2014 Aragon MotoGP: Lorenzo cracks tricky Aragon puzzle

  • Sep 29, 2014
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Jorge Lorenzo gauged the tricky track conditions at Aragon expertly to win the historic 800th Grand Prix race

2014 Aragon MotoGP action shot

In a race that had more twist, turns and surprises than a Hollywood thriller flick it was Jorge Lorenzo who emerged victorious to register his first win of the 2014 season at the Aragon. The chances of Lorenzo winning the race looked bleak as a poor qualifying outing meant he started the race from seventh position on the grid. Marc Marquez made yet another poor start that allowed his team-mate Dani Pedrosa to shoot into the lead as the riders entered the first corner of the race. But he wasn’t able to hold on to his lead for long as Pramac Ducati rider Andrea Iannone clinched the lead by end of lap one. Marquez was soon on redemption mode and wrestled past Pedrosa to move up to second place.

Lorenzo made a blistering start that catapulted him to third place, as he too passed Pedrosa in the opening stages of the race. Marquez and Iannone were involved in an engrossing battle for the lead but the Italian rider crashed out of the race as he ran wide off the track and onto the slippery wet grass. Soon after another Italian racer crashed out and it was Valentino Rossi this time. The Yamaha rider lost his front end as the tyres came in contact with damp AstroTurf; Rossi appeared hurt after the crash but post the race it was confirmed that his injuries weren’t serious. 

Repsol Honda riders Marquez and Pedrosa battle for the lead

Among all this drama, Marquez continued to lead the race with Lorenzo in second and Pedrosa in third following him closely. On lap nine, Lorenzo was able to make his move stick on Marquez which allowed him to grab the race lead for the first time. But by the 12th lap of the race Marquez regained the lead from Lorenzo with Pedrosa closing in on the duo. The following lap, white flags were out owing to the approaching rain, offering the riders an option of switching bikes. The leading pack of riders stayed back on the track and on the 15th lap of the race both the Repsol Honda pair overtook Lorenzo to relegate him to third place while Andrea Dovizioso held on to fourth position. Marquez and Pedrosa were swapping the race lead on a regular basis as it started to rain heavily. By lap 18, a bunch of riders started entering the pits to swap into the wet set-up bikes. 

Jorge Lorenzo celebrates his win

With track conditions turning slippery and the top bunch of riders still running on slicks a crash was something that was inevitable. Dovizioso was the first victim as he went down on lap 19 and the following lap it was Pedrosa. Sensing that he couldn’t hold onto slick tyres for long Lorenzo entered the pits to change machines and this was the decision that handed over him the victory. Surprisingly Marquez decided to hold onto the slick tyres a decision that cost him the race win as he crashed at T2 on the 21st lap. Although both the Repsol riders were successful in remounting on their bikes and heading to the pits to switch motorcycles and rejoin the race, the damage had been done. With the Repsol Honda duo out of contention, Lorenzo glided across the finish line with a 10 second lead over Aleix Espargaro in second and Cal Crutchlow in third position. 

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