Aragon: Marquez reigns, Lorenzo gains

Although it hadn’t seemed like it, the controlled exterior of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was taking some effort – with MotorLand Aragon proving the mental oasis after a long run of races with no dry win. Knowing he had the pace and that the track was perfectly suited to him, Marquez even said in the pre-event Press Conference that MotorLand was a track on which he would attack, and attack he did.

After a moment early in the race that saw him drop back, the Repsol Honda rider then fought through into the lead and pulled away – judging the pace to perfection. Behind, Jorge Lorenzo hit back in style against Movistar Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi – hunting the Italian down in the later stages and then taking the flag unchallenged as the Italian ran wide trying to keep the pace.

Other news saw the first ever return to premier class competition of a MotoGP™ Legend as 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden stepped in for injured Jack Miller at Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS. Getting up to speed impressively, Hayden scored points on his return – thought to be a one-off at the time...

With the gap having been getting smaller for some races, MotorLand was a coup for the number 93: 25 points, in front of Rossi – and Lorenzo getting the better of the Italian too. The flyaways beckoned with the gap at 52 points – making the title a long but real shot at the home of Honda; the Twin Ring Motegi.