MOTOGP
MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 3 / APRIL 10, 2016
CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS / AUSTIN, TEXAS
P50
dents on a difficult track that had
become more slippery for rea-
sons including an oil spill from a
MotoAmerica bike, just getting
to the flag was something of an
achievement. Lorenzo's Movis-
tar Yamaha teammate Rossi was
one of a number who fell by the
wayside.
Clearly struggling with
straight-line speed, Valentino
had overheated his clutch off
the line and had dropped back
to sixth by lap two. Now…"I
had the feeling the clutch was
coming back, but in turn two—I
didn't feel from the bike I was
too fast, but look at the result,
maybe I was." The front slipped
away, on only the third of 21 laps
of the long, fast and technically
difficult circuit.
The only comfort that Mar-
quez's rivals might draw is that
COTA is unique. It intersperses
fast and flowing sections with
three hard-braking first-gear
corners and the longest straight
of the year. He couldn't exactly
explain why, but the eclectic
combination gels perfectly with
Marquez's attacking riding style,
enabling him to overcome the
real or perceived weaknesses
of this year's Honda to become
untouchable.
The high rate off attrition
made for an eventually proces-
sional race.
The biggest loser was Andrea
Dovizioso, knocked flying for
a second race in succession
when a podium finish was still
well within his sights. The assail-
