MotoGP™: Márquez takes assertive Spanish GP win

Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda Team) led the 25-lap Gran Premio Red Bull de España from start to finish to claim his second win of the campaign after Argentina. The reigning champion was joined on the all-Spanish podium of the 2019 MotoGPTM World Championship’s fourth round by Alex Rins (Team SUZUKI ECSTAR) and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). The day’s top three featured three different bikemakers. 

Márquez leapt from third on the grid to lead from the start on hard-compound Michelin Power Slicks front and rear. He went on to take an unchallenged victory aided by a string of record-beating laps which included a new fastest-ever race lap time for Jerez (1m38.051s) on Lap 15.

Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) established a new qualifying record (1m36.880s) for the resurfaced Spanish venue to become MotoGPTM’s youngest-ever pole sitter. At lights-out, however, he was passed by both Márquez and his Petronas Yamaha SRT team-mate Franco Morbidelli (second in qualifying) and fell to third. He reclaimed second spot on Lap 11 but was side-lined by a gearshift problem shortly afterwards (Lap 14).

The French youngster’s woes allowed Rins (same tyre choice as Márquez) to continue his fightback from ninth on the grid and inherit second place, chased by Viñales (medium and hard Michelin Power Slicks front and rear). The top-three remained unchanged all the way to the chequered flag.

Mission Winnow Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci rounded out the afternoon’s top 5.

Another spectacular comeback was staged by Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) who battled from 13th at the start to finish sixth overall, ahead of Franco Morbidelli (best-placed independent team rider), Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), Taakami Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) and Stefan Bradl (Team HRC).

The weekend saw Michelin tyres contribute to a number of records for Jerez, including a new lap record, a new fastest race lap record and the shortest race duration. Quartararo posted a new best time for qualifying but no fewer than 15 other riders bettered the previous benchmark. Márquez completed the distance in 41m8.685s which was 31s quicker than in 2018 when he collected Michelin’s 400th premier-category victory. In all, 15 riders improved on the previous fastest race lap record (1m38.735s) which Jorge Lorenzo set with Yamaha in 2015.

The majority of the field went for hard-compound Michelin Power Slicks front and rear. Only six riders took a different tack by combining the hard and medium options.

Márquez’s second success of the season has taken him back to the top of the provisional standings with a score of 70 points, tailed by Rins (69) and Dovizioso (67). Rossi (61) is fourth.

Next race: SHARK Helmets Grand Prix de France, Le Mans (May 17-19).