Marquez pots the #8ball with incredible last corner win in Thailand

Marc Marquez was crowned the 2019 MotoGP World Champion in the only way he knows how: with a thrilling race win delivered at the final corner.

A full house at the Buriram Circuit were treated to an edge of their seats MotoGP race as they witnessed Marc Marquez crowned World Champion for the eighth time. From the front of the grid, Marquez charged forward and immediately began to chase pole setter Fabio Quartararo. With his only title rival, Andrea Dovizioso, a distant fourth Marquez was able to focus solely on the race win.

After trading fastest laps, the pair settled into their rhythm and Marquez waited for his moment to attack. The final laps were explosive as the 2019 MotoGP World Champion launched an all out assault on the young French rider, moving ahead as the last lap began. But it would go down to the final corner, Marquez expertly defending from Quartararo in the last corner to take the 2019 MotoGP World Championship in style.

With 325 points, nine wins, 14 podiums, nine poles and 10 fastest laps – Marc Marquez becomes the MotoGP World Champion alongside the Repsol Honda Team for the sixth time and takes the eighth World Championship of his career. The victory is also Honda’s 150th in the MotoGP class – an achievement no other manufacturer has been able to match.

Jorge Lorenzo suffered a difficult race, unable to improve his feeling in the hotter conditions. Ultimately crossing the line in 18th, Lorenzo is looking ahead to the next race in Japan where he hopes to improve his current feeling and results.

Marquez equals Agostini with sensational second in Silverstone

Continuing his run of two top finishes, Marquez took important steps towards his ultimate goal as a determined Lorenzo finished in the points on his return from injury.

The British summer continued in full force on Sunday as round 12 of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship at the Silverstone circuit enjoyed 31°C ambient temperatures. With circuit temperature at 44°C when the lights went out, it was set to be another demanding premier class race.

From the 88th pole position of his Grand Prix career, MotoGP World Championship leader Marc Marquez made a perfect start aboard his Repsol Honda Team RC213V and avoided the incident behind. With championship rival Andrea Dovizioso and potential podium contender Fabio Quartararo out of the race, Marquez was joined by Alex Rins at the front as the duo swapped fastest laps for most of the race.

The pair played a game of cat and mouse until the final lap, Marquez having led the entire race and setting a new race lap record of 1’59.936. A front-end moment in the last corner caused the World Championship leader to close the throttle and as a result was forced to settle for second place, missing the win by just 0.013s. Continuing his run of top two finishes in 2019, Marquez leaves Silverstone with a dominating 78 point lead in the MotoGP World Championship with seven races left.

Taking the 88th podium of his premier class career, Marquez draws level on premier class podiums with the great Giacomo Agostini. The result moves Honda to 45 points clear of Ducati in the Constructor Championship and brings the Repsol Honda Team to within 36 points of the Ducati Team in the Team Championship.

Knowing his physical condition, Jorge Lorenzo entered Sunday’s British Grand Prix with the simple aim of finishing the race to further understand his fitness level. The five-time World Champion’s determination was rewarded with a pair of points in 14th place as he profited from a consistent approach and the mistakes of others ahead.

Six-time World Champion Jim Redman, winner of Honda’s first premier class race in 1966 on the Honda RC181, was also in attendance and enjoyed talking racing with Marquez and Lorenzo.

Now the Repsol Honda Team will travel to the Misano Circuit for a two-day test. Racing resumes at the San Marino GP, September 13-15, at the same circuit.

Marquez fights fiercely for Italian GP second, Lorenzo grabs more points

Just 0.043s separated Marc Marquez from victory at an explosive Italian GP as his Repsol Honda Team teammate Jorge Lorenzo collected more world championship points.

The hottest conditions of the weekend, the track at almost 50°C, awaited the MotoGP World Championship as they 23-rider field lined up for the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley. From a record-breaking pole position, Marc Marquez made a perfect launch to lead from fellow Honda rider Cal Crutchlow.

A race-long battle for victory saw Marquez fending off Petrucci, Dovizioso and Rins for the majority of the race. In true Mugello style it all came down to the final lap of the race, the reigning world champion saving himself for a late attack. A small mistake at San Donato opened a gap to Petrucci that was fractionally too big to close, Marquez taking second by 0.043s as they roared across the line.

With a haul of 20 points, Marquez extends his championship lead to 12 points over Dovizioso. Honda have a six point advantage over Ducati in the Constructor Championship.

A strong launch off the line saw Jorge Lorenzo move into 15th on the opening lap and with some clear space on track. Able to lap consistently, Lorenzo was able to avoid trouble and steadily gained positions during the course of the race. Crossing the line in 13th, Lorenzo picks up more valuable championship points and experience on the RC213V.

LCR Honda Rider Takaaki Nakagami achieved his best finish to date on the Honda RC213V, crossing the line in fifth and as the first Independent Team rider.

The MotoGP World Championship now enjoys a week off before the Catalan GP, the home race of both Jorge Lorenzo and championship leader Marc Marquez. There’s not long to wait until the lights go out on the Catalan GP on Sunday, June 16.

Dominant Marquez takes Honda’s 300th premier class win in France

Marc Marquez took his third win of the 2019 season with another dominating performance as teammate Jorge Lorenzo took his best finish of the season with 11th.

Cold conditions from morning Warm Up carried through until the start of the French Grand Prix at 14:00 local time, a track temperature of just 18°C made for treacherous opening laps.

Marc Marquez was able to keep clear of trouble to open a small advantage, Jack Miller the only rider able to stay with him. Miller was briefly able to get past, but the Repsol Honda Team rider responded to the challenge on lap six and retook the lead. Steadily building his lead lap-by-lap, Marquez crossed the line 1.9 seconds clear of Dovizioso, claiming Honda’s 300th win in the premier class.

The win is also Marquez’s 47th in the premier class, drawing equal with Jorge Lorenzo in third on the all time premier class wins list. Marquez now extends his lead in the  to eight points, Honda maintaining a healthy advantage in the Constructor Championship.

With his best start of the year, Jorge Lorenzo was able to immediately insert himself into the group battling for the top ten. Able to attack multiple times, Lorenzo found himself as high as seventh. Ultimately crossing the line in 11th, Lorenzo takes his best finish of the season as he continues his adaption to the Honda.

The MotoGP World Championship now prepares to head to the iconic Mugello circuit for the Italian Grand Prix, May 31 – June 02.

Dominant Marquez takes first win of 2019 in Argentina

A 9.8 second victory for the untouchable Marc Marquez in Argentina as Jorge Lorenzo gains more points and crucial bike time.

 

Overnight rain in Termas de Rio Hondo on Saturday didn’t deter the MotoGP field during morning Warm Up, both Repsol Honda Team riders running consistently in the top ten. Marc Marquez again finished on top, Jorge Lorenzo within a second and in 11th after the 20-minute session.

Forecasts were all proven wrong as the 25-lap Argentina Grand Prix ran without even a single drop of rain and instead the grid was met with ever-climbing track temperatures. A lightning start saw Marc Marquez convert his pole position into a one second lead after just a single lap, the reigning champion never once looking back. Lap after lap his advantage grew, Marquez over 12 seconds clear before the end of the race. Crossing the line 9.816 seconds ahead of second placed Valentino Rossi, Marquez claimed his first win of the season and his third win at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in untouchable style.

The victory was accompanied by Marquez’s biggest winning margin in a dry MotoGP race, his previous best coming at the 2016 Argentina GP (a gap of 7.679s) and is his 45th win in the premier class. Marquez leaves Argentina with 45 points and the championship lead.

Unfortunatley Jorge Lorenzo’s race got off to a difficult start as he dropped down to 21st from 12th after trouble getting off the line. However, consistent pace saw Lorenzo quickly return to points scoring positions and run at a pace similar to those fighting towards the front. Crossing the line in 12th, Lorenzo collects not only more points but also more race time on the Honda.

Honda now moves to the top of the Constructor’s Championship as a result of the victory.

The MotoGP World Championship prepares to travel to Austin, Texas for round three of the 2019 championship at the Red Bull Gran Prix of The Americas, April 12 -14. Marquez has won all six races at the circuit while Jorge Lorenzo has taken a pair of podiums previously.

Sun 10th March: Marquez fights for second in 22-lap Qatar thriller, Lorenzo scores on debut

Marquez lit up the Qatar night with second place after a race-long brawl as Lorenzo worked his way up to 13th place.

With Warm Up held in the late afternoon and still under the daylight, it only offered the Repsol Honda Team a brief chance to confirm their settings ahead of 2019’s opening Grand Prix. As the sun set and the floodlights flickered to life the ambient temperature settled at 18ºC with the track at 19ºC.

Marc Marquez held his own in the opening laps, keeping out of trouble and moving ahead of the chasing pack with Andrea Dovizioso. The reigning World Champion was soon joined in his hunt for victory, a frantic melee between the leading seven riders playing out over the next 20 laps. Just 0.023s split Marquez from Andrea Dovizioso as they crossed the line, Marquez opening his 2019 account with 20 points.

After yesterdays pair of heavy falls, Jorge Lorenzo’s Repsol Honda Team debut was heavily restricted by lingering pain in his back and shoulder. Focusing on his own rhythm and understanding the Honda over race distance, Lorenzo battled to 13th to earn three points on his debut.

LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow completed the podium in third.

The MotoGP™ World Championship now prepares for Round Two at the Argentina Grand Prix, March 29 – 31 hosted at the Termas de Rio Hondo Circuit.