MOTOGP
MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 5/MAY 18, 2014
CIRCUIT BUGATTI/LE MANS, FRANCE
P46
file at this race. Spencer could
crash, without falling off. Mar-
quez can do the same.
The race started with the rare
and enjoyable sight of a Ducati in
the lead. Dovizioso had qualified
on the front row on his super-soft
tire option and seized control into
the first corner, from Bradl and
fellow front-row starter Pol Espar-
garo. By the end of the lap Rossi
was ahead of the Spaniard, and
by the end of the third ahead of
Bradl as well.
It was only a matter of time for
Dovizioso, who said later: "It's
an enjoyable feeling to lead, but
I knew it wouldn't last, because
some riders are intelligent, and
they don't push too hard in the
early laps."
He was soon dropping back,
while the crowd roared approval
as Rossi took the lead on lap
four. In another five laps he had
a gap of almost a second, but by
pargaro to move clear for his first
rostrum in more than a year.
Lorenzo's troubles weren't
over, because now Pedrosa was
gaining speed. The latter had
been slumbering in ninth in the
early stages waiting for his front
tire to develop meaningful grip,
and while that never happened
to the full extent he could pick up
the pace after half distance, and
cut past his compatriot quite eas-
(Above) Nicky Hayden's race didn't
last long as he was taken out on the
opening lap by Andrea Iannone.
(Right) Alvaro Bautista had his best
ride of the season thus far, the
Spaniard ending up third behind
Marquez and Rossi.
now Marquez was up to fourth
and about to pass Bradl and Pol
Espargaro over the next two laps.
It took little time for the cham-
pion to close up on Rossi, and
then he passed him on lap 13
without having to fight, and drew
steadily clear. He was 3.4 sec-
onds ahead as he started the
last lap, and able to slow and cel-
ebrate over the line, and still win
by 1.4 seconds.
Espargaro stayed in the hunt,
but Bradl would run into front-grip
issues and ran wide on lap 12, let-
ting Bautista past to take up the
chase. He had already dealt with
Lorenzo and closed up, and with
10 laps left disposed of Pol Es-
