Spanish Jorge Lorenzo (centre) celebrates on the podium after winning the MotoGP at Silverstone in Northamptonshire, yesterday. Lorenzo won the British Grand Prix ahead of Spanish compatriots Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa.
SILVERSTONE, United Kingdom: Reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone yesterday ahead of Spanish compatriots Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa.
Honda’s Marquez, who hurt his shoulder in the morning warm-up and had to be taken by ambulance to the circuit’s medical centre, maintained his lead at the top of the overall standings.
The 20-year-old MotoGP debutant had won the previous four Grand Prix and leads Honda teammate Pedrosa by 30 points, with Yamaha’s Lorenzo a further nine points adrift with six races left in the 18-race season.
Fourth-placed Italian Valentino Rossi, a seven-time world champion, is a distant 77 points off the leader having also finished fourth yesterday.
Marquez was penalised two points for a dangerous move during the warm-up but still increased his championship lead.
“Given the circumstances, it’s gone well for me where the standings are concerned,” said Marquez.
The Spaniard did not slow down when yellow flags were waved after an earlier accident before crashing at the same place on the track and dislocating his left shoulder.“He (Marquez) continued at racing speed and did not slow down and be prepared to stop as required by the regulations,@ FIM, the sport’s ruling body, said in a statement.
“His subsequent crash at the same point as the previous accident seriously endangered the rider being attended and the marshals in the accident zone.
The lead at Silverstone changed hands regularly between pole-sitter Marquez and Lorenzo, who only made the final decisive move a few turns from the finish.
Pedrosa was largely a spectator in the leaders’ battle, following closely in third, but not closely enough to make a pass.
“I really deserved this victory,” said Lorenzo. “I fought like I’d rarely done before in order to get it. This success has relaunched me for the season run-in. Even though Marc is in the best position, many things can still happen.”
Lorenzo had not won a Grand Prix since the middle of June at Catalonia.
The British fans, out of luck in the main division, had something to cheer about when home hope Scott Redding won the Moto2 Grand Prix. The Kalex rider and came in just over one second clear of Japan’s Takaaki Nakagami with German Thomas Luthi in third.
Agencies
