Marquez grabs podium in Catalunya, Pedrosa finishes fifth

Four-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez grabbed a second-place finish in the Catalunya Grand Prix in Spain, which enabled him to extend his championship lead to 27 points over runner-up Valentino Rossi.

With a great start, Marc got into and through the first turn ahead of Jorge Lorenzo, who passed him on the following lap.

Marc, outside of two non-point-scoring finishes, has so far never finished worse than second this season, and stuck to the countryman for the first 9 laps of the race, looking for a chance to fight for the win.

After realising that it was too risky maintaining Lorenzo's pace, he settled for the 20 points and a second-place position.

After a good start from the fourth row, Dani Pedrosa was able to maintain a decent pace despite struggling with a lack of grip, defending the fifth position over Maverick Vinales on the final lap.

Marc said, "It was a race where we had to manage as best as possible and I tried to be smart. Of course in the first laps I pushed hard because it was important to follow Jorge and to open a gap on the chasers.