MotoGP 2015: Marc Marquez takes victory in Indianapolis Grand Prix, reduces championship deficit

DON’T count Marc Marquez out of the MotoGP world title battle just yet. The reigning world champ won in Indianapolis to slash nine points out of his deficit.

DON’T count Marc Marquez out of the MotoGP world title battle just yet.

The reigning world champion passed Jorge Lorenzo with three laps remaining to take victory in the Indianapolis Grand Prix, his third win of the season and his second in succession.

Remarkably it is also the Honda rider’s ninth-straight victory on US soil — a streak that now dates back to 2011 — while the victory marked Honda’s 700th world championship race win.

Valentino Rossi fought off Dani Pedrosa to keep his perfect podium record for 2015 with third place.

RESULTS: Click here for full results from the Indianapolis MotoGP

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But the race for the win was all about the two leaders who checked out from the field in the early stages.

Lorenzo leads into the chicane on the first lap.

Rossi fought his way up into fourth at the end of the opening lap from eighth on the grid but he was already over two seconds behind Lorenzo and Marquez, his poor qualifying position once again leaving him unable to capitalise on his race day speed.

He finally caught and fought his way past Pedrosa on the 18th lap only for the Honda rider to slice back past as they started the final tour, ‘The Doctor’ finally making the move stick when Pedrosa ran wide a couple of corners later.

The end of the second lap and the leaders have already escaped.

Marquez was more decisive, stalking Lorenzo for 24 laps before striking as they raced into Turn 1 for the 25th time.

“The race went very well, but we were pretty much on the limit,” Marquez said.

“The truth is that Jorge improved a lot during the race, and I didn’t think there would be so many laps in the 1m32s. Even towards the end of the race we did a 1m32.6, which is very fast!

“We used the strategy of attacking at the end, when there were three laps remaining, and I think it was ideal for taking victory at this circuit.

“I’m also very proud to have taken Honda’s 700th victory! This is a very special moment for all the team and I dedicate it to all of Honda.”

Ducati rider Andrea Iannone rounded out the top five with Bradley Smith in tow in sixth, the pair crossing the line over 21 seconds behind Marquez.

Pol Espargaro and Cal Crutchlow were next, while Andrea Dovizioso endured another miserable race on his way to ninth. The Italian ran wide on the opening lap and fell to the tail of the field, spending the rest of the race fighting his way back into the top 10.

Saturday hero Danilo Petrucci, who was both fastest Ducati and fastest Italian rider on his way to qualifying an incredible fifth, took the final spot in the top 10.

Pedrosa ranges up alongside Rossi on the final lap.

The race had a disappointing end for Australia’s Jack Miller after posting the best qualifying result of his brief MotoGP career to start 16th.

After making his now standard electric start to be knocking on the door of the top 10 on the opening lap, Miller crashed out of the race on the ninth lap, leading the Open class riders in 15th place at the time.

The result closes up the margins at the sharp end of the championship fight.

Rossi still leads Lorenzo but his advantage has been trimmed to just nine points while Marquez’s victory moves him into third place.

The reigning world champion is still 56 points off the lead of the standings with eight races remaining, but his victory slashed nine points off his deficit.

Marquez and Honda crew celebrate victory.

Originally published as MotoGP 2015: Marc Marquez takes victory in Indianapolis Grand Prix, reduces championship deficit