Marquez makes it nein from nein in Germany
Marc Marquez’ unstoppable start to the 2014 MotoGP season continued in Germany after a chaotic start that saw 14 riders start from pit lane after a late decision on tyres.
A brief rainstorm after the sighting lap left the grid in confusion about what tyres to elect for, with all the front runners, bar local man and third place man Stefan Bradl electing for wets.
Despite Bradl having the right tyres on his bike, the wet set up and slick tyre combination didn’t leave Bradl with much of a chance, and despite the pit lane start, it was comfortable for Marquez, and his two compatriots Pedrosa and Lorenzo who joined the World Champion on the podium.
Marquez was his usual sensational self, as he sliced through the field much like he was in a Moto2 race from two years ago. After having his team mate in close quarters whilst cutting to the front, once out the front, there was no catching Marquez who comfortably too his ninth victory in a row.
“It was like a Motocross start, everybody very tight, with the elbows out,” smiled Marquez. “It was nice, but a little bit dangerous too because I think for everybody when we pushed for the brakes, the carbon brakes did not stop the bike. That was maybe the most dangerous, at the first corner. It also maybe looked a little bit strange on TV but it was nice from there on.”
Pedrosa, who had won three of the last four German Grand Prix, looked like he could’ve challenged Marquez to the end, however when the gap got to just under half a second, Marquez would respond with a fast lap, and leave his teammate with nothing. Marquez managed the gap comfortably, eventually crossing the line 1.5s ahead of Pedrosa. Jorge Lorenzo was a further nine seconds back, and will be delighted to be going into the summer break and more contract negations on the back of a much needed podium.
Valentino Rossi rode to a lonely race fourth place, another nine seconds behind his teammate, and he was just three seconds ahead of the first Ducati of Andrea Iannone.
Aleix managed to beat brother Pol Espargaro to sixth position and will both be happy with their rides after Pol lost out in the pit lane start.
The top ten was rounded out by Andrea Dovizioso, Alvaro Bautista and Cal Crutchlow.
There is now a three week summer break, before the riders reconvene in Indianapolis, however there is also a two-day HRC test starting on Tuesday for Marquez and Pedrosa, at Brno in the Czech Republic.