The MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas, starts now. As we know, these bikes are fast, loud, and incredible. This is the Formula One of motorcycle racing. This is also one of the finest race tracks in the world. It will be a special race. We are ready for a good one!
This is a bittersweet moment, after the explosion at the factory in West, Texas. Now, of course, these bikes are specially built. They run 200 miles an hour, easily. There is very little data at COTA for these riders. Every rider has really enjoyed the track. Stefan Bradl says it's difficult, yet fantastic. Jorge Lorenzo is amazed at it's side. Andrea Dovizioso also likes it, and is ready for this race.
Ben Spies wants to be an ambassador for the series as it comes to the track. Colin Edwards is a native Texan and teaches people how to ride motorcycles. Nicky Hayden starts his 169th MotoGP event, after starting his MotoGP career back in 2006. Hayden just wants to have a clean race. Colin Edwards has run in motorcycle racing for two decades. He teaches people how to ride motorcycles. SPEED did a feature on this. He's a road racer, but teaches people how to ride bikes on dirt. Bradley Smith is a guest of the school, learning how to ride a dirt bike. AMA rider James Rispoli also was a part of this. The MotoGP bikes are headed to the grid. We are drawing closer to an incredible race.
The race will start in fifteen minutes. Ben Spies is not just a motorcycle racer, but also a cyclist. Ben Spies and Scott Russell will show off the track on bicycles. Braking uphill into a steep corner like turn one at COTA is pretty trick. The right hander is very important bfore another couple left handers onto the back straight. Get the line correct out of the right and into the next series of corners. It's all about momentum on these bikes. The balance has to be there for the three corner jaunt on the back of the track.
Then, there's a slow corner that drops down. It sneaks up on you. It should be an amazing event. We are ready for pre race ceremonies. The horns have sounded, and the grid has been cleared before the start of the race. It is now, moments away.
Marc Marquez starts from pole. Blake Young will be the nominated wildcard rider. Michael Barnes was supposed to be the second one. But, he can't make the call. This race will be 21 laps, 71 miles. Jorge Lorenzo might be a darkhorse in this race. The first corner will be the matchmaker.
At the start, Marquez gets a good job and so does Dani Pedrosa. Lorenzo loses spots as Stefan Bradl goes to second through the esses. Valentino Rossi is balked by Nicky Hayden. Ben Spies tries to gain places in his home race. Stefan Bradl and Marc Marquez battle as Marquez is now second behind team mate Dani Pedrosa. They run 211 miles an hour on the straight as Jorge Lorenzo, Cal Crutchlow, and Valentino Rossi all follow. Lorenzo passes Bradl, and Bradl gets a chance to get by. Here comes Crutchlow, after Lorenzo went wide.
Rossi is coming. Crutchlow and Bradl seem to be pulling away. Yamaha didn't do as well in the test. But, it looks like they're coming back. Alvaro Bautista wants by Valentino Rossi, but can't quite get there. Dani Pedrosa wants to hold off Marc Marquez. Marquez schooled him Qatar. He wants to teach Marquez a lesson. This is cutthroat racing. Cal Crutchlow and Stefan Bradl want factory rides. Lorenzo runs a 2:04.4. as Andrea Dovizioso, Andrea Ianonne, and Ben Spies are down the order.
Pedrosa and Marquez are almost equal at 211 miles an hour. That's quick! The Honda accelerates quickly off the corners. Lorenzo runs a 2:04.486. Marquez is performing real well. 2:04.3 for Pedrosa. 2:04.2 for Marquez. Lorenzo runs wide and recovers in turn two. Cal Crutchlow still challenges Stefan Bradl in the esses. Marquez is coming, and fast. Rossi is all over Alvaro Bautista and Cal Crutchlow makes a mistake, but still goes after Rossi. The bikes are still on full fuel tanks.
Andrea Dovizioso is the highest placed Ducati in eighth. Colin Edwards is trying to move up, in his home race. Sixteen laps remain with Honda's in the lead. Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez both want to win as there's 1.8 seconds between the two. Lorenzo, Bradl, Bautista, Crutchlow, and Rossi, follow. Marc Marquez knows he doesn't want to show a hand too early here. Go high and wide into the first turn. Cal Crutchlow gets in hot, but still is in hot pursuit of Stefan Bradl.
Crutchlow will show what he can do. Jorge Lorenzo is still third. Tires could play a factor. Marquez is running the option hard compound Bridgestone while Pedrosa is on the soft tire. Fifteen laps left. Marquez literally has his elbow down. In the 1970s with Jarno Saaronen and Kenny Roberts, they dragged their knees. But now, there is more change in riding techniques. Pol Espargaro holds eleventh. Ben Spies is thirteenth, languishing. Bradley Smith is in front of him.
At these speeds, 200+ miles an hour, everything is in slow motion. Don't get excited. Be calm, even though you're flying on a speeding, thunderously loud, high performance motorcycle. Be consistent. No mistakes. Hit the marks. Coming up the hill, it's still Pedrosa and Marquez 1-2. Jorge Lorenzo is third, as Crutchlow continues hassling Bradl. Crutchlow sweeps by in turn six. Let it come to you. Don't push too hard. The lean angles are 60 degrees! Wow! You have to be carrying momentum, not accelerating too hard to overheat the tires.
Getting too aggressive wears the tires. But, get into a rhythm. They have traction control on the bikes. Jorge Lorenzo is three seconds behind. Pedrosa and Marquez still lead. The fans are on their feet on the hillsides. Cal Crutchlow has passed Stefan Bradl. Nicky Hayden is ninth. He's the best American as Ben Spies, Colin Edwards, and Blake Young, all struggle. Pedrosa and Marquez still battle as they gap Jorge Lorenzo with ten laps left. Crutchlow has the fastest bike. Can Crutchlow make a run? That'll be a major deal.
Can Crutchlow reel in the factory bike? Crutchlow has the same motor as Jorge Lorenzo. Tech 3 had a garage fire. But, they're back. Colin Edwards, the hometown hero, is out. He was not running well. Something went wrong with the bike. At the sharp end, Marquez bides his time, trying to set up Pedrosa. Marquez goes low and slides by Pedrosa with no warning. Will Marquez break away? What will you do, Dani? Push, push, push. These guys are running 212 miles an hour! Dani Pedrosa knows what he's doing, and knows what Marquez can do. Pedrosa has been a champion, and so has Marquez.
These next laps are critical. Marquez wants to gap Pedrosa. That's just how it is. Timing is huge. Don't jump across the bike too fast or you'll unbalance yourself on the bike. The lap times are in the 2:04 bracket. 2:04.3 for Pedrosa. Marquez is doing some things like last year's Honda rider, and champion, Casey Stoner. Marquez is good at standing up the bike. Lukas Pesek crashes. He runs into the back of the #9 bike of Danilo Petrucci as Dani Pedrosa almost does the same thing to Marquez!
Marquez stabilizes himself with his leg going into the corner. Crutchlow is pushing Lorenzo. But it's the battle of the Repsol Honda's for victory here. This will be a classic! The finish cometh. Team manager Livio Suppo, can barely watch. Marquez leans over less than Pedrosa, so he can save his tires, and get better acceleration. Ben Spies is running well. The gap increases between Marquez and Pedrosa. Lorenzo might be carching up, with five laps left. Cal Crutchlow could pass Jorge Lorenzo. But, he won't take things sitting down, even though he'll have to probably accept the result.
There is no gap between the leaders. Marquez runs a 2:05 flat at 2:05.067 and Pedrosa is in the 2:04.9 range. Marquez slides the bike. But that's part of how he rides. He's working the rear tire. He trusts the traction control. Some of the great riders of the past, wouldn't do that. Casey Stoner used traction control a lot. Marquez tries to get off lean angle, and roll through the corner. He pulls his arm in. Don't try this at home, amateur motorcycle riders. Three laps left.
Hiroshi Aoyama and Michael Laverty battle for 17th place. Valentino Rossi will finish sixth. He's still going for it. The Honda's have been dominant today. Marquez is going to go for it. Pedrosa is running out of tires. Yonny Hernandez has been doing well. He's learning road racing, after getting his start in motocross. Marquez is steamrolling Pedrosa right now. He's got a mountain to climb as Andrea Dovizioso is hounding Alvaro Bautista. Will Marquez win this? Freddie Spencer is the youngest MotoGP winner. But, Marquez could break it.
Marc Marquez is THE rider in MotoGP now. Hold it together. Just keep going. Don't let your mind phase you. His family is here. Marquez is going to get this. Livio Suppo finds another superstar. Marc Marquez is going to win this race. He's going to make history, breaking Freddie Spencer's record! Marquez wins in MotoGP! He's #1 in the first MotoGP race at COTA!
#93 Marc Marquez ESP Honda
The next MotoGP race will be in Spain, at the Jerez track, coming up in two weeks.
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