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/361826
MOTOGP MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 10/AUGUST 10, 2014 INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY/INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA P52 roshi Aoyama dropping well back from this pair by the end, then Cardion AB's Karel Abraham nar- rowly winning an almost race- long dice with Mike di Meglio's Avintia Kawasaki. Colin Edwards made the points in (probably) his last Grand Prix, starting strongly on the NGM Forward Yamaha, then dropping back into the hands of Michael Laverty's PBM, managing to fend him off to the end. A long way back, Broc Parkes nursed the second PBM home 15th and last. Attrition had begun on the very first lap when an underperform- ing Alvaro Bautista and Yonny Hernandez crashed out together. Barbera and Petrucci retired. Minor-league hero of the race was Leon Camier, standing in for the recuperating Nick Hayden on the Drive M7 Aspar Honda, first time at Indy, first time on a MotoGP bike. He out-qualified erstwhile teammate Aoyama in 16th, and was racing in the points in spite of an electronic problem caused by a failed sensor. Even- tually, after pitting once, he was forced to retire. Marquez's title lead just con- tinues to grow, now 89 points ahead of Pedrosa, 250-161. Rossi has 157, Lorenzo is clos- ing slowly on 117 and Dovizioso is fourth with 108. CN 1. Marc Marquez (Honda) 2. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 3. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 4. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 5. Pol Espargaro (Yamaha) 6. Bradley Smith (Yamaha) 7. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) 8. Cal Crutchlow (Ducati) 9. Scott Redding (Honda) 10. Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda) BACK TO WORK Back to work meant back to business as usual for Rep- sol Honda's Marc Marquez, claiming his eighth pole in 10 races in assured style, after surviving a couple of moments in free practice. In fact it had been Stefan Bradl fastest in those bouts, but there were no mistakes for Marquez when it really mattered. And the usual smile. "I'm happy because it is important to start well after the summer break." His race pace was good, he said: only tire choice was yet to be decided. Biggest beneficiary was Andrea Dovizioso, slotting the Ducati in the Honda's wake on a fast lap to qualify second; his second front row of the year. Partly it was because the Ducati seemed to like the circuit, "at least on new tires;" even more it was thanks to Marquez, "following his crazy lines." Jorge Lorenzo was alongside, his first time on the front row in three races, quarter of a second down, and "glad to have the chance to challenge for pole" as he strives to recapture form. This all happened in the last min- ute, consigning erstwhile second- fastest Dani Pedrosa to eighth as he failed to improve on his second run. Times were very close, with the first 10 within the same second. Row two was all-Yamaha, Aleix and Pol Espargaro straddling Valentino Rossi. Pol had survived a spectacular wobble, landing painfully back on the bike as it speared off the track. Andrea Iannone was next-best Ducati, and only then Pedrosa, with Bradley Smith alongside. Bradl went from first in free practice to 10th on the grid; alongside a best yet Scott Red- ding, the first time the produc- tion Honda rider had made it through to Q2, making him easily top RCV1000R. Cal Crutchlow also made it through but stayed 12th; still at odds with the Ducati but saying his summer-break surgery to both arms "is not a problem at all." Yonny Hernandez was best of the rest, ahead of Alvaro Bautista's fac- tory Honda: the Spaniard came back from a spectacular and frightening super-highside in FP3, caused by a lack of rear grip that he was still un- able to solve. Colin Edwards came through at the end to finish of row five; impres- sive Leon Camier – in his first-ever MotoGP ride and first visit to Indy – headed row six on Nicky Hayden's RCV1000R, faster than seasoned riders like Danilo Petrucci and Hiro- shi Aoyama alongside, and the rest ranged up behind.