Marquez maintains perfect COTA record

MotoGP
1. Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda, 43m 47.150s
2. Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team, 2.354s
3. Valentino Rossi, Movistar Yamaha, 3.120s
Pole Position: Marquez, 2:02.135 = 162.4 km/h
Fastest lap: Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team), 2:04.251 = 159.7 km/h

Championship top 3
Rossi 41 • Dovizioso 40 • Marquez 36

Marc Marquez left most observers breathless with his mesmerising pole-setting qualifying performance on Saturday, so his clinical victory in the 21-lap race — his third in a row at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) — was quite elementary. The irrepressible Spaniard took over the running from Andrea Dovizioso four laps in, and then immediately began pulling a gap which extended to over four seconds before he coasted to the finish line for his first victory of the year. Marquez is now third in the standings behind Valentino Rossi and Dovizioso ahead of next week's round three in Argentina.

“I'm happy for his victory after Qatar – we know it was a mistake at the first corner (that thwarted his chances of the podium) but always you have a question mark inside of you,” Marquez said. “I felt really good this weekend and I was really concentrated on the race but it was difficult in the beginning because after all the rain on this track it changed, but then when I began to feel more like I did in the practice I pushed, I opened a gap and I managed it.

“It looks like it will be an interesting championship because Valentino and Andrea (Dovizioso) are really consistent."

With Marquez in control, the tussle for second between Rossi and Dovizioso was a tight one — and really eye-opening at one stage as they nearly touched after a fierce breaking duel. Rossi held sway for the middle part of the journey before the fearsomely fast Ducati of Dovizioso again got the upperhand with six laps to go.

Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha) continued his steady if unspectacular start to the season with a fourth place finish, from fastest lap man Andrea Iannone — who at one stage had second place in his sights — the impressive Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Cal Crutchlow (CWM LCR Honda).

The two factory Ecstar Suzukis of Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales were eighth and ninth, from Danilo Petrucci (Pramac Racing Ducati). Australia's Jack Miller (CWM LCR Honda) enjoyed a great battle with Nicky Hayden (competing in his 200th MotoGP race) and finished just on the tail of the American in 14th — his first MotoGP points.

Moto2
1. Sam Lowes, Speed Up Racing, 41m 45.565s
2. Johann Zarco    Ajo Motorsport, 1.999s
3. Alex Rins, Paginas Amarillas HP 40, 4.622s

Pole Position: Xavier Simeon, 2:08.888 = 152.7 km/h
Fastest lap: Lowes, 2:10.578 = 151.9 km/h

Championship top 3
Rins 29 • Zarco 28 • Folger, Lowes 25

Briton Sam Lowes completed what he threatened to do at the season opener in Qatar: riding to his maiden Moto2 victory. The 2013 world supersport champion didn't make it easy for himself though, crashing heavily a couple of times in practice and qualifying before he gritted his teeth in the 19-lap race to take the honours from Johann Zarco and championship leader Alex Rins.

Zarco and Xavier Simeon were trying to reel Lowes in during the final stages before they made contact, with the latter crashing out.

Reigning Moto2 champion Tito Rabat (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Racing) was fourth, while Aussie warrior Anthony West (QMMF Racing Team) was impressive in seventh position, getting the best of a five-way freight train at the chequered flag.

The championship race is tight, with the top seven riders separated by just 9pts.

Moto3    
1. Danny Kent, Leopard Racing, 41m 32.287s
2. Fabio Quartararo, Estrella Galicia 0,0, 8.532s
3. Efren Vazquez, Leopard Racing, 8.652s    

Pole Position: Kent, 2:15.344 = 146.6 km/h
Fastest lap: Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo), 2:17.559 = 144.2 km/h

Championship top 3
Kent 41 • Enea Bastianini 33 • Quartararo, Vazquez 29

An atypical victory by Danny Kent in the small-bore world championship class — he won by a crushing 8.5 seconds!

With damp patches on the COTA tarmac, Kent hatched a plan: “I wanted to watch on the first laps and see where the wet patches were," Kent said. "Winter training has paid off and I was able to focus for the whole race."

With the top position Kent's, 15-year-old double CEV Spanish champion Fabio Quartararo finished second from Efren Vazquez. Alexis Masbou had been jostling with Quartararo but slid off on the final corner.

Australia's Remy Gardner (CIP Mahindra) was 18th after a mountain of problems on Friday and Saturday — all the while trying to learn a new circuit, which will again be his destiny in Argentina.

For full results from COTA, click here.