Marc Marquez is clear that he is unfazed by having the win stolen from him last week. Silverstone succeeded the Isle of Man TT in 1977. Then, it took over from Donington Park, five years ago, after Donington hosted the race in the 1980s. This could be the final race at Silverstone. There's supposed to be a track in Wales. But the Welsh speedway has not been built yet. So, it could move back to Donington Park.
Silverstone was built in 1948 and is site of a former air base. Jorge Lorenzo has won three of the last four races at Silverstone. The temperature is in the low 60s and it's cloudy. Marc Marquez has a 77 point lead over Dani Pedrosa. Mike Hailwood and John Surtees, are two of the best British riders from MotoGP's past. Now, in qualifying, it was dull and windy, but dry. Alvaro Bautista and Scott Redding got into second qualifying. Cal Crutchlow will be deep in the field. There was a a crash at Aintree corner. Not sure who it was.
Five British riders will start the British GP for the first time since 1996. Jorge Lorenzo and Aleix Espargaro had good qualifying runs. Valentino Rossi will be starting his 246th MotoGP race. But, Marc Marquez has his tenth pole of 2014. Rossi has surpassed Spaniard Alex Barros for the most MotoGP start. Colin Edwards is at Silverstone, but of course, not racing. Leon Camier is subbing for the injured Nicky Hayden, who should be back for the next race in Italy.
We're ready to race, (possibly for the last time) at Silverstone. Welcome to round 12. Marc Marquez has pole. Remember, 77 points is Marquez's lead. Can Marquez win eleven MotoGP races? Valentino Rossi did that in 2005. 20 laps scheduled. Here we go!
At the start, Andrea Dovizioso has the jump, but here comes Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez into Maggots/Becketts. We've got Jorge Lorenzo leading into Chapel and towards Hangar straight, and into Stowe. Aleix Espargaro is going for it through Vale and Club. Into Abbey along the old start/finish straight, and into The Loop. Andrea Dovizioso takes Espargaro. Almost a touch between Dovizioso and Espargaro just before Brooklands.
Into Woodcote, has Rossi got an advantage? Going into Copse, it's Yamaha and Honda. It's Lorenzo vs. Marquez at the start of the British Grand Prix. Deja vu from a year ago. Aleix Espargaro has lost another spot. He passes Rossi, but runs wide and Rossi re-passes. Bradley Smith has had a great start. Down the Wellington straight, it's still a battle as Dani Pedrosa is fifth. We watch Lorenzo and Marquez scrap. Fast lap for Dovizioso at 2:02.006.
Jorge Lorenzo has a great run out of Chapel curve. Into Vale and Club, which i a series of corners, coming up the old pit straight another time. Through Farm, Bradley Smith nabs Aleix Espargaro. Marquez closes on Lorenzo. All the top players are at the front. Marc Marquez is comfortable in second and Loprenzo is in the lead, too. Through Maggots/Becketts again. Karel Abraham passes Leon Camier. This battle is like a volcano ready to erupt. But, Stefan Bradl is losing spots.
Marc Marquez tries to go around the outside at Copse corner. Bradley Smith closes on Aleix Espargaro, or maybe, it's Pol Espargaro. Can Rossi make his pass on Dovizioso stick? Not quite. Andrea Dovizioso fends him off. Dani Pedrosa is also closing. This is as good as we've seen from Jorge Lorenzo. But, Marc Marquez will fight. He's keeping his powder dry right now. Bradley Smith passes Aleix Espargaro, but Espargaro is giving him trouble. Into Village, Rossi brakes late, and slides by the Ducati. Marquez will pull the trigger at any time.
Through Luffield, into Woodcote, and we've got 3/4 of the race left. Dani Pedrosa wants by Andrea Dovizioso through Stowe and Vale. They come back down Wellington straight towards Brooklands. Pedrosa still can't get by the Ducati, while Lorenzo and Marquez race off into the distance. The top five factory bikes have pulled away into a race of their own for the top five. Honda, Yamaha, Ducati. The old pit complex is where the start/finish line is for MotoGP. Formula One fans will recognize Silverstone.
Now, Lorenzo has some issues with grip. Hotter temperatures can make it work for Lorenzo. Marc Marquez has not yet laid all his cards on the table. Nine-time MotoGP champion Phil Read is watching this race. Rossi is being closed up on by Dani Pedrosa. The customer Honda's are running well even though they are down the order. The battle is simmering. Dani Pedrosa is right in Rossi's face right now. Andrea Dovizioso is beginning to come back as we look at the halfway mark in this race next time by.
They race into Brooklands. Last year, Dani Pedrosa set fast lap in this race. Rossi is going for it. But, let's see. Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez are still battling at the front. Every rider has their strong point on the track. We're hitting half distance now. They go up the old pit straight, and towards Abbey another time. Pedrosa, Rossi, and Dovizioso are locked together. We're officially at half distance now. Back through Copse corner another time.
Will it be like Motegi last year, or Argentina this year? Will Marquez catch him? Or, will Lorenzo keep his lead? Sometimes, riders play mind games if they've got something in reserve. Bradley Smith has fallen and come back on track. But, he is not running well. But, it could be game over. Through the Aintree corner onto the Wellington straight. Lorenzo and Marquez run through Luffield. Nine laps remain now. Lorenzo and Marquez both run wide.
Through to Vale. Eight laps remain now. Back towards Abbey. Marquez needs to work hard to get by Lorenzo. We've run through half the race with just one retirement. That's Bradley Smith. We're down to four British riders. Now, Marquez will need to make his move ASAP to try and beat Lorenzo. Lorenzo has the advantage into Woodcote corner. It is down to two riders for the win. Two world champions. But, keep in mind, Lorenzo has won this race, three of the last four years.
Whoa! Marquez tries to pass and makes it stick, but Lorneoz is fighting back. No way through. It's going to take a half lap to find out what this race will become. Six laps left. Farm, Village, The Loop, Aintree. Those are the four critical corners. Aintree actually leads onto the Wellington straight, and towards Brooklands. Into Stowe, Lorenzo is fighting back. Into Vale, now. Marquez is pulling away. Andrea Dovizioso is still in front of Dani Pedrosa.
Marquez is focused. Lorenzo is doing everything to stay with Marquez. Marquez runs wide around Abbey. Marqueez slides into Abbey and stays on the motorcycle. Rossi, Dovizioso, and Pedrosa battle for third, fourth, and fifth. Hiroshi Aoyama is now in the points. Stefan Bradl runs ninth. Now, Lorenzo has passed Marquez! This is going to heat up, and fast. Four and a half laps to go, into Abbey, through Farm, Village, and The Loop. Lorenzo retakes the lead.
It's head to head now. Down the strart/finish straight and into Copse. Lorenzo has to defend from Marquez. Maggots/Becketts, and Lorenzo still leads. Chapel, Hangar straight, Stowe. Into Vale, Marquez is closing up. Yamaha has not won a race this year yet. It's been all Honda so far. All Repsol Honda. Lorenzo runs wide. Three laps to go now. Into Copse they come. It's a two man race. Where will Marquez attack? When? Two and a half laps to go.
Marquez will hav a go at Village or The LKoop. Here he comes, and he's trying. Lorenzo gets passed into Aintree. They touched twice. Lorenzo has to fight. But the gap is increasing. Marquez is booking it with two laps to go. No mistakes these last couple laps. Pedrosa can't pass Andrea Dovizioso. Can Valentino Rossi complete the podium? Lorenzo has given everything. But, he'll have to settle for second spot. Marquez has a wild moment into Abbey and towards Village and, The Loop.
The gap comes down by half. Lorenzo will have to try, but there's one lap left through Luffield and into Woodcote. One lap to go. The battle rages for third with Andrea Dovizoso being passed by Dani Pedrosa. Alvaro Bautista is out of it. He crashed. Game over. Down through Vale, Marquez is looking for his eleventh win of the year. Bradley Smith rejoined the race. But that doesn't matter. What matters is the last few corners. Marc Marquez is going to become the first rider since 2005, when Valentino Rossi did it, to win eleven races in a year.
Rossi has the edge on Pedrosa and Marquez wins it!
#93 Marc Marquez ESP. Honda
The next race in MotoGP is the San Marino Grand Prix at the Misano World Circuit in Misano, Italy, in two weeks.
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