MOTOGP
MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 12/AUGUST 31, 2014
SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT/NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, ENGLAND
P52
advantage accelerating earlier
out of the corners," said Lorenzo.
Marquez took the lead for the
first time on lap 14 of 20, but it
was not cut and dried. Two laps
later Lorenzo was in front again,
and stayed there next time round
as well.
Marquez was obliged to bring
out the big guns. His earlier pass
had been smooth and easy. Now
it was hand-to-hand combat, at
the Village complex, turns 12
through 13, a fast left, a slower
right, then a very slow left, where
they had already swapped earlier
in the race. Lorenzo came back
from the first pass, and cut across
to the apex of the final left. As he
got there, Marquez appeared in
his way. He had to lift suddenly. It
was the decisive encounter.
Three seconds behind at half
distance and three times that at
the end, the next trio had been
trading blows most of the race.
Rossi had mostly headed the
trio and Dovi was mostly at the
back, but not always; and Pe-
drosa led the gang for three laps
after half-distance, only for both
to pass him when he had a little
slide.
Rossi hung on to the end; Pe-
drosa regained fourth into the first
corner at the start of the last lap.
Behind them, as Aleix Espar-
garo lost ground when home
(Above) Bradley Smith (38) leads his
teammate Pol Espargaro (44), Aleix
Espargaro (41), Alvaro Bautista (19)
and Stefan Bradl (6).
(Right) Rossi (46) ended up getting
the better of Pedrosa (26) and
Dovizioso (04) for third.
