Joy and agony for Marquez brothers at Dutch MotoGP
Marc Marquez extended his lead i n t h e wo r l d championship standings winning the Dutch MotoGP yesterday in a race where his closest pursuer and younger brother Alex Marquez suffered a left hand fracture.
Marc Marquez, 32, came home on his Ducati ahead of two Italians, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) with the winner's team-mate Francesco Bagnaia third.
Marc Marquez's victory -- at the circuit known as the 'Cathedral of Speed' celebrating its 100th anniversary -- brought him level with legend Giacomo Agostini on 68 elite wins, still 21 adrift of Valentino Rossi.
Agostini, 83, was present to watch another Marquez masterclass on a weekend that over 200,000 spectators piled through the turnstiles.
Marquez -- who was completing his sixth double of the campaign in winning the Sprint and the MotoGP race proper -- leads Alex by 68 points with Bagnaia 126 adrift after 10 of the 22 race season.
Marquez, who was recording just his third Dutch MotoGP win, had had a bumpy ride on Friday with two heavy crashes which resulted in bruising and having stitches on his chin.
'I am sorry for Alex, my father says he injured a finger, but racing is like this,' said Marquez.
'Of course I am super happy with the job the team did on Friday (after the crashes) and all weekend, amazing weekend.
'Assen is not one of my best tracks.'
Bagnaia got a superb start shooting straight past pole sitter Fabio Quartararo, the Frenchman's hopes of delivering Yamaha a victory on their 70th anniversary receding rapidly as he dropped down the field.
At least he remained in the race, Japan's Ai Ogura's participation ended on the first lap as he was taken out by Miguel Oliveira.
Marc Marquez moved into second on the second lap with British MotoGP winner Bezzecchi gliding into third.
Marquez passed his teammate on the fifth lap but a lap later his sibling Alex Marquez caught a cropper as tussling with Pedro Acosta he came to grief.
Alex Marquez jumped back to his feet but was gingerly holding his wrist as he was biked back to the pitlane and was taken to the medical centre for a check-up.
An attritional race claimed two more riders as Joan Mir and Fermin Aldeguer suffered heavy crashes -- both consoling each other.
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Daily Tribune
2 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Joy and agony for Marquez brothers at Dutch MotoGP
AFP | Assen Marc Marquez extended his lead i n t h e wo r l d championship standings winning the Dutch MotoGP yesterday in a race where his closest pursuer and younger brother Alex Marquez suffered a left hand fracture. Marc Marquez, 32, came home on his Ducati ahead of two Italians, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) with the winner's team-mate Francesco Bagnaia third. Marc Marquez's victory -- at the circuit known as the 'Cathedral of Speed' celebrating its 100th anniversary -- brought him level with legend Giacomo Agostini on 68 elite wins, still 21 adrift of Valentino Rossi. Agostini, 83, was present to watch another Marquez masterclass on a weekend that over 200,000 spectators piled through the turnstiles. Marquez -- who was completing his sixth double of the campaign in winning the Sprint and the MotoGP race proper -- leads Alex by 68 points with Bagnaia 126 adrift after 10 of the 22 race season. Marquez, who was recording just his third Dutch MotoGP win, had had a bumpy ride on Friday with two heavy crashes which resulted in bruising and having stitches on his chin. 'I am sorry for Alex, my father says he injured a finger, but racing is like this,' said Marquez. 'Of course I am super happy with the job the team did on Friday (after the crashes) and all weekend, amazing weekend. 'Assen is not one of my best tracks.' Bagnaia got a superb start shooting straight past pole sitter Fabio Quartararo, the Frenchman's hopes of delivering Yamaha a victory on their 70th anniversary receding rapidly as he dropped down the field. At least he remained in the race, Japan's Ai Ogura's participation ended on the first lap as he was taken out by Miguel Oliveira. Marc Marquez moved into second on the second lap with British MotoGP winner Bezzecchi gliding into third. Marquez passed his teammate on the fifth lap but a lap later his sibling Alex Marquez caught a cropper as tussling with Pedro Acosta he came to grief. Alex Marquez jumped back to his feet but was gingerly holding his wrist as he was biked back to the pitlane and was taken to the medical centre for a check-up. An attritional race claimed two more riders as Joan Mir and Fermin Aldeguer suffered heavy crashes -- both consoling each other.
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