MotoGP News
Date:
16/June/2013
Reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo soaked up searing heat
and race long pressure from title rivals Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez to claim
a lights-to-flag home win on Sunday.
The Spaniards were released at the front from lap 6 onwards,
when Englishman Cal Crutchlow crashed out of fourth place.
Lorenzo’s lead over Pedrosa was less than one-second for
most of the grand prix, but the Honda rider blinked first and the #99 gained
breathing room in the closing laps.
“A perfect day - to be honest I didn't expect to win, I knew
I had some chance but not like in Mugello where I was more convinced we could
get victory,” said Lorenzo, who has now won three of the six races this season.
“I kept pushing 100% all race because any mistake would have
been a disaster.
“Dani was there and we played some games, I was 0.5 ahead
then 0.2; I was going then he was recovering me. Finally, because I was tough
mentally and never gave up, I could open in the last five laps a little gap
that was enough to win.”
Pedrosa’s championship lead has now been reduced to just
seven points. The double 2013 race winner was disappointed not to be able to
put up more of a fight.
“We three frontrunners were battling the track conditions
today. It was a bit disappointing not to be able to push more, since the
differences between us all was minimal.
“We rode practically the entire race without any overtaking.
But when I tried to open the throttle the bike wobbled in the front and I had
to be very careful."
Rookie Marquez hounded Pedrosa, riding in his 200th grand
prix, throughout the race - but fumbled an attempt to pass and almost wiped out
his team-mate on the penultimate lap.
“We didn’t touch but
it was very, very close,” said Marquez. “I already said to him, ‘When you see
the video, sorry!’”
Further back, fourth place Valentino Rossi lashed out at
Alvaro Bautista after the Spaniard came close to colliding with the Italian on
the opening lap - for the second race in succession.
“One mistake can happen. But doing the same at the next
race, another time with me, is very stupid I think. He tried an impossible
braking. Fortunately I released the brake and went wide, otherwise we would
have crashed together again.”
Round seven takes place at Assen, Holland at the end of this
month.
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