VOL. 54 ISSUE 16 APRIL 25, 2017 P63
significant rider to do so Cal
Crutchlow (LCR Honda), who
would have another strong race
to a fighting fourth.
Teammate Dani Pedrosa had
taken a flying start and led the
first eight laps, with Marquez
always close and Rossi chasing
hard.
Marquez explained later he
was getting the feeling of the
tire, which he had used only
was a really strange crash," he
said. "I did exactly the same as
in warm-up and all weekend, but
I crashed. I think we had some
issues with the front tire…but I
know we are strong and have
the speed. I'm going to try to
forget this crash."
His sudden departure robbed
expectant fans of a promised
showdown between defend-
ing champion Marquez and the
briefly on Friday, and playing a
waiting game, while Pedrosa
said he could have gone quick-
er, but was saving his medium
front/hard rear choice for later
in the race. But instead of the
rear problems he'd anticipated,
he found the front going away.
"When I saw Dani was strug-
gling, it was time to attack," said
Marquez. His first attempt was
repulsed, but he made sure of it
high-profile upstart. The Yamaha
and Repsol Honda riders had
been slugging it out through
practice, with Marquez fraction-
ally faster, but also clearly on the
ragged edge, falling twice in the
crash-happy third free practice.
But his first win of the year was
no cakewalk, though his last-
minute front tire switch was a big
help. He was one of only five to
choose the hard front—the other
(Above) Marquez
chased his Repsol
Honda teammate
Dani Pedrosa then
got out in front and
never looked back.
(Right) Valentino Rossi
continues to ride well.
Another podium and
he's now leading the
championship.
