2. Marc Marquez (MotoGP)
We saw at the Circuit of the Americas last year that Marc Marquez takes no time at all getting to grips with a new track and this weekend was no different. The world champion was a full second clear of the competition on Friday afternoon and the 1:37.683 he set on his way to pole position was way out of his rivals’ reach.
Given his dominance prior to race day, most expected Marquez to waltz off into the distance as he had in Texas and win the Grand Prix at a canter but a frenetic opening lap complicated matters, the Spaniard slipping to seventh as Jorge Lorenzo made a break. By the time Marc had fought his way through the traffic, Jorge was a second up the road which is usually all the advantage he needs to keep a challenger at bay but Marc quickly wiped out his advantage.
Lorenzo was never going to be easy meat but Marquez was so strong that he simply bided his time and with nine laps to go, breezed past the Movistar Yamaha on the back straight and opened up a seven tenth lead before the end of the lap, killing off any hopes Lorenzo may have had of responding next time around.
In 4.8km, the race had swung decisively from one rider to another and Marquez had ensured his perfect start to 2014 remained intact. Three races, three victories and all from pole position, no-one in the last 43 years has been able to say they’ve done that.
(Photo Credit: Repsol Honda)
