first back-to-back top ten of the season.

Iannone slipped away after a fantastic start and the Italian rounded out the top ten, a little more subdued than perhaps we’d predicted. Pol Espargaro picking up his fourth straight P11 finish although the KTM team are desperately awaiting their first top ten of the season. Currently unemployed for 2019, Scott Redding and Karel Abraham the only other riders to finish the race in P12 and P13 respectively. Franco Morbidelli, despite not completing the distance, was 14th and classified for two championship points.

Bradley Smith, after being as high as eighth on the opening laps, was taken out by Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami at turn five on lap 14, with KTM wildcard teammate Mika Kallio, Suzuki wildcard Sylvain Guintoli, Rookie Tom Luthi, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro and Belgian Xavier Simeon also suffering crashes. Thankfully, the riders were OK.

Hafizh Syahrin had an unusual crash on the exit of turn four but the Malaysian was OK, picking his bike up and trying to restart it. Alex Rins’ horrendous weekend continued as the Spaniard retired on lap 12. Jack Miller suffered his first back-to-back retirement since Le Mans and Mugello in 2016, hurting his championship. Tito Rabat having to jump off his Ducati after it turned itself into a bonfire later on.