Sunday, March 23, 2014

Repsol Honda's Marquez Takes Win, Pedrosa 3rd in MotoGP Qatar Season-Opener














































Press Release www.repsolhondateam.com

Grand Prix of Qatar

Round 1 - Sunday, March 23rd 2014

  Qatar - Race Report

Weather conditions
Clear Night 20°C
Air temp
18°C
Track temp
60%
Humidity
Double Repsol Honda Podium in Qatar as Marquez takes victory with Pedrosa in 3rd

Double Repsol Honda Podium in Qatar as Marquez takes victory with Pedrosa in 3rd

2013 World Champion, Marc Marquez, has started the defence of his title in the perfect way; with a victory in the first race of the season. His teammate, Dani Pedrosa, completed a double podium for the Repsol Honda team with his 3rd place finish.
It was a dramatic race with pole sitter Marc – the only rider to use the hard rear option tyre today – slipping back to 4th by the first turn and Dani, who started in 6th, dropping a spot to 7th. However, Marc started to settle in and made up a position before Jorge Lorenzo made an uncharacteristic mistake and crashed out, thus promoting the Repsol Honda duo a position each. Marc battled with Gresini Honda rider, Alvaro Bautista, for a few laps before passing him but then lost a position to Valentino Rossi. The two riders then began to chase down race leader, LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl.
Dani also began to make progress and when race leader Bradl crashed out on lap nine, both riders were once again promoted a position, into 2nd and 4th respectively. The following lap, Dani passed Bradley Smith to take 3rd and then went after Marc and race leader Valentino Rossi. With some fantastic close racing, Marc finally made a move on Rossi on lap fourteen and led the race for the first time. Dani was still in a battle for 3rd with Bautista, with the two of them trading positions. Then on lap twenty-one – the penultimate lap – Marc and Rossi began to push for the win, passing each other on four occasions, Marc finally came out on top to take the victory and his first win since Aragon last year. With Bautista crashing out, the battle was over for Dani who celebrated third, taking the final spot on the podium.
This first victory of the season marks Honda’s 250th in MotoGP, making them the first manufacturer to reach the milestone of 250 wins in the premier class of Grand Prix racing.
Team Quotes
Marc Marquez profile image
Marc Marquez
1st - Championship Standing: 1st - 25 points
"I'm very happy with the result today. The 25 points are important but it’s also been an important race, because I was coming back from an injury that caused me to miss most of the pre-season. Also, this weekend there were a lot of riders up at the front, all with a great pace, and seeing how the race went, this win is a big one. The battle with Valentino was the best part of the race besides the win, I really enjoyed it!”
Dani Pedrosa profile image
Dani Pedrosa
3rd - Championship Standing: 3rd - 16 points
"Third place is a positive result. We've finished on the podium this weekend at a circuit that’s difficult for me, because it isn't well suited to my style. So it's a good way to start. We were close, but with the way the race went - with so many crashes - it was important to finish. So from here on in we will try to keep improving and try to fight for the win at the next race!”

race results

  Grand Prix of Qatar - Round 1
Pos.RiderNum.NationPointsTeamConstructorTime/Gap
1Marc Marquez93ESP25Repsol Honda TeamHONDA42'40.561
2Valentino Rossi46ITA20Yamaha FactoryYAMAHA+0.259
3Dani Pedrosa26ESP16Repsol Honda TeamHONDA+3.370
4Aleix Espargaro41ESP13NGM Mobile Forward RacingYAMAHA+11.623
5Andrea Dovizioso4ITA11Ducati TeamDUCATI+12.159
6Cal Crutchlow35GBR10Ducati TeamDUCATI+28.526
7Scott Redding45GBR9Go & Fun Honda GresiniHONDA+32.593
8Nicky Hayden69USA8Drive M7 AsparHONDA+32.628
9Colin Edwards5USA7NGM Mobile Forward RacingYAMAHA+39.547
10Andrea Iannone29ITA6Pramac RacingDUCATI+43.360
11Hiroshi Aoyama7JPN5Drive M7 AsparHONDA+46.595
12Yonny Hernandez68COL4Pramac RacingDUCATI+46.688
13Karel Abraham17CZE3Cardion AB MotoracingHONDA+50.581
14Danilo Petrucci9ITA2IodaRacing ProjectIODA-SUTER+1'03.127
15Broc Parkes23AUS1Paul Bird MotorsportPBM+1'14.386
16Michael Laverty70GBR Paul Bird MotorsportART & PBM+1'32.593
17Mike Di Meglio63FRA Avintia Racing MotoGPFTR-KAWASAKI+1'36.085
18Alvaro Bautista19ESP Go & Fun Honda GresiniHONDADNF
19Bradley Smith38GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3YAMAHADNF
20Pol Espargaro44ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3YAMAHADNF
21Stefan Bradl6GER LCR Honda MotoGPHONDADNF
22Hector Barbera8ESP Avintia Racing MotoGPFTR-KAWASAKIDNF
23Jorge Lorenzo99ESP Yamaha Factory RacingYAMAHADNF

Rider standings

Sunday, March 23rd 2014
Pos.RiderNum.NationPointsTeamConstructor
1Marc Marquez93ESP25Repsol Honda TeamHONDA
2Valentino Rossi46ITA20Yamaha FactoryYAMAHA
3Dani Pedrosa26ESP16Repsol Honda TeamHONDA
4Aleix Espargaro41ESP13NGM Mobile Forward RacingYAMAHA
5Andrea Dovizioso4ITA11Ducati TeamDUCATI
6Cal Crutchlow35GBR10Ducati TeamDUCATI
7Scott Redding45GBR9Go & Fun Honda GresiniHONDA
8Nicky Hayden69USA8Drive M7 AsparHONDA
9Colin Edwards5USA7NGM Mobile Forward RacingYAMAHA
10Andrea Iannone29ITA6Pramac RacingDUCATI
11Hiroshi Aoyama7JPN5Drive M7 AsparHONDA
12Yonny Hernandez68COL4Pramac RacingDUCATI
13Karel Abraham17CZE3Cardion AB MotoracingHONDA
14Danilo Petrucci9ITA2IodaRacing ProjectIODA-SUTER
15Broc Parkes23AUS1Paul Bird MotorsportPBM
16Jorge Lorenzo99ESP0Yamaha Factory RacingYAMAHA
17Alvaro Bautista19ESP0Go & Fun Honda GresiniHONDA
18Bradley Smith38GBR0Monster Yamaha Tech 3YAMAHA
19Michael Laverty70GBR0Paul Bird MotorsportART & PBM
20Pol Espargaro44ESP0Monster Yamaha Tech 3YAMAHA
21Hector Barbera8ESP0Avintia Racing MotoGPFTR-KAWASAKI
22Stefan Bradl6GER0LCR Honda MotoGPHONDA
23Mike Di Meglio63FRA0Avintia Racing MotoGPFTR-KAWASAKI

Copyright Free Images

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Circuit Information

View circuit page at www.repsolhondateam.com
Length5.380 m / 3.343 miles
Width12m
Left corners6
Right corners10
Longest straight1.068 m / 0.664 miles
Constructed2004
Modified
  
Losail International Circuit
Al Wusail,North Relief Road
Doha, Qatar

T: +974 4472 9151
F: +974 4472 9246
 
www.circuitlosail.com
 
Pole Position1m 53.927s (170.003km/h) Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha, 2008)
Race Lap1m 55.153s (168.193km/h) Casey Stoner (Ducati, 2008)
Race Time42m 36.587s (166.665km/h) Casey Stoner (Ducati, 2008)
2012 WinnerJorge Lorenzo (Yamaha)
2013 WinnerJorge Lorenzo (Yamaha)
If you have any questions please email press@hondaracing.co.jp
  Honda Racing Corporation
3-15-1, Senzui, Asaka-shi, Saitama-Pref., 351-0024 Japan
 

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