2013 Catalunya MotoGP Results

2013 Catalunya Grand Prix Results

Spoiler Alert: 2013 MotoGP results from Catalunya, Spain, listed below

As the 2013 MotoGP Championship entered round six at Catalunya this weekend, the second of four rounds in Spain, only three riders were victorious – Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa.

The reigning MotoGP Champion Lorenzo won the season opener at Qatar and the last round out at Mugello aboard the Yamaha Factory Racing YZR-M1. Marquez won at Circuit of the Americas aboard his Repsol Honda RC213V, and the rookie’s teammate Pedrosa won at Jerez and Le Mans. These three riders also filled the podium at both the Circuit of the Americas and Jerez.

And on Sunday at Catalunya, all three Spaniards were vying for the home win. The man immediately setting the pace was Pedrosa, who celebrated his 200th Grand Prix start at Catalunya. Leading the points ahead of Lorenzo, Pedrosa took his 26th pole of his career, also his first ever first-position start at Catalunya.

But after 25 laps on the 2.937-mile circuit containing 13 turns, Pedrsoa couldn’t quite catch the rider who had won at Catalunya in 2012 and 2010 – Lorenzo. The rider of Barcelona, which is 20 miles north of Catalunya, began from third on the grid, but took the holeshot ahead of Pedrosa and Marquez.

And after 25 laps, this is how the top three remained, making for yet another all-Spanish podium. Lorenzo took the win by 1.763 seconds ahead of Pedrosa, and 1.826 seconds ahead of Marquez.

Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing YZR-M1 MotoGP) says: “A perfect day, to be honest I didn’t expect to win, I knew I had some chance but not like in Mugello where I was more convinced we could get the victory. It was really difficult physically as it was the hottest race of the year. I kept pushing 100 percent all race because any mistake would have been a disaster. I was surprised at the start as I expected to just pass Cal but I passed Dani also.

“I took profit from it and tried to open the gap but it was not enough to go away, Dani was there and we played some games, I was 0.5 ahead then 0.2; I was going then he was recovering me. Finally because I was tough mentally and never gave up I could open in the last five laps a little gap that was enough to win.

“The girl who designed my helmet, Anna Vives, is famous in Spain; she is a symbol that people with Down syndrome are capable of a lot more than some people think. I think it was very original and colorful so I was very proud and happy to have her on the podium to share the win with me.”

When the Catalunya Grand Prix  got underway, Lorenzo edged out Pedrosa to the first corner, followed by Marquez, Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Cal Crutchlow and Yamaha Factory Racing’s Valentino Rossi, who led Friday’s practice sessions.

Behind Rossi was the man whom the nine-time World Champion referenced at Thursday’s pre-race conference when talking about his “pain in the ass” incident from Mugello – GO & FUN Honda Gresini’s Alvaro Bautista. At Mugello, Bautista crashed out on the first lap, taking out Rossi.

And on the first lap at Catalunya’s Turn 10,  it was almost a repeat of the Mugello incident. Bautista forced Rossi wide, and tucked the front end of his RC213V, sliding towards Rossi. Luckily for the Italian, Bautista missed Rossi, and slide into the gravel trap. The crash caused Bautista to suffer his second consecutive DNF of 2013 MotoGP. Paul Bird Motorsports Michael Laverty and Ducati Team’s Michele Pirro were also forced off the track during the incident, the former suffering a DNF.

Rossi would get away clean, and run with the front group of Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Marquez and Crutchlow. This five would pull away from a second group that consisted of LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl, who was followed closely by thee Ducati riders – Ducati Team’s Nicky Hayden, Pramac Racing’s Andrea Iannone and Hayden’s teammate Andrea Dovizioso.

Then the Catalunya crash fest began. All together, eight riders would DNF due to wrecks or engine problems.

The first occurred as the lead group was running around the 1:43 mark. The crash occurred once again at Turn 10, Iannone tucking in the front of his GP13.

With 20 to go, Lorenzo had a 0.3 second lead over Pedrosa, with much pressure coming from Marquez, Crutchlow and Rossi. But unfortunately for the Brit Crutchlow, he was not able to battle for a third consecutive podium finish. Crutchlow crashed out at turn four, suffering his first wreck of any race in 2013 MotoGP. On the same lap, Hayden took Bradl for sixth place, but fell victim to turn 10, tucking the front end of his GP13.

Besides a few riders suffering DNFs due to technical issues, such as Power Electronics Aspar’s Randy de Puniet, the grid remained in the same positions to the end of the race.

Lorenzo would take his 26th victory of his career, placing him one ahead of 1993 World Champion Kevin Schwantz. Behind, Pedrosa would win the race-long battle with Marquez to take second.

Rossi finished alone in fourth, 5.874 seconds behind Lorenzo, and 20.882 ahead of Bradl. Monster Tech 3 Yamaha’s celebrated his best MotoGP finish with sixth,  ahead of the top Ducati rider – Dovizioso.

Rounding out the top 10 were Power Electronic Aspar’s Aleix Espargaro, the top CRT finisher in every round this season, NGM Mobile Forward Racing Kawasaki’s Colin Edwards and Ignite Pramac Racing’s Pirro, Ben Spies substitute rider. Unfortunately, Spies was forced to miss a second consecutive round due to ongoing shoulder issues.

After six of 18 rounds, Pedrosa retains the MotoGP Championship lead, though Lorenzo reduced it by seven points. The series breaks for two weeks before heading resuming in The Netherlands June 28 at the historic Assen TT circuit.

2013 Catalunya MotoGP Results:

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