2013 Austin MotoGP | Results from Circuit of the Americas

2013 MotoGP Results from Circuit of the Americas, Austin

Spoiler Alert: 2013 MotoGP results from Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, listed below.

Since the very first time MotoGP prototypes lapped the new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, one rider was dominate – Marc Marquez.

The Repsol Honda RC213V rider led all three private practice sessions at COTA in March when only five riders tested there. And the other riders were no slouches – Marquez’s teammate Dani Pedrosa, the Yamaha Factory Racing duo of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi, and LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl.

Then when the Red Bull of the Americas, round two of 18 in 2013 MotoGP, began Friday, Marquez led all but one practice session, and qualified on top. With his pole, the 20-year-old Spaniard broke Freddie Spencer’s 1982 record of becoming the youngest rider to take a MotoGP pole (two-time 500cc Champion was 21 in 1982).

But more records were broken Sunday when Marquez took the win at Circuit of the Americas. He is now the youngest rider to ever win a MotoGP. He was joined on the podium by teammate Dani Pedrosa and the reigning MotoGP Champion, Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo, making for a 1-2-3 for Spain. But because Marquez is the  most recent winner, he holds the lead.

When the lights went green in Austin, Pedrosa, who started second behind Marquez and led the warm up, got the holeshot, leading into the first of 20 turns at the 3.426-mile circuit. Lorenzo, on the other hand went backwards. Following Pedrosa into turn one was Bradl, but the German was soon passed by Marquez, Lorenzo, and Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Cal Crutchlow.

These four MotoGP pilots remained up top, but by lap 13, Marquez made a pass for the lead at Turn 7. Pedrosa would remain within attacking distance, but on lap 19 he had a slight mistake, allowing Marquez to gain some distance.

Marquez would cross the line 1.534 seconds ahead to take his first victory of his MotoGP career. Lorenzo would finish 3.381 seconds back. Crutchlow, finished alone in fourth, 6.616 seconds back, with Bradl taking fifth 12.674 seconds behind.

Nine-time world champion Rossi was able to finish in sixth, ahead of Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso and GO&FUN Honda Gresini’s Alvaro Bautista. Leading American rider Nicky Hayden and Energy T.I. Pramac Racing’s Andrea Iannone rounded out the top 10.

Extending his lead in the CRT ranks, Power Electronics Aspar’s Aleix Espargaro enjoyed a strong ride to 11th place ahead of two prototype riders: English rookie Bradley Smith (Tech 3) and Frenchman Randy de Puniet (Aspar).

PBM enjoyed its strongest weekend to date, with Yonny Hernandez sealing the final point for 15th position while Michael Laverty recorded his first MotoGP finish in 16th with the team’s own-built bike. Avintia Blusens maintained the symmetry in 17th and 18th, with Hiroshi Aoyama having overtaken Hector Barbera, while NGM Mobile Forward Racing’s Claudio Corti, Gresini CRT rider Bryan Staring and Attack Performance Racing’s Blake Young (the single wildcard rider in the race) completed the field,

It was a hugely disappointing afternoon for Came IodaRacing Project. Danilo Petrucci was fortunate to stay upright when teammate Lucas Pesek crashed out of the race directly behind him, only to retire in the pits with mechanical gremlins only minutes later. Colin Edwards was also on the sidelines, as the local Texan hero racked up the unenviable fact of becoming the race’s first of three retirements.

The 2013 MotoGP Championship now heads to Jerez for the first of four rounds held on Spanish soil. Jerez MotoGP gets underway in two weeks.

Photos by Ara Ashjian

2013 Austin MotoGP Results from Circuit of the Americas:

2013 MotoGP Championship Point Standings (after two of 18 rounds):