Rookie sensation’s Indy win completed a sweep of all three MotoGP races in America
The global economy may go through wild crests and troughs thanks to the machinations of investment and central bankers but one thing has remained fairly constant since the end of World War II. The United States of America is still the most important market in the world, including for global motor sport.
Don’t take our word for it though. Just look at Formula 1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone’s dogged determination to have at least three rounds there (on his own financial terms of course).
While F1 hits stumbling blocks towards achieving that end, its two-wheel counterpart has already beaten it to it.
At the century plus old Indianapolis Motor Speedway MotoGP concluded its third round in the United States after those in Laguna Seca, California in July and Austin, Texas in April. And all three rounds were saw rookie sensation Marc Marquez emerge victorious after taking pole position in all but two races and set the fastest lap in all three.
Given the fact that the last MotoGP rookie champion was an American (Kenny Roberts in 1978), it sure seems fitting that 20-year-old Marquez dominated proceedings at the 27 lap Indianapolis round. At the time of going to press, the Spaniard opened up a 21 point lead over compatriot and factory Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa.
Pedrosa along with factory Yamaha’s defending world champion Jorge Lorenzo rounded out the podium to make it an all Spanish affair while Yamaha returnee Valentino Rossi stole fourth in the dying stages.
Indianapolis has recently come to be branded a ‘Honda track’ due to its nature suiting the way the Hondas use their tyres there and the Yamaha riders looked to be struggling at various stages of the race.
And here you thought tyre usage matters only in F1 these days!
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