Spain's Marc Marquez wins Aragon MotoGP
ALCANIZ, Spain: Six-time world champion Marc Marquez eased to victory over his younger brother Alex in the Aragon MotoGP on Sunday to extend his lead in this season's title race.
Marc Marquez led from start to finish on his Ducati to record his seventh win in this race from 11 starts and his fourth victory of the campaign.
He leads his brother by 32 points after eight of the 22-race programme with two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia, who was third, 93 points adrift.
Marc is well set for a seventh world title which would bring him level with Valentino Rossi and one shy of the record held by the latter's fellow Italian Giacomo Agostini.
"Yes a perfect weekend," said Marc Marquez, who became the first rider since he did the same in the 2015 German MotoGP to top all the practice sessions, take pole and win the race.
"I was more serious than usual as I felt I couldn't afford to make mistakes.
"I rode in a very good way," added Marc, who ended a three-race losing streak. The two brothers got off their bikes halfway round the victory lap and jumped into each other's arms, though, unable to kiss as they still had their helmets on and sending the 50,000 spectators wild. "To be brothers and Spanish in front of a home crowd is extra special for me," said Alex Marquez, who at 29 is three years his brother's junior.
Marc echoed his words and said it made up for the disappointment of the Spanish MotoGP in April when Alex won but he only finished 12th.
"I was sad when he won the race in Jerez," he said.
"Let's see in Catalunya if we can repeat that but hopefully we swap positions and Alex wins."
Marc Marquez (R) celebrates alongside 2nd place Alex Marquez. — Reuters
CONFIDENCE
A podium finish put a smile back on the face of Marc's Ducati team-mate Bagnaia, who had described Saturday's 12th spot in the sprint as the "toughest of his career."
"Today I recovered a lot of confidence and I can go to Mugello in a fortnight with a spring in my step," said Bagnaia.
Marc Marquez got a great start leading Alex, but the other front row sitter Franco Morbidelli fell well back to seventh spot, whilst Bagnaia shot through from the second row to take third spot.
Bagnaia turned the pressure on Alex Marquez but after a while he dropped off and was trading third and fourth places with Pedro Acosta over the opening few laps.
Indeed the Marquez brothers opened a gap back to Bagnaia, Acosta, Brad Binder and Morbidelli, who had recovered a bit from his sluggish start.
By halfway Marc Marquez posted the fastest lap thus far and extended his lead to over two seconds.
It was also the moment that South African rider Binder's hopes of recording his best result of a poor campaign were dashed as he slid off.
His KTM boss Aki Ajo jumped down from his vantage point and wrung his hands in frustration.
The race began to take its toll as 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo also went off whilst contesting ninth spot.
His fellow French rider Johann Zarco's hopes of a third successive podium finish had ended a bit earlier.
Whilst up front was becoming a bit of a procession the more exciting tussle was between Morbidelli and rookie Fermin Aldeguer for fifth and sixth spots.
Both gave no quarter, rubbing elbows as they vied to get the better of each other and it was Morbidelli who eventually prevailed after a final dig into Aldeguer's ribs on the penultimate lap. — AFP
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