Marc Marquez Takes Pole Position At Le Mans 2014

 

Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez Recorded His Fifth Pole 

Marc Marquez extended his unbeaten qualifying streak by taking a dominant pole position for the French Grand Prix at Le Mans 2014. The world champion was almost seven tenths clear of the field with Pol Espargaro springing a major surprise to qualify second at Tech 3’s home grand prix.

Although Jorge Lorenzo finished the three practice sessions on top, the identity of the polesitter was never in any real doubt with Marquez setting a 1:32.567 on his first lap of Q2. Little did he know it, but Marc had already done enough to take pole with no-one matching his initial flyer but the championship leader caused even more pain for his rivals by going half a second quicker on his second set of tyres.

The rest of the front row looked set to be dominated by Ducati with Andrea Iannone holding second, only to be beaten by Andrea Dovizioso, but a flurry of late improvements saw the younger Espargaro brother snatch second, comfortably his best qualifying result in MotoGP so far. Stefan Bradl was among those to go quicker in the dying seconds to finish fourth with the two Movistar Yamahas of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo demoted to fifth and sixth.

Alvaro Bautista starts seventh tomorrow ahead of Aleix Espargaro while Dani Pedrosa will line up a disappointing ninth after lapping a full second slower than his pacesetting teammate in Q2. Bradley Smith rose as high as fourth at one stage but the frantic finish relegated him to tenth with Andrea Iannone eleventh after an unintended shortcut on his last lap caused it to be deleted.

Cal Crutchlow was the last rider to make it into the second session after narrowly pipping Nicky Hayden in Q1 and the Briton will start twelfth as a result, four places ahead of Scott Redding.

1. Marc Marquez Honda 1m32.042s

 2. Pol Espargaro Tech 3 Yamaha 1m32.734s +0.692s

 3. Andrea Dovizioso Ducati 1m32.755s +0.713s

 4. Stefan Bradl LCR Honda 1m32.846s +0.804s

 5. Valentino Rossi Yamaha 1m32.873s +0.831s

 6. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 1m32.899s +0.857s

 7. Alvaro Bautista Gresini Honda 1m33.006s +0.964s

 8. Aleix Espargaro Forward Yamaha 1m33.015s +0.973s

 9. Dani Pedrosa Honda 1m33.023s +0.981s

10. Bradley Smith Tech 3 Yamaha 1m33.058s +1.016s

11. Andrea Iannone Pramac Ducati 1m33.102s +1.060s

12. Cal Crutchlow Ducati 1m33.315s +1.273s

13. Nicky Hayden Aspar Honda 1m33.859s Q1

14. Yonny Hernandez Pramac Ducati 1m33.999s Q1

15. Colin Edwards Forward Yamaha 1m34.203s Q1

16. Scott Redding Gresini Honda 1m34.233s Q1

17. Hiroshi Aoyama Aspar Honda 1m34.457s Q1

18. Karel Abraham Cardion Honda 1m34.880s Q1

19. Hector Barbera Avintia FTR-Kawasaki 1m35.499s Q1

20. Broc Parkes PBM Aprilia 1m35.795s Q1

21. Michael Laverty PBM Aprilia 1m35.932s Q1

22. Mike di Meglio Avintia FTR-Kawasaki 1m36.163s Q1

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American MotoGP Results 2014

 

American MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez In 2014

American MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez In 2014 and Marc Marquez completes his total domination of the Austin MotoGP weekend with a comfortable win over team-mate Dani Pedrosa, a repeat of last year's result.

The fight for third was closer with Andrea Iannone holding the final podium place for much of the race before Stefan Bradl and Andrea Dovizioso burst past with six laps to go.

Dovizioso, Bradl and Bradley Smith then spent the closing stages dicing for third. Struggling with 'flu, Dovizioso clung on to claim Ducati's first MotoGP podium since 2012.

American MotoGP Results 2014 and Dovizioso's team-mate Cal Crutchlow pitted for a new rear tyre then suffered a big accident at turn two and was immediately seen removing his glove and checking his right hand before being carried away on a stretcher.

Jorge Lorenzo's 2014 race misery continued when he made a massive jump start and was forced to serve a ride-through penalty. Marquez then led the remainder of the race - although he gave the Repsol Honda team a scare with a sideways moment under braking at the very final turn!

1. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 43m 33.430s

2. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 43m 37.554s

3. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici) 43m 54.406s

4. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V) 43m 56.220s

5. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 43m 56.393s

6. Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 43m 59.997s

7. Andrea Iannone ITA Pramac Racing (Desmosedici) 44m 1.687s

8. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 44m 18.949s

9. Aleix Espargaro ESP NGM Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha) 44m 21.035s

10. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 44m 22.541s

11. Nicky Hayden USA Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R) 44m 34.165s

12. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R) 44m 37.384s

13. Yonny Hernandez COL Pramac Racing (Desmosedici) 44m 40.763s

14. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing (RCV1000R) 45m 1.402s

15. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Racing (Avintia) 45m 5.806s

16. Michael Laverty GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART) 45m 5.973s

17. Danilo Petrucci ITA IodaRacing Project (ART) 45m 12.606s

18. Mike Di Meglio FRA Avintia Racing (Avintia)* 45m 25.392s

Scott Redding GBR Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RCV1000R)* DNF

Colin Edwards USA NGM Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha) DNF

Cal Crutchlow GBR Ducati Team (Desmosedici) DNF

Alvaro Bautista ESP Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RC213V) DNF

Broc Parkes AUS Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART)* DNF

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