All-Spanish podium as Marquez takes the spoils

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) has put some breathing space between himself and his 2017 MotoGP pursuers after another brilliant performance, this time by defeating teammate Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha) at Aragon.

Marquez's fifth win of the season – and his ninth podium – has helped him to pull a small gap of 16pts (224 to 208) over closest pursuer Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), who could only finish seventh at Aragon. Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha) is next on 196pts.

Four rounds remain in the 2017 MotoGP title, with Motegi next up on October 15.

Marquez, whose chose hard compound Michelin tyres for the 23-lap race, settled into fourth position from the start behind Lorenzo, the returning Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) – just three weeks after breaking his right leg – and Dovizioso.

By the halfway mark Marquez was in second position, and he was at the pointy end with eight laps to go after dispensing with Lorenzo. And that's where Marquez remained, with the main interest in the final few laps whether a charging Pedrosa could get on equal terms with his teammate.

The diminutive veteran passed Lorenzo with three laps to go, but that was as far as he got, eventually finishing just under a second behind his teammate.

It was Pedrosa's 110th podium in the premier class, and he's now fourth in the championship on 170pts from Rossi (168pts), Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3, 117pts) and Lorenzo (106pts).

Lorenzo took the final spot on the podium from Vinales, Rossi, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), Dovizioso, Alvaro Bautista (Pull & Bear Ducati), Zarco and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

Australia's Jack Miller (EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda) was 13th, while Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) and Karel Abraham (Pull & Bear Ducati) were the only two DNFs after crashing out.

FULL RESULTS HERE

“I’m very happy with this victory because it was a tough race," said Marquez.

"Yesterday I wasn’t feeling totally comfortable with the bike, and today I was struggling again except in the warm-up; I don’t really know why. Anyway, racing at one of my favourite tracks, close to my home and in front of my fans, gave me extra motivation.

"I pushed hard and in some corners I just clicked the off-button in my head, even if I crashed twice yesterday. I saw that Viñales and Dovi were struggling a bit and knew it was the moment to push, so I did.

"There were a few scary moments, once when I was trying to overtake Valentino; he was tighter in that corner than I was expecting, and to avoid a clash I released the brakes, only to realize that Lorenzo was right there! So I went off the track, and at that moment I cooled down a bit, even if I continued to try and close the gap.

"Once I passed Lorenzo, I had to keep going as I saw that Dani was coming very fast. Anyway, that’s the Marquez style! Of course it’s important to think of the championship, but the situation now requires that we give it everything. So we’ll try to continue with the same motivation and mentality race by race, giving our 100 per cent.”

Miller left Aragon on a positive note.

“While I am reasonably happy with the way things went today this wasn’t the race I expected even though I came home with some points," said Miller.

"I used the hard tyre and expected a little bit more from it but it didn’t work out that way. Overall a positive weekend and I’m feeling really comfortable with the bike, especially the front.

"We just missed some drive grip on the rear which was down to not making the hard compound work early enough.”

MotoGP results
1. Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda, 42:06.816
2. Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda, +0.879s
3. Jorge Lorenxo, Ducati Team, +2.028s

Australian
13. Jack Miller, EG 0,0 Marc VDS, +23.886

Pole position: Maverick Vinales, Movistar Yamaha, 1:47.635 = 169.8km/h
Fastest lap: Pedrosa, 1:49.140 = 167.4km/h

Championship top 3
Marquez 224 • Dovizioso 208 • Vinales 196

Moto2
Italian Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) increased his championship lead, in a race that saw him involved in a spectacular last lap battle with late-charging countryman Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team).

Gradually reeling in the points leader, Pasini made it a duel to the line on the final lap but Morbidelli was just able to take it – by 0.145 seconds.

Polesitter Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) finished in third from Tom Luthi (CarXpert Interwetten) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo).

“Nothing changed with my approach today: I raced as I always do, giving the maximum and this is what came out," said Morbidelli.

"I tried to push at the beginning and open a gap but then Pasini was closing fast and I had a decision to make. Stay calm and ride for the championship or fight. I kept fighting and went for the win so this victory gives me a lot of satisfaction.”

Morbidelli is now on 248pts, ahead of Luthi (227pts) and then a huge gap back to Oliveira (157pts).

Australia's Remy Gardner (Tech 3 Racing) finished in 20th position after an incident at turn one saw him hit by a rival which pushed him down the field to 26th.

"I made a decent start but got hit by (Edgar) Pons at turn one which forced me off track and then it was a case of just trying to recover," said Gardner.

"We made a change from our qualifying set-up which wasn’t the right direction. I lost so much time in the first lap and although I was able to close the gap to the top 15 it was hard to ride the bike.

"A hard race but I know we can do better. We have a test tomorrow so let’s see if we can find something to give us a step for the flyaways.”

Gardner also announced at Aragon that he had signed a contract extension with Tech 3 Racing into 2018.

Moto2 results
1. Franco Morbidelli, EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda, 40:09.904
2. Mattia Pasini, Italtrans Racing Team, +0.145s
3. Miguel Oliveira, Red Bull KTM Ajo, +0.577s

Australian
20. Remy Gardner, Tech 3 Racing, +28.026s

Pole position: Oliveira, 1:53.736 = 160.6km/h
Fastest lap: Pasini, 1:54.082 = 160.2km/h

Championship top 3
Morbidelli 248 • Tom Luthi 227 • Oliveira 157

Moto3
Joan Mir (Leopard Racing Honda) made history in the Aragon GP, becoming the first rider since the introduction of the class in 2012 to win eight or more races in a season – and also equaling Romano Fenati (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers Honda) and Luis Salom’s all-time victory count with nine wins in the class.

In a classic encounter – the top 18 riders flashed across the finish line in just 2.6 seconds –
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) was second from Enea Bastianini (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda), polesitter Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Honda) and Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda).

With an 80pt lead over Fenati – who was 10th at Aragon – Mir now has one hand on the trophy as the paddock prepares to head to Japan.

Moto3 results
1. Joan Mir, Leopard Racing Honda, 25:57.607
2. Fabio Giannantonio, Del Conca Gresini Honda, +0.043s
3. Enea Bastianini, EG 0,0 Honda +0.051

Pole position: Jorge Martin, Del Conca Gresini Honda, 1:58.067 = 154.8km/h
Fastest lap and new record: Giannantonio, 1:58.347 = 154.4km/h

Championship top 3
Mir 271 • Romano Fenati 191 • Aron Canet 173

Next round: Motegi, Japan, October 13-15