Round twelve of MotoGP is at the legendary Silverstone circuit in Silverstone, England. This is special, because it's the 200th race of the MotoGP era since it debuted in 2002.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/MotoGP+modern+era+hits+200+at+Silverstone
The Silverstone track is located on an old WW. II. bomber station. In morning warmup, Cal Crutchlow crashed for the third time. Marc Marquez barrels through the gravel trap. The safety crews had to run to get Crutchlow out of the way. Marquez has a dislocated collarbone. But, he will ride in the race today. Marc Marquez could win the championship and be the youngest to do so since American Kenny Roberts in 1978. Although, according to motorcycle racing historian Dennis Noyes, Roberts was a dirt track racer before going to MotoGP.
Noyes says that in talking to Marquez, Marquez mentioned that riding a lighter, smaller, Moto 2 bike, has informed his riding style in MotoGP. Marquez would keep the points lead over Dani Pedrosa. What will happen? Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa have also had to deal with broken collarbones. Now, in qualifying, Marquez and Lorenzo both floored the crowd in qualiufying. Marquez ran a new record lap. Cal Crutchlow had his two big wrecks, but will still race. Stefan Bradl, Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, and others, had good qualifying runs.
Pedrosa has never won at Silverstone, in any division of MotoGP. The bikes are on their warmup lap. This race will be 20 laps. Marquez wants his fifth consecutive win of 2013. This will be a tough one. At the start, Lorenzo gets a good jump, getting the hole shot as Valentino Rossi comes up to third. Pedrosa drops to sixth behind Cal Crurchlow. They come down the Hangar straight and into Stowe. They make theeir way through Abbey as Alvaro Bautista passes Crutchlow. Into Vilage, it's a scrap between Lorenzo and Marquez while Crutchlow passes Bautista into Abbey.
Now, into Vale, the corner that caused rider's issues in the warmup this morning. Lukas Pesek crashes. Game over. Dani Pedrosa continues to push as Alvaro Bautista hounds Valentino Rossi. They come towards Copse. Lorenzo runs a 2:02.1. Bautista passes Rossi for fifth. Can Marquez stay with Lorenzo despite his broken shoulder? So far, he is. Pedrosa wants by Stefan Bradl. Marquez runs a 2:01.996. Into Copse, Bradl wants Pedrosa. But, he can't get to him.
Marquez continues to knock down fast laps. Marquez is practically fearless through his injury and still wants to go for it. He's a real scrapper. They come into Brooklands which is a bumpy corner. Pedrosa resets fast lap at 2:01.9. Bradl, Nicky Hayden, and Andrea Dovizioso are all running together. Well, check that. The Ducati's are a bit farther down the order. Lorenzo and Marquez race into Brooklands. Pedrosa is getting back into this fight, too. Lorenzo is down to 2:02.6. But, Pedrosa is faster at 2:01.94.
Pedrosa is behind Lorenzo in the championship by 26 points, the equivalent of his bike's number. Andrea Ianonne passes Pol Espargaro. Colin Edwards runs ahead of Hector Barbera. This race is nearly half over. Not quite. Pedrosa can run consistent lap times and doesn't have to push as hard. He can't quite get there in the last laps of these races. But, this race at Silverstone, could be different. Marquez's collarbone was popped back into position before the race. He's toughing it out. Alvaro Bautista wants by Stefan Bradl, still.
Lorenzo leads through Copse corner. Pedrosa will push now as they come through Woodcote, down the front straight and into Copse. We are halfway now. Ten laps down. Ten to go. Aleix Espargaro is now top CRT even though, he too, is riding hurt, with a broken finger. Through Abbey, Lorenzo continues to lead. Pedrosa is right up behind Marquez now. They fly down Wellington straight and into Brooklands. Pedrosa is now pushing Marquez. The top three, are the best motorcycle racers in the world right now.
Through Brooklands and Luffield again, this battle is not letting up. These guys fly their bikes through the corners at 150 miles an hour into Maggots, Becketts, and Chapel. Seven laps to go. Hayden is tenth, slipping behind Andrea Dovizioso. Colin Edwards runs 14th. This battle is just like one in 1979 between Barry Sheene and Kenny Roberts. Lorenzo and Marquez run identical lap times at 2:02.3. Through Club corner. Dovizioso and Hayden are pushing, and they chase Bradley Smith.
This scrap is for eighth. Lorenzo continues to lead, running a 2:02.2. Marquez and Lorenzo are still close behind. Lorenzo is stepping up the pace. But, the Repsol Honda's are still in it with three laps left. Through Abbey and Farm, Rossi is still there. But, he's a bit slower on a full fuel tank. Bautista was a champion in the old 125cc class. Smith passes Andrea Dovizizoso. Aleix Espargaro will get a good finish. It is his pinky finger that is broken.
Marquez takes the lead away from Lorenzo! He forced him to sit up through Brooklands! Wow! Will Marquez win this race even with a dislocated collarbone? Can Dani Pedrosa get past Lorenzo? Lorenzo is doing all iun his power to stay with bike #93. Oh wow! Lorenzo isn't quitting. He passes back into Vale and Marquez wants to come back. They're almost side by side into Club corner, coming to Abbey. Here comes Dani Pedrosa. This is wild, folks. W'ere coming to the end of this race.
Can Marquez go past Lorenzo? Not yet. They've crossed the back straught into Brooklands for the next to last time. Into Copse for the final time. Now, Dovizioso is down from eighth. Hayden and Smith will be promoted. Marquez has to go, now. Down into Stowe for the final time. Brooklands is the key corner. Bautista passes Rossi. Rossi can't do anything with Alvaro Bautista battling for fourth. Bautista holds on. Lorenzo hangs on. This is it.
Into Village and The Loop, and then, into Brooklands. Through Aintree. Marquez passes for the lead. Lorenzo comnes back. H forces his way back. It;s a drag race. Lorenzo wins it! Rossi beats Bautista. Phew! What a race!
#99 Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha
The next race for MotoGP is the San Marino Grand Prix at the Misano World Circuit in Misano, Italy, in two weeks.
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