MotoGP

Maverick Vinales will look to continue his fine run in the 2017 MotoGP season at the Grand Prix of Catalunya, as he looks to capitalise on the poor form of his main rivals.

Both Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez have struggled for consistency this season, with neither finishing on the podium in Italy. As a result, Vinales holds a commanding lead in the standings, with 26 more points than second-ranked Andrea Dovizioso.

     

Race Schedule

Sunday, June 11

WUP start: 8:40 a.m. BST/3:40 a.m. ET

Race start: 1 p.m. BST/8 a.m. ET

Live stream: BT Sport website (UK), beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)

     

Top Riders

Vinales' second-placed finish behind Dovizioso in Italy put the young star in the driver's seat for the championship, as he increased his lead over veteran Rossi and Marquez, whose dominance of the sport in recent years hasn't shone through in 2017.

The 22-year-old Vinales was born in Figueres, not all that far from the race track in Barcelona, and per MotoGP's official Twitter account, it very much is a homecoming for the youngster:

Championship leader heads home! Can @maverickmack25 extend his points lead at the #CatalanGP? #MotoGP #MangaGP 🎨 @fujiran pic.twitter.com/cWraXBXN3h

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 7, 2017

Yamaha have held a clear advantage in pace over rivals Honda this season, and Vinales has flashed more consistency than team-mate Rossi, who has been held back by a couple of nagging injuries.

As shared by Motor Cycle News Sport, the 38-year-old had to pass a medical check just to be allowed to race in Italy:

Good news: @ValeYellow46 has passed his medical and been declared fit to ride this weekend.

— MCN Sport (@MCNSport) June 1, 2017

Rossi's qualifying runs have been impressive at times, but the full-length races can be draining, especially on tracks like the Circuit de Catalunya, which features plenty of long, high-speed turns and a very tricky final sector.

Three-time world champion Marquez has always struggled in Catalunya and only has a single win in MotoGP on his resume there. It's also the home GP for the 24-year-old, but Honda's struggles mean he's not favoured to add to his tally.

There are few better technicians in MotoGP, and Marquez is almost unbeatable when he gets the lead―qualifying could be crucial in Barcelona, but Yamaha's superior power should give the advantage to Vinales.

Ducati's Jorge Lorenzo hasn't enjoyed a great season so far, but the Spaniard has always performed well in Barcelona and will likely prioritise this race above all else.

The MotoGP championship heads to Barcelona for the Grand Prix of Catalunya in Spain on June 11, the seventh race of an increasingly absorbing 2017 season.

Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso comes into the race fresh from victory in Mugello, Italy, last Sunday, which moved him into second in the championship on 79 points, although Maverick Vinales still leads with 105.

Valentino Rossi, who finished fourth in his home race last weekend, is just four points further behind. However, Sunday will mark a year since the veteran's last win, per Oriol Puigdemont at Autosport, and he has played down his hopes.

"I am a bit worried, because the asphalt in Barcelona is very bad and the grip level is very low," he said. "In Jerez with these conditions, we suffered with our bike. But it's very early to say."

              

Key Battles

Andrea Dovizioso vs. Maverick Vinales

The two racers finished first and second in Italy last weekend and now top the championship standings as the table starts to take shape with one-third of the races completed.

Vinales has dominated the season so far with three poles and three race wins, but Dovizioso was superb last weekend, fending off the challenge of Vinales and Danilo Petrucci to claim victory.

Opta illustrated just how impressive his win had been:

1 - Andrea Dovizioso is the first rider to win the #ItalianGp on a Ducati since Casey Stoner in 2009. Dovi. pic.twitter.com/dKhSYokTsw

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) June 4, 2017

Vinales is 26 points clear in the championship but is yet to win a MotoGP at Catalunya, which may prove the motivation he needs to further tighten his grip at the top of the leaderboard.

         

Valentino Rossi vs. Marc Marquez

Rossi won this race last year but has not been on the top of the podium since, although, as illustrated by Simon Patterson of Motorcycle News, pace is not a problem:

Incredible lap for @ValeYellow46 - knocking on the door of the fastest ever at Mugello. Think he's over those injuries! pic.twitter.com/pShDigQKZl

— Simon Patterson (@denkmit) June 3, 2017

The Italian's victory last year was the 10th time he has won the Catalunya MotoGP, as he beat Marc Marquez in a thrilling race that ended with the fierce rivals shaking hands, as captured by MotoGP on Instagram.

The reigning world champion goes into the race in fourth in the championship and searching for an improvement after managing only sixth place last time out.

The Spaniard can take inspiration from being back on home soil, and he has won this race before in 2014, while last season's battle with Rossi could provide him with the edge needed.

       

Track Breakdown

The track has been modified after Moto2 rider Luis Salom was tragically killed in a crash last year at Turn 12 during free practice, per MotoGP.

The changes means the race will now use the Formula 1 layout at Turn 10 and a new chicane after Turn 13, with the track having a slightly shorter length now of 4,652 metres.

Catalunya is still characterised by long, sweeping bends, and despite the amendments, some twists and turns remain, and Marquez has given his blessing to the new layout, per Honda.

"As for the changes made to the track, I think they're interesting and quite challenging to interpret well," he said. "The speed and the corners on the rest of the circuit are all similar, while in that sector they're now quite different. But honestly, the layout is so particular that I like it."

        

Prediction

After a thrilling race last time out, there could be more excitement in Barcelona, and championship leader Vinales, will be pushing for a win on home soil.

Fellow Spaniard Marquez will also be seeking to impress the home crowd, while Rossi's incredible record at this track suggests he will also be in contention.

Last weekend's winner Dovizioso will also be full of confidence, but Vinales is the dominant force on current form and looks to have the pace and drive to take his fourth victory of the season.

Pick: Vinales to extend lead with a win  

Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso won an absorbing Italian MotoGP Grand Prix on Sunday at Mugello, holding off a challenge from Yamaha's Maverick Vinales and Octo Pramac's Danilo Petrucci.

Starting third on the grid, Dovizioso moved to the head of the race early on and rode superbly to beat a clutch of riders in close proximity. It meant championship leader Vinales had to make do with second spot, while Petrucci performed superbly to secure an unlikely podium for his team.

Crowd favourite Valentino Rossi was only good enough for fourth on the day, while world champion Marc Marquez was down in sixth for Honda.

After this eventful race, the Moto Race Feed relayed the result and the updated standings in the battle for the world championship:

#ItalianGP #MotoGP - full results ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/JGvx11bds4

— Moto Race Feed (@MotoRaceFeed) June 4, 2017

#MotoGP - Top of the standings after the #ItalianGP ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/dAzzednv0w

— Moto Race Feed (@MotoRaceFeed) June 4, 2017

Dovizioso Wins on Home Soil

Much to the delight of the home crowd, it was Rossi who surged into the lead off the line, pulling clear of pole-sitter Vinales. However, for much of the early stages, it was the Ducatis that were looking strongest.

Jorge Lorenzo, Rossi's former Yamaha team-mate, was the first to show his speed. As we can see per the MotoGP Twitter feed, he produced some supreme riding to reel in the Italian and Vinales:

#JL99 heads through to the front at the start of the second lap!#ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/5LCQ5lsrr1

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 4, 2017

Dovizioso, meanwhile, was maintaining distance and waiting for the right time to strike a little further back. That was as Lorenzo slipped down the field, leaving a four-man battle for the lead between Dovizioso, Rossi, Petrucci and Vinales.

It was the latter of the quartet who had taken the lead, but the youngster was caught napping by the Ducati man.

Dovizioso blasted around the outside of the Yamaha to lead into San Donato and then consolidated his position by banging in a brilliant first sector on the next lap. As the other men in the lead group looked around at each other, the Italian pulled out a gap out front.

From there, Dovizioso rode a brilliant race. There were times when Vinales and Petrucci were within half a second of the leader, as they each came on strong in the second half. But the Ducati was looking strong, and whenever the duo closed in, Dovizioso was able to rebuild the buffer.

MotoGP journalist Neil Morrison hailed the display of Dovizioso, suggesting it's the best win of his three career triumphs so far:

Dovizioso's been saying for some time now that he's in best shape of his career. Can't disagree with him on that evidence. Best ever win?

— Neil Morrison (@NeilMorrison87) June 4, 2017

Indeed, the focus was on the fight for the podium spots in the final stages with the Ducati supreme, as Vinales eventually overcame Petrucci.

Even so, the Pramac rider was able to keep Rossi at arm's length to earn the first podium of his MotoGP career. As we can see here, courtesy of the Moto Race Feed, Petrucci was well backed on the day at his home race:

#DP9 "I can't believe what's happened! I would like to thank my team, my family, everybody who made it possible!" #MotoGP

— Moto Race Feed (@MotoRaceFeed) June 4, 2017

Look at the support for @Petrux9 ! 👍#ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/1qldDMBVNP

— Moto Race Feed (@MotoRaceFeed) June 4, 2017

So too was Dovizioso, who was clearly emotional as he crossed the line to clinch this one. The 31-year-old showed all of his experience on Sunday, managing his start brilliantly, staying patient and then, when he got in front, keeping a clutch of competitors at bay.

In another boost for the Ducati man, the win moves him up into second spot in the overall standings ahead of Rossi. Dovizioso trails Vinales by 26 points, with the riders' next stop the Catalunya Grand Prix in a week's time.

Maverick Vinales will look to extend his lead over the field at the 2017 MotoGP Grand Prix of Italy on Sunday, when he and the other riders face off at the Autodromo del Mugello in Tuscany.

Vinales leads the standings by 17 points after five races having won three of them, including last time out in France.

Dani Pedrosa sits in second on 68 points, while Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez remain on 62 and 58, respectively, after they both crashed out in France.

Read on for a look at the top riders ahead of the race.

The race will begin at 1 p.m. BST (8 a.m. ET), and the action can be streamed live via the BT Sport website (UK), or beIN Sports Connect (U.S.).

For a full schedule, visit MotoGP's official website. 

        

Maverick Vinales, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP

Vinales has been in fine fettle so far this season, and he took full advantage of Rossi's crash to race home to victory in France.

The Italian led heading into the final lap, but after an error allowed Vinales to pass him, he came off his bike in an attempt to regain the lead, per BT Sport MotoGP:

The final lap of the #FrenchGP in full...

Despair for The Doctor 😢 #VR46 pic.twitter.com/4MINL2h9Co

— TNT Sports Bikes (@bikesontnt) May 21, 2017

Vinales was delighted with the win, per MotoGP:

"I tried to prepare really good the last two laps, I give my best, I gave 100%!" - #MV25 pic.twitter.com/qPCmlrijBC

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 21, 2017

A crash saw the Spaniard exit the Grand Prix of the Americas early, but in the four races he's completed this year he has topped the podium on three occasions and come sixth.

Crashes for Rossi and Marquez last time out afforded him some healthy breathing room at the top of the standings, and he'll look to consolidate that with another win here.

         

Valentino Rossi, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP

Rossi trailed team-mate Vinales for much of the French Grand Prix, before he swept past him with three laps remaining:

The Doctor will see you now...@ValeYellow46 takes the lead at the #FrenchGP! pic.twitter.com/pymuLRCTP5

— TNT Sports Bikes (@bikesontnt) May 21, 2017

What should have been the veteran's first win of the campaign ultimately ended in disaster.

The 38-year-old had to spend a night in hospital after a crash in training, and he'll require a fitness test before he can race on Sunday. Per MotoGP.com, he said:

"Unfortunately I crashed while I was training on a motocross bike. The pain in the abdomen and in the chest is still severe. Fortunately, my condition is improving day by day and this allows me to think a bit more positively about the Mugello weekend.

"My desire to be at the start of the Italian GP is so strong and I'm working on recovering as soon as possible. It will not be easy but I still have a few days to continue the treatment."

The Italian hasn't triumphed on his home track since 2008, but that victory was the final one of a seven-year winning streak at Mugello.

Jorge Lorenzo has won four of the last five Italian grands prix, but he has just one podium finish to his name this year—Rossi could be in contention if he's able to race.

    

Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda Team

Pedrosa produced an outstanding race in France last time out as he started in P13 and ultimately finished third.

After two laps, the Spaniard had already moved up to seventh place after an excellent start.

Pedrosa then faced a fierce battle with Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso before overtaking them both, despite the former's best efforts:

🙈 #DP26 vs #CC35 💥#FrenchGP pic.twitter.com/WZXmoZwzdl

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 21, 2017

After Marquez and Rossi crashed out, the way was clear for Pedrosa to finish on the podium.

The 31-year-old has finished third twice in his last three races, either side of winning his home grand prix in Spain.

Pedrosa won at Mugello in 2010—and in 2005 while racing in 250cc—and if he produces a similar performance on Sunday as he did in his last outing, he will be in with a real chance of winning.

Former MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden died Monday at the age of 35. 

As Mark Critchley of The Independent relayed, Maurizio Bufalini Hospital in Cesena, Italy, where Hayden was being treated in the intensive care unit, announced the American had died.   

Hayden was in a road collision in Italy on Wednesday. As noted in the report, Hayden was on a bicycle on the Rimini coastline when a vehicle collided with him, causing him to suffer head and chest injuries.

As noted by BBC Sport, Hayden was said to have suffered "serious cerebral damage" as a result of the collision.

According to Tom Lutz of the Guardian, the driver involved in the crash was breathalysed, but was not over the limit. Local authorities are carrying out an investigation.

Tributes poured in for Hayden following the news, with current MotoGP riders Aleix Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa and former World Superbike champion Neil Hodgson paying their respects:

Always in my heart, champ. RIP Nicky. #69 pic.twitter.com/ML35Qm7f1g

— Dani Pedrosa (@26_DaniPedrosa) May 22, 2017

OMG just seen the news 😓😓😓 absolutely gutted RIP @NickyHayden legend.

— Neil Hodgson (@NeilHodgson100) May 22, 2017

The Kentucky-born racer enjoyed his finest moment in 2006, when he ended Valentino Rossi’s run of five consecutive world titles in MotoGP.

Riding for Repsol Honda, Hayden clinched the championship in dramatic style, taking advantage of a crash from Rossi, who had an eight-point lead heading into the final race on the final day of the season. Here are the highlights from that memorable day in Valencia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu8hGdM3Bzk

As noted by Critchley, when news of Hayden’s crash broke, Rossi said he was "one of the best friends I've ever had in the paddock."

In his MotoGP career, Hayden won three times and took his place on the podium on 28 occasions.

Having taken part in the Superbike World Championship in 2002, Hayden returned to the competition in 2016 with Honda and grabbed a victory in Malaysia during that season. His last race was in Italy on May 14, when he finished in 12th position.

Maverick Vinales won the thrilling MotoGP French Grand Prix at Le Mans on Sunday ahead of Johann Zarco and Dani Pedrosa.

Valentino Rossi led in the final lap only to crash out, while Marc Marquez came off his bike with 10 laps remaining.

Vinales was delighted with the result, per Crash MotoGP:

Viñales: Incredible. I just gave my best. I tried to push Vale. I was preparing at S3. I saw Vale make a mistake and pushed 200 percent.

— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) May 21, 2017

Here are the results, per the sport's official website, and the latest standings:

Rider	Time/Gap
1. Maverick Vinales	43'29.793
2. Johann Zarco	+3.134
3. Dani Pedrosa	+7.717
4. Andrea Dovizioso	+11.223
5. Cal Crutchlow	+13.519
6. Jorge Lorenzo	+24.002
7. Jonas Folger	+25.733
8. Jack Miller	+32.603
9. Loris Baz	+45.784
10. Andrea Iannone	+48.332
11. Tito Rabat	+50.036
12. Pol Espargaro	+52.661
13. Bradley Smith	+53.179
14. Sam Lowes	+55.432
15. Sylvain Guintoli	+1'06.878

Rider	Points
1. Maverick Vinales	85
2. Dani Pedrosa	68
3. Valentino Rossi	62
4. Marc Marquez	58
5. Johann Zarco	55
6. Andrea Dovizioso	54
7. Cal Crutchlow	40
8. Jorge Lorenzo	38
9. Jonas Folger	38
10. Jack Miller	29
11. Danilo Petrucci	26
12. Scott Redding	26
13. Loris Baz	19
14. Aleix Espargaro	17
15. Andrea Iannone	15
16. Alvaro Bautista	14
17. Tito Rabat	13
18. Hector Barbera	12
19. Karel Abraham	9
20. Alex Rins	7

   

Sunday Recap

Zarco enjoyed an excellent start at his home Grand Prix as he took the lead from Vinales heading into the first chicane, per BT Sport MotoGP:

ZARCOOOOOO#JZ5 takes an early lead in the #FrenchGP and the place goes nuts! pic.twitter.com/dg1Mnd26CL

— TNT Sports Bikes (@bikesontnt) May 21, 2017

Just behind, Valentino Rossi swept past Marquez in Turn 8 to give Yahama a lockout on the podium places early on, while Zarco continued to set the pace out front.

Meanwhile, an outstanding effort from Pedrosa saw him climb eight places in the first two laps to reach seventh.

Cal Crutchlow valiantly held off Andrea Dovizioso and Pedrosa in fifth before eventually succumbing, having a particularly fierce duel with the latter as the Spaniard overtook them both:

🙈 #DP26 vs #CC35 💥#FrenchGP pic.twitter.com/WZXmoZwzdl

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 21, 2017

The Brit would contest the remainder of the race with Dovizioso as the pair repeatedly traded places, but it was the Italian who would ultimately come out on top.

At the head of the race, Marquez was hot on the heels of the three Yamahas as he set the fastest lap in a bid to close the gap, but his afternoon came to an end at Turn 3 in Lap 18 when he lost the front whilst braking:

#MM93 has CRASHED OUT!!#RiderOK 10 laps to go #FrenchGP pic.twitter.com/kYIM3bhtuP

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 21, 2017

A lovely move at Turn 3 saw Rossi pass Zarco into second with five laps to go, and the Doctor quickly set his sights on Vinales.

Rossi took his team-mate in the 25th lap:

The Doctor will see you now...@ValeYellow46 takes the lead at the #FrenchGP! pic.twitter.com/pymuLRCTP5

— TNT Sports Bikes (@bikesontnt) May 21, 2017

However, an error from the Italian saw him run wide at Turn 8 in the final lap to allow Vinales through, and in his efforts to make amends, he crashed out three turns later:

The final lap of the #FrenchGP in full...

Despair for The Doctor 😢 #VR46 pic.twitter.com/4MINL2h9Co

— TNT Sports Bikes (@bikesontnt) May 21, 2017

Vinales returned to the top of the standings with his third win of the season, and he has a 17-point gap ahead of Pedrosa in second.

Rossi sits in third after staying on 62 points, but he'll be at home next time out when the riders face off in Italy.

Valentino Rossi leads the world championship in MotoGP as the competition moves on to the 2017 Grand Prix of France at Le Mans on Sunday.

The legendary Italian rider has been consistent over the opening races of the season but is yet to stand on top of the podium as a race winner this term.

Dani Pedrosa of Repsol Honda Team was victorious in the last race in Spain as team-mate and world champion, Marc Marquez, trailed in second. 

Here is the race schedule and live-streaming information:

Date	Time (BST)	Event
Friday, May 19	8 a.m.	FP1
Friday, May 19	1:05 p.m.	FP2
Saturday, May 20	8:55 a.m.	FP3
Saturday, May 20	12:30 p.m.	FP4
Saturday, May 20	1:10 p.m.	Q1
Saturday, May 20	1:35 p.m.	Q2
Sunday, May 21	8:40 a.m.	WUP
Sunday, May 21	1 p.m.	Race

    

Live Stream: BT Sport website (UK), beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)

     

Marc Marquez—Repsol Honda Team

After a disappointing opening two races, Marquez displayed his world-class ability at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, beating the field with a composed strategy to usurp Rossi.

The reigning champion can struggle when the pack is stuck together, but he is supreme when he can take the lead and dictate the script of the show.

Marquez crossed the finish line three seconds ahead of the Doctor, holding off the Italian with a quality ride.

The Spaniard will be searching for the 54th podium of his short career at Le Mans as he attempts to leapfrog Rossi and Maverick Vinales in the standings.

At 24, Marquez is already a three-time MotoGP champion, and he is on his way to legendary status in the sport.

    

Valentino Rossi—Movistar Yamaha MotoGP

Rossi has proved consistency pays, and that you do not have to simply win races to lead the standings.

The superstar is yet to prevail in a grand prix this season, but he has finished on the podium in three of the opening four races of the year.

Rossi finished down the order in the last race in Texas, claiming 10th place as Pedrosa held off Marquez.

The result was a blip for the Italian, but he must prove he has the race pace needed to take maximum points as the title picture unfolds.

     

Maverick Vinales—Movistar Yamaha MotoGP

A maverick by name and nature, the Yahama rider won the Moto3 world championship in 2013 and has risen through the ranks to be considered one of the sport's most exciting talents.

The 22-year-old was voted the best rookie in MotoGP in 2015, and he has grown as he partners Rossi.

Vinales was victorious in the opening race of the season at Qatar, winning the battle in an exciting finish with Andrea Dovizioso.

A further win in Argentina sees him neck and neck with Rossi at the top of the world championship, but with plenty of time before the end of the campaign, a number of riders are expected to improve and challenge.

Dani Pedrosa headed a Spanish one-two-three as he prevailed at the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix on Saturday at the Circuito de Jerez.

The pole-sitter held off a late surge from his Repsol Honda team-mate Marc Marquez and eventually claimed victory by more than six seconds, while Ducati's Jorge Lorenzo completed the podium lineup for his best result of the season by a distance.

Rookie Johann Zarco impressed hugely to take fourth place as he pushed Lorenzo all the way to the finish. And Movistar Yamaha duo Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales finished 10th and sixth, respectively, seeing the battle at the top of the championship tighten up significantly.

Here are the final standings for the race:

Pos.	Points	Rider	Nation	Team	Bike	Time/Gap
1	25	Dani PEDROSA	SPA	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	45'26.827
2	20	Marc MARQUEZ	SPA	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	+6.136
3	16	Jorge LORENZO	SPA	Ducati Team	Ducati	+14.767
4	13	Johann ZARCO	FRA	Monster Yamaha Tech 3	Yamaha	+17.601
5	11	Andrea DOVIZIOSO	ITA	Ducati Team	Ducati	+22.913
6	10	Maverick VINALES	SPA	Movistar Yamaha MotoGP	Yamaha	+24.556
7	9	Danilo PETRUCCI	ITA	OCTO Pramac Racing	Ducati	+24.959
8	8	Jonas FOLGER	GER	Monster Yamaha Tech 3	Yamaha	+27.721
9	7	Aleix ESPARGARO	SPA	Aprilia Racing Team Gresini	Aprilia	+31.233
10	6	Valentino ROSSI	ITA	Movistar Yamaha MotoGP	Yamaha	+38.682
11	5	Scott REDDING	GBR	OCTO Pramac Racing	Ducati	+40.979
12	4	Hector BARBERA	SPA	Reale Avintia Racing	Ducati	+43.199
13	3	Loris BAZ	FRA	Reale Avintia Racing	Ducati	+43.211
14	2	Bradley SMITH	GBR	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	KTM	+47.964
15	1	Karel ABRAHAM	CZE	Pull&Bear Aspar Team	Ducati	+51.279
16		Sam LOWES	GBR	Aprilia Racing Team Gresini	Aprilia	+1'08.885
17		Takuya TSUDA	JPN	Team SUZUKI ECSTAR	Suzuki	+1'27.450
Not Classified
		Andrea IANNONE	ITA	Team SUZUKI ECSTAR	Suzuki	18 Laps
		Tito RABAT	SPA	EG 0,0 Marc VDS	Honda	18 Laps
		Cal CRUTCHLOW	GBR	LCR Honda	Honda	22 Laps
		Jack MILLER	AUS	EG 0,0 Marc VDS	Honda	22 Laps
		Alvaro BAUTISTA	SPA	Pull&Bear Aspar Team	Ducati	22 Laps
		Pol ESPARGARO	SPA	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	KTM	22 Laps

BT Sport MotoGP provided a look at the front of the grid ahead of the race start in Andalucia:

A reminder of your starting grid for the #SpanishGP:

P1 - #DP26
P2 - #MM93
P3 - #CC35 pic.twitter.com/9CsWNNc8db

— TNT Sports Bikes (@bikesontnt) May 7, 2017

Suzuki's Andrea Iannone made the best move at the start as he went up in to third place.

But it was Tech 3 Yamaha rookie Zarco who was most eye-catching in the early stages as he moved up as high as second before dropping behind Marquez and settling in third.

With 22 laps to go, Cal Crutchlow crashed out the race from fourth, per MotoGP.com:

#CC35 has crashed out of 4th! #PE44 goes with him a few seconds later. Both ok#SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/lVOQUoKOp6

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 7, 2017

Meanwhile, Pedrosa looked comfortable on the front as Ducati's Lorenzo, who has endured a tough start to the new season after switching teams, made fine progress through the field having started eighth on the grid. 

It became abundantly clear after the midway point the winner would come from Repsol Honda, with the Spanish duo of Pedrosa and Marquez lapping significantly faster than the rest of the field.

With 10 laps to go, Marquez, with a hard rear tyre, began to close on Pedrosa at the front. However, despite at one point cutting the gap down to under a second, the three-time world champion was kept at arm's length.

He clearly decided late on he had no chance of catching his team-mate, and Pedrosa cruised home for his first race victory of the year.

MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez will look to continue his form in his home country of Spain on Sunday after taking his first win of the 2017 season at the Grand Prix of the Americas.

Maverick Vinales crashed out of that race to bring his perfect start to an end, and the two will have their eyes on Valentino Rossi, the veteran Yamaha star who again leads the standings.

Rossi took the win in Jerez last season, and Marquez has only claimed a single victory in Andalucia. Here's a look at the race schedule, as well as some top riders to keep an eye on:

Date	Time (BST)	Event
Friday, May 5	8:55 a.m.	FP1
Friday, May 5	1:05 p.m.	FP2
Saturday, May 6	8:55 a.m.	FP3
Saturday, May 6	12:30 p.m.	FP4
Saturday, May 6	1:10 p.m.	Q1
Saturday, May 6	1:35 p.m.	Q2
Sunday, May 7	8:40 a.m.	WUP
Sunday, May 7	1 p.m.	Race

Live Stream: BT Sport website (UK), beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)

         

Valentino Rossi

Somehow, the 38-year-old Rossi is still measuring himself with the best MotoGP has to offer, with his remarkable consistency serving him well in the standings.

The Doctor hasn't won a race yet this season and only took two victories last year, but by finishing near the front of the pack in the majority of grand prixs, he always keeps the pressure on the other contenders.

Things haven't been any different this year, and he'll now get to defend his lead in Jerez, where he already has a remarkable seven wins in the top class under his belt.

Per Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (for MotoGP's official website), the Italian was not expecting this much success this early in the season:

I would never have expected to come to Jerez as a leader of the Championship. I'm very happy because we managed to solve some of the problems we had encountered during the winter tests and we are doing really good races. We still have to improve the bike a lot, that's for sure. The weekend in Jerez will be very important. This is the first European race and it's a circuit I really enjoy.

While Rossi has been remarkably successful in Jerez over the course of his career, the track has leveled the playing field quite well in the last five years, with five different winners.

Out of the top three riders in the standings, the only one without a win in the Spanish Grand Prix is Vinales.

         

Maverick Vinales

Vinales' Grand Prix of the Americas didn't last long, as the young talent crashed out early and watched as champion Marquez cruised to an easy win. After two straight victories, it was a bitter pill to swallow for the Yamaha man.

The 22-year-old's machine has been fast this season, and he showed his technical ability on the slower Suzuki last year. At Jerez, his ability to close gaps and engage in battles should serve him well.

He's been happy with the bike in pre-race testing so far:

https://twitter.com/maverickmack25/status/859442102056386566

Yamaha have been a little sharper with their setups than rivals Repsol Honda this season, and given the twisting nature of the track in Jerez—with braking a high priority—Vinales should have the advantage over the world champion.

         

Marc Marquez

Marquez will be among the favourites no matter which race he starts, but the Spanish Grand Prix is not one that suits his bike or particular racing style, explaining his single win there so far.

The 24-year-old is at his best when he can grab an early lead and keep building on his advantage. Away from traffic, he's virtually perfect, even if he has a tendency to take some odd lines from time to time.

The cramped circuit in Jerez means it's hard to pull away from the opposition, though, and in the head-to-head battles, Yamaha have had the upper hand over Repsol Honda so far.

It's never a smart idea to doubt Marquez, however―there's a reason he already has three MotoGP titles under his belt.

Defending MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez took his first win of the 2017 season on Sunday at the Grand Prix of the Americas, while championship leader Maverick Vinales crashed out.

Vinales had won the first two races of the season but couldn't even manage two laps on Sunday before crashing. Behind Marquez, Valentino Rossi beat Dani Pedrosa into second place, despite a penalty.

For Marquez, it was his fifth straight victory at the Grand Prix of the Americas. Rossi is the new championship leader, just ahead of Vinales.

Here's a look at Sunday's result:

Pos.	Points	Rider	Time/Gap
1	25	Marc Marquez	43'58.770
2	20	Valentino Rossi	+3.069
3	16	Dani Pedrosa	+5.112
4	13	Cal Crutchlow	+7.638
5	11	Johann Zarco	+7.957
6	10	Andrea Dovizioso	+14.058
7	9	Andrea Iannone	+15.491
8	8	Danilo Petrucci	+16.772
9	7	Jorge Lorenzo	+17.979
10	6	Jack Miller	+18.494
11	5	Jonas Folger	+18.903
12	4	Scott Redding	+28.735
13	3	Tito Rabat	+30.041
14	2	Hector Barbera	+31.364
15	1	Alvaro Bautista	+1'06.547
16		Bradley Smith	+1'22.090
17		Aleix Espargaro	2 Laps
DNF		Sam Lowes	10 Laps
DNF		Pol Espargaro	12 Laps
DNF		Loris Baz	13 Laps
DNF		Maverick Vinales	20 Laps
DNF		Karel Abraham	20 Lap

The current MotoGP standings:

Pos.	Rider	Points
1	Valentino Rossi	56
2	Maverick Vinales	50
3	Marc Marquez	38
4	Andrea Dovizioso	30
5	Cal Crutchlow	29
6	Dani Pedrosa	27
7	Johann Zarco	22
8	Jonas Folger	21
9	Scott Redding	21

Recap

Marquez needed a good result to get his world-title bid on track and started from pole position, but Pedrosa shot past him and Rossi to take an early lead.

Jorge Lorenzo, who was also in dire need of some points, used his superior straight-line speed to move up the pack, while Vinales slotted in behind Rossi and Marquez. The 22-year-old appeared to be in fine position behind the leaders, but on Turn 18 of the second lap, disaster struck, per Crash.net MotoGP on Twitter:

Maverick Vinales crashes out! His dream start at Yamaha is over #AmericasGP #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/O5wLzWsfId

— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) April 23, 2017

The news was a major boost for Marquez, who clocked the fastest time on Lap 3, closing the gap to Pedrosa, with Johann Zarco gaining on Rossi.

Zarco continued to impress but nearly caused a huge crash for Rossi, making contact and sending the Italian off the track. Somehow, Rossi not only kept his position but actually won time during the incident, per MotoGP's official Twitter account:

Zarco is the man on the move, piling the pressure on #VR46... who was forced to run off the track!#AmericasGP pic.twitter.com/Q6rwfVQQSb

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 23, 2017

It was later confirmed Rossi would get a 0.3 second penalty for the advantage gained.

At the front, Pedrosa and Marquez battled for the lead, with multiple overtakes in quick succession. The defending champion eventually found some daylight after nine laps, but time differences at the front remained minimal.

In the background, Loris Baz crashed out, and Pol Espargaro's race ended with smoke rising from his bike.

At the front, the battle between Marquez and Pedrosa continued, as shared by MotoGP:

It's neck and neck between the Honda boys!

Feeling a bit tense @HRC_MotoGP?😅😜 #AmericasGP pic.twitter.com/I58t9jeUax

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 23, 2017

The current world champion showed his class toward the end of the race, however, with Pedrosa soon dropping back into the reach of Rossi. The veteran made his move during Lap 19, but still had the penalty to worry about.

Pedrosa couldn't keep things close in the final two laps, while Marquez cruised to the win. In the background, Andrea Iannone stayed ahead of Lorenzo, whose poor start to the season continued.

The next race will be the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez on May 7.