ALCAÑIZ: Defending champion Marc Marquez dominated the Aragon Grand Prix to continue his march toward a sixth MotoGP world title on Sunday.

The Spaniard, who has 300 points with the victory, can clinch the title at the upcoming Thailand GP after extending his lead to 98 points. Andrea Dovizioso is his nearest chaser with 202 points.

Marquez had no problem protecting his pole position start from the grid and sped away from the pack on his Honda for his fourth consecutive win at the Motorland Aragon circuit.

It was his 52nd career MotoGP win and his 200th race in all categories since his debut in Moto3 in 2008.

“I was really convinced about my strategy straight out of the box: maintain a gap of around four seconds,” Marquez said. “I’m really happy about this victory, especially as it’s a home race in front of my fans.”

Dovizioso finished almost five second after Marquez. Jack Miller crossed the line third, passing Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales for the final podium place.

Vinales had started on the front row, alongside Fabio Quartararo, who dropped back to fifth at the finish. Italian great Valentino Rossi was eighth, with Britain’s Cal Crutchlow sixth and Spaniard Aleix Espargaro seventh.

Jorge Lorenzo’s struggles continued after he finished the race second-to-last. The former world champion is having major difficulties this season after becoming Marquez’s team-mate at Honda.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2019