Marquez takes dominating home victory in Barcelona

Marc Marquez celebrated a dominating home victory at the Catalan GP while an apologetic Jorge Lorenzo had his strongest start to a race this season before falling.

The hottest conditions of the weekend met the MotoGP World Championship on Sunday as the 24-rider strong field lined up on the grid. 51 degree Celsius track temperature caused Marc Marquez little issue as he relished an early fight as the lights went out.

Consistently lapping in the mid to low 140s during the early stages of the race, Marquez maintained his advantage to cross the line 2.660s clear of second place. This is the reigning MotoGP World Champion's second premier class-win in Barcelona and his fourth of the 2019 season.

The victory is Marquez's 48th in the premier class and helps to extend his championship lead to 37 points over Dovizioso who was involved in the accident with Lorenzo. Honda hold a 15-point advantage over Ducati in the Constructor championship.

Lorenzo had his best start to a Grand Prix as a Repsol Honda Team rider, jumping from tenth up to the fourth place by just the second corner. Looking comfortable at the front, Lorenzo quickly closed in on the leading trio. Unfortunately Lorenzo suffered a fall at Turn 10 soon after, ending his race while fighting for the podium and sadly unable to avoid contact with other riders. The opening laps demonstrated Jorge Lorenzo's ever-improving feeling on the RC213V.

The Repsol Honda Team now prepares for a day of testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya where both Marquez and Lorenzo will run through a number of solutions for the future. Racing action resumes in Assen between June 28 and 30.

--IANS

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