Marquez executes Aragon “masterclass”

CHAMPIONSHIP leader Marc Marquez completed a perfect weekend at last weeks Aragon MotoGP.

The Repsol Honda rider was making his 200^th grand prix start and quickly laid down his intentions by blitzing the field by 1.3 seconds during Friday practice.

His dominance continued through qualifying on Saturday, taking pole by three tenths of a second from Petronas Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo and Monster Energy Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales.

The race up front was a white wash from the Spaniard, pulling out a lead of one second after the first lap, he continued to push forward to claim his eighth victory of 2019 and increasing his lead in the championship to 98 points.

By all calculations, he needs to finish four points ahead of second place Andrea Dovizioso at the next round in Thailand to claim the title, four rounds before the end of the season.

The interesting battles continued for the final place on the Aragon podium, with Ducati’s Dovizioso, Quartararo, Pramac Ducati rider Jack Miller and Vinales exchanging positions before Dovizioso powered past Vinales with three laps remaining to take second position.

A stunning last lap pass in Vinales by Jack Miller relegated the Spaniard to fourth and gave the popular Australian his third podium of the season.

Rookie prodigy Quartararo finished a distant fifth followed by a strong result by Brit Cal Crutchlow on the LCR Honda.

Seventh place went to Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro after a stirling ride giving the Gresini RS-GP machine its best result so far in 2019.

Valentino Rossi continued to experience handling woes on his Yamaha YZR-M1 with a lonely ride to eighth.

The MotoGP circus now packs its bags and heads to the first of the flyaway races in a little over a weeks time in Buriram, Thailand on October 6.