MotoGP Indianapolis Speedway Grand Prix 2015: Marc Marquez takes the win ahead of Yamaha duo

Spaniard takes fifth consecutive win in US

(Getty Images)

Defending world champion Marc Marquez proves he is unbeatable on US soil with his fifth consecutive win at the Red Bull grand prix from the famous brickyard in Indianapolis. The factory Yamaha’s of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi complete the rostrum.

It had been mixed weather conditions all weekend, the premier class was declared a dry race and Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo pipped his Yamaha M1 to the first corner ahead of Marquez who started from pole position. Lorenzo held the lead for 23 of the 27 lap race but Marquez managed to power his RC213v past him from the start straight and built a gap, crossing the finish line 1.5 seconds ahead.

On winning the race Marquez said: “Lorenzo proved he can keep the fast pace with 32 high’s, so I decided at beginning to wait for the pass. I overtook with four laps to go and then on the last lap I really had to push. My confidence is coming back, but both Yamaha riders are really strong so it will be hard to keep this pace at every track”.

Marquez third in the standings behind Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo (Getty Images)

Nine times world champion Rossi, who went into the summer break leading the standings by 13 points from his teammate, struggled with his set-up over the weekend and qualified in eighth place. He managed to get towards the front group early on, overtaking Tech 3 rider Bradley Smith for fifth place and compatriot Andrea Iannone for fourth place. The battle then began at the halfway point for the last step of the podium with Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa.

Changing places with the Honda rider fives times over the race, Rossi said: “I managed to get to ahead quite fast, but Dani was difficult and he pushed for a great battle. When Jorge was in first and I was in fourth I was worried. I knew I had to beat Dani. I’m happy to just lose four points to Jorge as he has been fast all weekend. But another podium is important and it is a good result”

Smith, the top British rider finished in fifth place, ahead of his teammate Pol Espargaro and compatriot Cal Crutchlow and just 0.23 seconds behind the factory Ducati of Iannone.

Smith said: “It was a shame I couldn’t past Iannone in the end, but those red bikes have the power down the straight, especially here at Indy. I tried everything I could and we’ve moved up to fifth in the championship so I’m very pleased with that”

Surprisingly Smith is yet to renew his contract with the Yamaha Tech 3 team, of which Smith says: “It’s not a Tech 3 problem. Hervé [Poncharal, Tech 3 team manager] is 100% behind me and we have a few more things to discuss. I certainly want to stay at Tech 3”

With eight races left in the season, Rossi maintains his lead from Spaniard Lorenzo by nine points. Marquez moves up to fourth place and sits 56 points behind the leader.

In Moto3, Belgian Livio Loi took the win and Britain’s John McPhee took second place, his first ever grand prix podium. Both made the decision to start the race on slick tyres, after it had been declared a wet race earlier in the day.

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The next race takes place at Brno in Czech Republic on Sunday 16th August. See all the action on BT Sport2.