Drama as Marquez, Lorenzo collide in Spain

MotoGP News

Date: 5/May/2013

Dani Pedrosa rode to his first victory of the 2013 MotoGP season in front of a huge 111,000 home fans at Jerez on Sunday.

But there was drama behind as fellow Spanish stars Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez collided at the very final corner of the race.

Turn 13 had been renamed in reigning double World Champion Lorenzo’s honour on Saturday, but he left enough room for fearless rookie Marquez to launch an audacious last-gasp overtake.

In a mirror image of the infamous Rossi/Gibernau clash at the same corner in 2005, Marquez pointed his Honda at the apex and braked as late as he could.

By the time Lorenzo turned in, Marquez was already alongside. The pair bumped at the apex, jolting Lorenzo off-line while Marquez powered to second place.

An angry Lorenzo initially dismissed Marquez’s attempts to discuss the incident, but no action was taken by Race Direction and Lorenzo later conceded that he should have been more defensive.

“I thought Marquez was further behind than he was so I didn’t take a defensive line, this was my mistake,” said Lorenzo.

Marquez, notorious for merciless moves in the 125 and Moto2 grand prix classes, hinted that he had been inspired by Rossi’s move from 2005.

“When I saw at the last corner that Jorge had opened the door a little bit, I just went in,” he shrugged. “It has happened many times in a similar way there. I just learned from the videos of past races.

“I want to say sorry to Jorge because you never want that, but it was a racing incident - a last lap move that happens when you are on the limit. The most important thing is that we both finished the race. I think it was a nice battle for the fans.”

The result means that Marquez, who became MotoGP’s youngest winner at the previous Austin round, is now leading the Championship by three-points over Pedrosa.

Lorenzo is a further point behind. Each of the three Spaniards have taken one win so far this season. Rossi, Lorenzo’s team-mate, was best of the rest at Jerez, riding to a lonely fourth place.