MotoGP 2017: Marquez Wins Aragon GP, Consolidates Lead For World Title

Repsol Honda rider Marc Marquez took a fantastic win at the Aragon Grand Prix, consolidating his lead for the world MotoGP championship. However, he wasn't the only Spaniard to make it to the podium. Honda Teammate Dani Pedrosa finished second, while Ducati's Jorge Lorenzo finished third, while starting second on the grid. Making a remarkable comeback to Aragon, Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi finished fifth, behind teammate Maverick Vinales. Having won the Aragon GP, Marquez has now extended his lead for the title by 16 points ahead of Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso.

Also Read: MotoGP 2017: Rossi To Start Third At Aragon GP As Vinales Takes Pole

After a crash in qualifying pushed him to fifth, Marquez's chances of winning the Aragon GP seemed to have trimmed down. However, the reigning world champion benefitted from pole sitter Vinales' slow start, which catapulted Lorenzo into the lead followed by Rossi and Dovizioso. However, Marquez showed pace right from the start and managed to pass Dovizioso by Lap 6.

(Marquez showed pace right from the start and managed to pass Dovizioso by Lap 6.

As Marquez made his way to pass Rossi, the latter ran wide on Turn 12 and the Honda rider too suffered as a result. Dovizioso passed Marquez once again, but not before the Spaniard recovered to P2 and now charged for the lead behind Lorenzo.

Lap 16 of the 23 lap race turned out to be the game changer as Marquez passed Lorenzo and took his fifth victory for the season with a lead of 0.879 seconds.

(Lap 16 turned out to be the game changer as Marquez passed Lorenzo and took his fifth victory for the season)

Also Read: MotoGP 2017: Valentino Rossi Passes Medical Test To Make Aragon GP

With the top five spots dominated by Honda, Ducati and Yamaha, Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro finished sixth ahead of Aspar Ducati's Alvaro Bautista. Tech 3 Yamaha's Johann Zarco finished, this time on the bike. The tenth spot was taken by KTM's Pol Espargaro.

(MotoGP will now return in Motegi after three weeks (13-15 October))

With respect to crashes, the LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow ran wide on Lap 11 and crashed out of P10 on Lap 17. The only other crash was that of Karel Abraham of Aspar Ducati.

MotoGP will now return in Motegi after three weeks (13-15 October).