Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/155043
VOL. 50 ISSUE 33 AUGUST 20, 2013 Although teammate Pedrosa is still within 21 points, he has more than a full race cushion over Lorenzo, now trailing by a daunting 35 points. Marquez is drawing ever closer to the greatest record of all – youngest-ever World Champion… and the first rookie to take the crown since Kenny Roberts way back when in 1978. The 10th round started the second half of the 18race season in fine sunny conditions, in front of a good crowd of 60,300. It also kick-started an intensive three weekends of racing. It is a key point in the championship, with Brno next weekend, Silverstone the one after that. The win and the manner of his win gives Marquez the high ground; while his rivals nurse their pride and their collarbones, and hope he won't get too much further ahead before they can draw breath and get a little stronger. But is it all too good to be true? Just a quirk of the last two tracks favoring Marquez because he likes to slide, while injuries have slowed the real fast pair? Favoring Hondas, because of acceleration out of slow corners? Will Marquez fulfill the bleak predictions of those who insist that fast rookies tend to start crashing a lot, sooner or later? Marquez (93) bided his time, passed Jorge Lorenzo (99) and Dani Pedrosa (26) and marched on to victory to further extend his lead in the World Championship. Esteve Rabat came from behind to win the Moto2 race at Indy. the end – second, the Japanese rider's best yet; Espargaro almost the same distance behind him, his hands full fending off a full-on Aegerter attack. Redding regained a one-race cushion in the title chase, leading Espargaro by 26 points, 159-133. Rabat is another 20 behind in third. P43 Briefly... Cal Crutchlow's move to Ducati, a decision he made during the summer break, was the talking point at the start of the weekend, with the Englishman mock-defiant when accused of moving only because of money. He'd signed, he said, "because I like the color." The decision had been difficult, he said, only because he was sad to leave the Tech 3 team, his home for the past three years. That apart, he relished the new challenge of getting Ducati back to the front, saying, "there was no reason not to change." Asked what he expected from the bike, he said: "There is a lot to be improved, but the strong point is, it's fast. The rest I don't know because I haven't ridden it. But it's a bike others have done well on in the past, not just one rider." He knew things needed to change and that it might take time before results improve. And the money – rumored to be more than $7 million for two years, and even if only half that still enough to put in the shade Yamaha Racing's offer to pay his salary to stay at Tech 3? "In terms of a contract, I believe that the one I've got was a lot better than the one I was being offered," he said. He added a threat as he aims for a first win, the first for a Brit since Sheene in 1981. "I'll definitely be trying. I've got nothing to lose. It doesn't matter where I am in the championship." Valentino Rossi, sitting next to Cruthlow at the pre-race press conference, chuckled when asked what advice he would give Crutchlow for his future on the red bike. He clearly badly wanted a factory bike, he said, and "maybe continued on next page