Marquez wins MotoGP race in Texas

Spain’s Marc Marquez is still on top in America. Italy’s Valentino Rossi is back on top in MotoGP.

Now the series heads to Europe for the next 11 races in a world championship that has suddenly been cracked wide open.

Marquez’s title hopes got a major boost when he guided his Repsol Honda to his fifth consecutive victory at the Grand Prix of the Americas, a race that saw him duel teammate Dani Pedrosa for six laps at the Circuit of the Americas before pulling away for another easy Texas win.

His 30th career win erased the pain of crashing out in Argentina two weeks ago and catapulted Marquez from eighth to third in the season standings as he chases a fourth career MotoGP championship.

“We needed this,” Marquez said. “It was an important weekend. I felt pressure … (Now) we can fight for the championship.”

Marquez will be chasing the Movistar Yamaha duo of Rossi and Maverick Vinales.

Vinales was the season leader after the first two races, but he crashed out early in Texas, leaving room for 38-year-old Rossi to vault to the top with a second-place finish.

Rossi leads with 56 points and three podium finishes but no wins yet this season. Vinales is second with 50 points, while Marquez is on 38.

“I’m very happy we’re at the top. It’s a big surprise,” seven-time world champion Rossi said.

“To stay at the top with Vinales and Marquez … We will enjoy the moment.”

Marquez had been on pole for the fifth year in a row in Austin but lost out at the start to Honda teammate and fellow-Spaniard Pedrosa, who made a great getaway from the second row of the grid.

With Vinales gone, his bike sliding from under him at turn 18, the two Honda riders battled each other for the lead until Marquez made a move stick on the ninth of 21 laps and began pulling away.

Rossi was handed a 0.3 second penalty for gaining an advantage by cutting the track on lap seven but made sure that was of no consequence by passing Pedrosa for second place on lap 19 and finishing more than two seconds clear.

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