MISANO ADRIATICO: Honda’s Marc Marquez took another significant stride towards a sixth MotoGP title by seizing victory in a last-lap duel at the San Marino Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Spaniard moved 93 points clear at the top of the standings with six races remaining after denying French Petronas Yamaha rookie Fabio Quartararo, who had the lead for most of the race, a first top-flight victory at Misano’s Marco Simoncelli circuit. Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales finished third.

“At the end I just decided to go for it,” said Marquez, who had been pipped at the line at the last two races in Silverstone and the Dutch GP.

Marquez’s closest championship rival Andrea Dovizioso, on a Ducati, was only sixth. Marquez now has 275 points to the Italian’s 182.

Marquez won the 77th Grand Prix of his career in all categories to overtake British legend Mike ‘the bike’ Hailwood. The 26-year-old has won 51 MotoGP races, 16 Moto2 and ten Moto3.

“It was a very tough race,” said Quartararo, 20. “It was the first time that I battled like that with Marquez.”

Marquez has won five times in Misano and twice before in the MotoGP category in 2015 and 2017. He matches Italian star Valentino Rossi’s record of three wins at the San Marino MotoGP.

Former seven-time world champion Rossi — who last won in Misano in 2014 — finished fourth in his home race.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2019