Marquez wins French Moto GP for Honda landmark
Marc Marquez's win set up a double celebration for the family as his younger brother Alex Marquez won the Moto2 earlier in the day.
Published : May 19, 2019 19:35 IST
Spain's defending world champion Marc Marquez of Honda won the French Moto GP at Le Mans on Sunday ahead of Italian pair Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci of Ducati.
Starting from pole, Marquez won by almost 2sec from Dovizioso. It was Marquez's 47th top level GP win and his third of the season, but for Honda this was a 300th top level Moto GP victory.
Jim Redman won its first one back in 1966, and no other manufacturer has achieved top step of the podium on so many occasions.
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Marquez now leads the championship with 95pts, eight more than Dovizioso in second and 20 ahead Alex Rins of Suzuki, who could only manage 10th Sunday, while Italian veteran Valentino Rossi of Yamaha is fourth on 72 points.
“It's always difficult at Le Mans,” Marquez said of the winding Bugatti circuit.
One rider who might agree with him is Spain's Maverick Vinales, who ended up sliding out after a tangle with Francesco Bagnaia.
Double celebration for Marquez family
Marc's win set up a double celebration for the family as his younger brother Alex Marquez won the Moto2 Grand Prix at the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans earlier in the day for his first victory since 2017.
The Kalex rider won ahead of two compatriots, Jorge Navarro and Augusto Fernandez, while championship leader Lorenzo Baldassarri of Italy crashed out.
“It's been a while so I'm happy,” Marquez said after the race. “It's good for the championship too,” said Marquez, who stands fourth with 61 points behind leader Baldassarri on 75.
Earlier, John McPhee of Honda won the Moto3 Grand Prix ahead of teammate Lorenzo Dalla Porta and championship leader Aron Canet of KTM.