Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) took an impervious victory in his home Gran Premio Red Bull de Espana. He pulled away from his first pole position since Sepang 2015 and never looking back. The MotoGP race in Jerez was race number 3000 in the World Championship.
Reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) made inroads in the points battle in second. He was ahead of a stunning home ride from another five-time World Champion – Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team), sharing the podium with Pedrosa to keep the parity at 146 rostrum finishes apiece for the former nemeses.
Pedrosa got the holeshot from a great start off pole position. With Marquez slotting in behind ahead of an almighty tousle for third. LCR Honda rider Crutchlow was initially ahead of that battle. With Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) warring Championship leader Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) once again until the flying Frenchman set off on a charge.
Arriving behind reigning Champion Marquez into third, the rookie held station for a lap. As Lorenzo fought back in a tight midfield. He get past Rossi and then Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP). Zarco then took Marquez at the final corner, heading off after Pedrosa in the lead until the champion hit back.
Drama struck further back as Jack Miller (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) and Alvaro Bautista (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) collided and slid out, before Cal Crutchlow then lowsided into the gravel at Criville – followed shortly by the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine of Pol Espargaro. After a short tousle with Maverick Viñales, Andrea Iannone (Suzuki Ecstar) also tumbled out with 17 laps to go.
The gap fluctuated at the front but Marquez was unable to make any real impression on Pedrosa’s lead. The three-time World Champion pulling the pin in the final laps to cross the line in clear air for another stunning win.
Lorenzo had an incredible race on home soil for a first podium with Ducati. He moved past Zarco after a positive weekend all round and pulling away to jubilation for the ‘Spartan’ as he pulled into parc ferme.
Zarco took 4th in another scintillating performance for the reigning Moto2™ World Champion. He was ahead of an impressive fight back for Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) to get past Vinales after a mistake.
Danilo Petrucci stormed back through from P13 on the grid to follow Viñales over the line. Jonas Folger (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) solid once again in the top ten to take eighth.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was another who moved through the field. He passed Championship leader Valentino Rossi for ninth.
The Doctor found his pace in freefall in the latter laps of the race. He struggled with tyre life in the hot temperatures to complete the top ten.
Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Racing) had a much improved race in 2017 to take P11. He was ahead of Hector Barbera and teammate Loris Baz (Reale Avintia Racing).
Bradley Smith took more points for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in P14 after an awesome show for the Austrian factory in Jerez, with Karel Abraham (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) locking out the top 15.
After Pedrosa’s domination on home turf, the Championship is on in Le Mans with Rossi 2 points clear of Viñales. Marquez is just behind and Pedrosa now 4thin the standings – 10 points back.
