Marquez grabs MotoGP championship lead after Indonesia sprint chaos / Photo: SONNY TUMBELAKA - AFP
Marquez grabs MotoGP championship lead after Indonesia sprint chaos
Spain's Marc Marquez seized the lead from compatriot Jorge Martin in the MotoGP world championship following victory in a thrilling and chaotic sprint race in Indonesia on Saturday.
Ducati's reigning seven-time world champion took the chequered flag in a dramatic 13-lap sprint to go four points clear of his fellow Spaniard in the standings.
Martin, who had led the race on his Aprilia at the halfway point, finished fourth in blistering hot and dry conditions at the Mandalika International Circuit.
Japan's Ai Ogura (Aprilia-Trackhouse) and Italy's Fabio Di Giannantonio (Ducati-VR46) were second and third.
"I feel better and better," said Marquez, who now has 343 points to Martin's 339 and hit the front for the first time this year.
"I tried to manage the race, I tried to manage the gap between me and Ai Ogura, and this was a very important win."
There are just five race weekends after this.
There was mayhem at the start as Spain's debutant pole-sitter Raul Fernandez and Marco Bezzecchi of Italy collided and crashed out on the first corner.
Martin took full advantage to seize the lead, with championship rival Marquez second, both having started from the second row.
With his compatriot breathing down his neck, Martin held his nerve to streak 1.5 seconds ahead at the halfway stage.
But the former world champion, having been cruising, then abruptly slowed up and surrendered the lead to Marquez, possibly because of tyre pressure issues.
That gifted the lead to Marquez, who romped home for his first win in Indonesia. The grand prix is on Sunday.
X.Maes--JdB
