Marc Marquez (Honda) continued his domination of the Austin round of the MotoGP series by taking his fourth straight victory at this venue earlier today. Marquez cruised home 6 seconds ahead of second-place Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) who held a sizeable gap over third place Andrea Iannone (Ducati).
A number of crashes affected not only the race results, but the early championship points battle. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) was again taken out by the crash of another rider … this time Dani Pedrosa (Honda) when Pedrosa’s crashed bike swept up Dovi on lap 7. Meanwhile, Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) low sided early in the race while trying to make up for a poor start. We understand none of these riders was injured and, in fact, Pedrosa re-joined the race for a period before retiring.
The consistent Marquez (he won the last round in Argentina, and took a podium after Round 1 in Qatar) already has a sizable 21 point advantage in the championship over Lorenzo (who has already recorded one DNF – at the Argentina round).
Here are the results from Austin, Texas:
| Pos. | Points | Num. | Rider | Nation | Team | Bike | Km/h | Time/Gap |
| 1 | 25 | 93 | Marc MARQUEZ | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 157.9 | 43’57.945 |
| 2 | 20 | 99 | Jorge LORENZO | SPA | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | 157.6 | +6.107 |
| 3 | 16 | 29 | Andrea IANNONE | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 157.3 | +10.947 |
| 4 | 13 | 25 | Maverick VIÑALES | SPA | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | 156.8 | +18.422 |
| 5 | 11 | 41 | Aleix ESPARGARO | SPA | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | 156.7 | +20.711 |
| 6 | 10 | 45 | Scott REDDING | GBR | OCTO Pramac Yakhnich | Ducati | 156.2 | +28.961 |
| 7 | 9 | 44 | Pol ESPARGARO | SPA | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 156.0 | +32.112 |
| 8 | 8 | 51 | Michele PIRRO | ITA | OCTO Pramac Yakhnich | Ducati | 156.0 | +32.757 |
| 9 | 7 | 8 | Hector BARBERA | SPA | Avintia Racing | Ducati | 155.9 | +34.592 |
| 10 | 6 | 6 | Stefan BRADL | GER | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | 155.6 | +40.211 |
| 11 | 5 | 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | SPA | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | 155.3 | +45.423 |
| 12 | 4 | 50 | Eugene LAVERTY | IRL | Aspar Team MotoGP | Ducati | 155.2 | +47.127 |
| 13 | 3 | 53 | Tito RABAT | SPA | Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS | Honda | 155.2 | +47.426 |
| 14 | 2 | 68 | Yonny HERNANDEZ | COL | Aspar Team MotoGP | Ducati | 154.9 | +51.190 |
| 15 | 1 | 76 | Loris BAZ | FRA | Avintia Racing | Ducati | 153.7 | +1’12.929 |
| 16 | 35 | Cal CRUTCHLOW | GBR | LCR Honda | Honda | 153.3 | +1’19.252 | |
| 17 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | GBR | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 152.8 | +1’28.036 | |
| Not Classified | ||||||||
| 26 | Dani PEDROSA | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 148.0 | 10 Laps | ||
| 4 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 157.8 | 15 Laps | ||
| 46 | Valentino ROSSI | ITA | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | 156.2 | 19 Laps | ||
See more of MD’s great photography:
Ed: Congrats! I don’t have to barf looking at MM sticking out his tongue holding his XXS finger in the air with the rest of the Honda crew!
wherz dat tung?
Lorenzo stole his thunder: http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2016/04/10/marquez-marches-to-fourth-austin-win-as-rossi-crashes-out/198340
After reading some of the comments here it really is too bad the US and our notorious media are all about ball sports… and we all know how the sheep follow the media. Even when Nicky won the championship it was barely covered on the news. Oh well, could move to Spain…
The damn supercross race was cut into by 3 or four heats so that FS1 could keep some baseball game on…did you know there is only~ 9 minutes of actual play time in a baseball game…killing me smalls
There’s only 15-17 minutes of live-ball play in a football game. I don’t know what it is about watching uniformed men stand around, doing nothing that this country loves so much..
I don’t get the fascination with automotive sports here in the US. Most of the auto fans say they watch for the danger and some watch for the crashes. Well whats more dangerous than guys flying around on two wheels at 200mph with nothing but a leather suit and a lid to protect them if they go down.
Auto racing has all that cage stuff to protect the drivers that I consider them wimps when compared to motorcycle racers.
The auto races I could possibly watch is when they’re on a road course. Other than that it’s like watching skittles being dumped into a toilet and flushing it. Colors in a circle.
“Other than that it’s like watching skittles being dumped into a toilet and flushing it. Colors in a circle.” Tex in Ohio
Good golly that’s funny
I like rally racing, but I admittedly don’t follow it. That is the extent of my fascination with autoracing.
boring. michelin is spoiling the WC.
I kind of like what Michelin is bringing to the series this year. It’s a learning year for them, and as long as no one gets seriously injured from a tire failure it make the racing interesting.
If this happens again next season then yeah questions need to be raised about whats going on with the tires.
I still want the series to be open to all tire makers like the old days, but that’s just me.
No comments on Rossi crashing early? Tires coming into play in the Yamaha vs Honda battle?
Side note – Please let me listen to the Euro-announcers. I like Greg White but to hear him try to come to grips with live announcing was rather tough to take.
That was sad. Once Rossi was out, the entertainment value plummeted. The entire race was sad. Good for Marquez and Honda, but it was a boring race.
Wow that 2 years he was on a Ducati, must have been sheer agony for you
It was frustrating to be sure, but still entertaining to see if the longed-for “Italian/Italian” combo could compete. Also, it’s one thing to be on a slow bike and run the entire race, it’s something far worse when he crashes out on the second lap.
Even before Rossi’s crash it was evident that something was wrong. He was going backwards, and he never goes backwards at the beginning of a race.
Turns out he’d burned up his clutch at the start and was biding his time until it came back in, which ruined the race for so many of us.
So, Rossi has now crashed, as has Lorenzo. Pedroza, Iannone, Dovi, all early-season crashers. The one name conspicuous by its absence from this list is Mark Marquez, who, if this is to become an interesting race for the championship again, needs to return the favor and crash sometime soon here.
Marquez will crash eventually I think. Those front tires seem to be producing a lot of surprise tucks, and I can’t imagine Marquez not getting bitten by that eventually given how much time he spends on the ragged edge, though he is probably the best rider on the track (arguably) when it comes to dancing with that fine line.
I wonder if it is inconsistencies in the tires themselves or if they are just a little more vague overall than the Bridgestones at communicating when they are at the limit. I wouldn’t normally suspect the former, but it seems like the riders would have compensated for vagueness by now.
Poor Dovi… getting tomahawked twice in a row like that from a strong position has got to be tough on the guy’s morale.
Yea you have to feel bad for him. That would be 3 second place finishes for him in 3 races. Add to the fact tha Lorenzo is going to Ducati and either Dovi or Iannone are going to lose their ride. Of course you would have to think whoever loses their ride will get picked up, but with Vinales also becoming available it’s going to be wild.
And what do you think about poor Crutchlow. gOt to feel bad for the guy
I had high hopes for the guy when he to came to GP, but he has been mowing grass and raking gravel for too long now, I think. He has his moments of brilliance when you think, “Wow, where did that guy come from,” but I don’t think we’ll ever see what he is really capable of unless he gets a factory ride. And I just don’t think anyone is going to take a chance (maybe Suzuki if they lose Vinales?) as the first image most people have when they think of Crutchlow is of him sliding across the tarmac on his way to the weeds.
Talk about bad timing – that guy has it. Chose to go to a horrible Ducati and then cut his contract short at Ducati (just as it would become competitive the following year) to race for LCR, which will never really have the chance to be competitive. Had he not left the Yamaha satellite bike, he might actually have gotten a sniff at Lorenzo’s vacant seat. Who knows? As it stands, there is probably an open-class Honda in his future.
If Lorenzo is vacating the Yamaha, I have to believe his replacement will either be Vinales, with the long term goal of grooming him to be champ, or Dovi, short-term, to give Rossi a fast, comfortable Italian team-mate.
I think Suzuki comes up with the funds and promise to keep Maverick.
Good lord yes, the euro announcers are way more entertaining, fluid and exciting to listen to. I’m not a fan of Greg White’s announcing.
I’ve made it to all four of the Marquez Circuit of the Americas events. Despite the washsed-out front ends, this one seemed the least exciting. Rossi is such a strong crowd favorite his low-side on the second lap just seemed to deflate the cheap-seat audience. Fortunately, the battle between the two Suzukis offered at least a little bit of racing drama. As for the venue, I think COTA is top notch — great sight-lines, good turns and elevation changes… and I’m less than a five-hour ride away.
Note……DO NOT visit motorcycle daily before you watch the race because the winners picture is always under the headline…Major spoiler every time..
Still amazes me that people gripe about this. It’s a motorcycle site that includes news, and the latest race is in fact news.
Tim – Whitesands’ point is that they don’t need to give away who the winner is by showing a photo of him. You might have the race recorded and want to watch it in the evening, but still desire to visit motorcycledaily to see what other news is brewing. They can easily fix the problem by just showing a photo of racing action that leaves it ambiguous as to who the eventual winner is.
Now, that being said… if you knew that Marquez was on pole for the 4th straight time, and that he had won all three previous races at COTA, then it was pretty apparent who the winner would be the day before the race was even held. 🙁
Uh… I get the point, I just think it’s stupid.
I kind of think you’re running low on neurons to rub together Timc…The owner of the site can do whatever they want…But it is polite to allow the reader to choose whether or not they want to know…..To avoid a spoiler on this site ya just can’t visit it before you watch the race…
Uh, that neuron thing…if you can’t stand the pot, don’t lead the horse to water….
forgive my ignorance, but why is TX the only US venue this season? Why did CA and IN drop out?
re: “forgive my ignorance”
no worries.
Q: why is TX the only US venue this season? Why did CA and IN drop out?
A: it was too much to hope for.
unfortunately, one of the downsides of our passion for motorcycling is it tends to DISCONNECT us from reality. back when everybody was getting happy (doing the pee pee dance) over the idea that America might actually host 3 grandprixs…? I said don’t hold your breath (or your pee) as this was only a temporary condition. the market would inevitably bring “balance to the Force”.
see for all it’s wealth, the US motorcycle market isn’t Spain or Italy. pfft, it’s not even England. forget the missing MotoIQ’s for a sec, there was never going to be the VOLUME of basic fans needed to support the profitable operation of 2 grandprixs, nevermind 3 grandprixs once a proper venue like “Circuito De Estados Unidos” opened up.
so for all the “instant recognition” one of us at MD might possess when WE hear the name Valentino Rossi…? there are 1000 people if you were to mention that same name, will simply think you’re talking about a pair of Italian loafers worn by say, OJ Simpson…?
that’s the difference between the States and the rest of the world.
I hope the “pee pee dance” is different than a rain dance. Well, my personal preference anyway.
Thanks for the reply, however it doesn’t paint a pretty picture for the future. Perhaps Spain is an option, especially given our upcoming presidential election…
I had read that the races weren’t profitable at Laguna and that the track owed Dorna quite a bit of money when Laguna Seca dropped out. I don’t know how profitable the races were at Indy, but I at least know that they weren’t profitable enough for Indy to continue with it. They basically said that MotoGP either needs to generate significantly more interest in the US or that Dorna needs to lower its sanctioning fee. Neither has happened, so no more Indy for now.
I doubt MotoGP is any more profitable in Texas (though attendance looked pretty strong this year to this casual observer, or at least stronger than last year), but the state has a special slush fund that it uses to prop up events that generate a lot of collateral economic benefit to the local area. COTA received $2.5 million this year to help them secure MotoGP. (Side note: they received a whopping $22.7 million for F1.) That kind of backing makes it all but impossible for a non-profit like Laguna Seca to compete and difficult for anyone else as well.
I went to Indy last year and there were a lot of empty seats, but the venue is so large, due to being home of the Indy 500, that the number of MotGP fans in attendance wouldn’t even fill the front straight and areas between turns 1 and 2.
Motorcycle racing in the US is just not very popular.
On a personal note, even though a huge fan of motorcycle racing (43 years watching GP), I’d rather watch it on my home screen and see the replays and close ups and slow mos. Same goes for football, which I’m sort of a fan of. I wouldn’t walk across the street for free attendance to a baseball game, soccer game, tennis match or car racing event.
Man, you’ve been watching MotoGP for longer than I’ve been alive!
The sport has definitely been ruined in this country for a lot of reasons, and I am not hopeful that it will ever rise significantly in popularity again. With respect to MotoGP in particular, I don’t think it is a good future-planning to lack a venue in the Golden State, the US’s definitive motorcycle and motorcycle racing market. Also, unless an American name or two find themselves on a factory machine in the future, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is no US circuit in the not-too-distant future save for some special concession by Dorna that makes it attractive to tracks accustomed to NASCAR or F1 sized crowds and revenue.
I enjoy going to the races. I’ll spring for good seats with a good view of the track and the big screens for the parts of the track I can’t see. If all I did was watch the race, then I’d probably just stay at home and watch it on the tube. But I enjoy the whole event: the ride up there and back, the practice and qualifying sessions, the booths and test rides, the demos, peripheral events and just the general camaraderie of other GP fans. We’re so rare here, it is like going to a a gathering of unicorns.
Excellent post.
Just solidifying your pupdom
Actually I am suprised people your age follow motorcycling racing much at all ( so I gather your going to a gathering of unicorns is fitting)
I actually started following racing in 1965, but not GP back then it was all about Flat tracking and the chase for the Grand National Championship. Then they did it all, flat tracking, one where they went over jumps but the name escapes me now, and road racing. Up until 73 ish Harley always won because they won all the flat tracks, and the jumpy things, but lost the road racing. Then in 73 Roberts started dominating it all and Yamaha was winning the GNC. Harley got po’d and AMA bowed to pressure and shortly afterwards the GNC was done, Harley was back winning the #1 plate in flat tracking, Yamaha and Suzuki were dominating Road Racing, and I chose to keep following the road racing … And Motocross which The Japanese started getting good at in lieu of Huskys, Maicos, Bultacos, and CZ’s of the Euro riders.
Then motocross moved indoors for the most part in the USA and I lost interest in it, and now Roadracing in the USA stinks..so for me, mostly by default MotoGP is it, but I really enjoy it.
Man I miss motorcycle competition from the 70’s.
T T or Steeplechase… That’s what the jumpy things were called. GNC was short track, 1/2 mile, Mile, TT and roadracing.. Riders competed in all 5 events to win the title
The TT/Steeplechase courses in the flat track schedules are great. I love watching the Peoria TT. I admit I don’t care much at all for the circular tracks: watching bikes go around in circles isn’t any more entertaining than watching cars do it (though it is a hoot to get on a bike and do it yourself) as far as I am concerned.
My first exposure to motorcycle racing was MX. I followed it for years but lost interest in it eventually. I’m not even sure why. I didn’t get into GP until much later when I started riding street bikes a lot and going to the track. Even then, it would be several more years before I really got into GP (the two-strokes were already gone by that time.)
Have gone to COTA last 3 years and stayed for a week. This year there was a big hot rod show, the hand built show, the goofy short track downtown, and the half mile along with the race, so only went to the motoGP on Sunday. Austin is a great place and there is much to see. Have only missed 1 race at Indy and it was getting better each year except for the dumbass move of the mile to a different weekend last year. There was plenty of things to do in that area also. Was at Laguna Seca in 1988 and again the year that Nicky won for race day only and that track is great, but it is in the middle of nowhere. The last time stayed up in San Francisco and had a great time, but getting out of the track and back took forever. Would like to know what Dorna charges to bring the circus to town.
The track itself may not produce the most exciting motorcycle racing, but the facility, tertiary events, and Austin as a destination in and of itself are all top notch. They definitely know how to organize around the races.
If you have a few spare days to spare like you did, be sure to bring a motorcycle – any kind. There are some great areas for street, dual sport and off-road riding west of the city.
Another MM / Honda race. Glad I didn’t subscribe to MotoGP.com this year.
If you don’t know what you missed, then ignorance is, in fact, bliss. The camera work was beyond fantastic, especially the different shots of Dani taking out Dovi. The miniaturization of cameras has made it possible to place them all over the bike. The first few laps of JLo trying to get to the front had me screaming at the screen.
Just because you can’t watch exactly who you want to win, or race how you want, doesn’t mean that you should stomp your feet and pout. It’s the spectacle of the event, the personalities of the racers and the technology that’s alluring.
Perhaps you should entertain the idea of NASCAR. I hear it’s the greatest sport known to mankind.
Hot Dog – I appreciate all the things about MotoGP racing that you mention, and I would even say that I’m passionate about the sport, been watching it for 10+ years now (Speed TV / Fox Sports / BeIN.) But let’s face it, some races are exciting to watch, and some are not. This was not a good race, unless you enjoy seeing a lot of riders crashing out due to front tire grip issues, which I do not. There were zero lead changes after the first half lap, nothing exciting going on in Pos 2, 3 or 4, and the finishing gaps of 6 seconds, 5 seconds and 7 seconds sums up the dullness quite well.
Couldn’t agree more.
BTW Hot Dog, I’m not stomping my feet or pouting and don’t care for NASCAR.
I hear that NASCAR will be running all of the races clockwise in 2017.
Now who’s interested??
There will be better races this year for sure. The practices and qualifying were better than the crashfest race yesterday but one dull one is no reason to condemn yourself with cable to see MotoGP when you get so much better coverage with the Videopass. You’re also missing out Moto2 and 3 where there is always some incredible racing plus getting to see who is coming up to the big show in the next few years.
BeIN shows Moto2 and Moto3.
Anybody want to claim yesterday’s Moto3 race was exciting?
My prediction from yesterday sadly came true:
Delmartian says:
April 9, 2016 at 11:58 pm
If Marquez dominates and runs pole to pole, as I expect he will, it’ll be a mighty dull race.
But is it because it’s just Marquez or could it be any other rider who’s been at the front doing likewise? We all like rooting for the underdog but they’re all in it to win. I know not everyone shares my view but racing is racing. If a team provides a rider/bike combo that dominates I don’t hold anything against them. For them, for that race, they’ve done it best! I still like the racing even if someone breaks away and leads the pack.
I am glad to see Maverick Vinales being more successful. Next week he will be on the podium. Go Suzuki!
Suzuki dominated the AMA SBK races at the same track this weekend. Been a while since Yamaha had any competition. Doesn’t bode well for the new R1 since the GSXR is a pretty old design..
One more good thing about this motogp.com subscription is that I can fast-forward right through the soul-destroying suckfest of yet another CotA “race.”
God, I miss Laguna Seca.
Eh, screw it. Think I’ll go grab my guitar, crank up the amp, and piss off the neighbors.
As much as I like having a MotoGP event in my backyard, COTA just doesn’t make for exciting motorcycle racing. I’d love to see it go back to Laguna Seca.
re: “I’d love to see it go back to Laguna Seca”
16th and Georgetown, Middle ‘Murica.
Well, I guess the 2014 COTA race was exciting for the first five or six laps until everyone settled into their parade positions.
No tongue photo?
wait for it… wait for it…
Where’s MyBalogna to call MD out on its shameless Honda kind-of-rhymes-with-“Horatio” fest??
Well, you have to admit, they led this article with a picture of Marquez. What else could it possibly be, but blatant Honda favoritism?! Open your eyes, man!
Must say Dani Pedrosa was a class act after taking out Dovi. Checking on him on the track rather than running to his bike and then apologising to him and the entire Ducati garage after the race. No wonder I like the guy.
Not much drama in today’s race other than the crashes. Marquez was masterful once again. Lorenzo must have been thinking, now where did that 93 go all of a sudden? Lol. The Suzukis ran well, and young Maverick came from behind to beat his team mate. Rare to see Rossi in the kitty litter, and Crutchlow almost got a real suprise.
re: “Checking on him on the track rather than running to his bike and then apologising to him and the entire Ducati garage after the race.”
best move of the race.
re: “Not much drama in today’s race other than the crashes”
a total of 6 front end tucks was it (+/-)…? Jay’s bit, Ross is now bit, next up on the “crash is right”…? Marcus.
Pedrosa is a class act. And I actually saw several people sporting “Dani” merchandise at the track today! He earns it through sportsmanship and a complete lack of BS if not through championships.
Mickey, I gotta agree about Pedrosa. That little guy looked about 9 feet tall walking into that Ducati garage to apologize to the rider and the team (and don’t think the Italians could have been MIGHTY aggravated, understandably), one of the classiest things I’ve seen in a long time. Admired the hell out of that.
out of curiosity, what is the status of Pedrosa’s contract with Honda?
Pedrosa’s contract is up at the end of this year. If he has since extended it, I haven’t yet heard.
Honda likes and has faith in Pedrosa. He has been loyal, he has racked up a lot of podiums (3rd all time I think) and he has helped Marquez win championships by keeping a lot of points out of Yamaha riders hands. I’m sure it’s a personal disappointment and one for Honda as well that he has never won the premier class Championship that he has really deserved to go along with his 125 and (2) 250 World Championships. Doesn’t look like it’s ever going to happen though. The last 2 years have been rough on Dani and not enough podium trips could spell the end for him. I suspect Honda will give him another year, this year, and then if he is not in the top 3 at the end of the year, fail to renew his contract for 2017.
6 secs… is like having a race to dispute the second place… and you know 2nd place is the first looser bwahahaha.
The “Selfie photo” on gp site has JL in “kiss fan” mode… I’m smelling the conspiracy…
Go Suzuki!!
Conspiracy – Totally, it’s just like in that Lard song “Can God Fill Teeth?”.