2014 Aragon MotoGP Results

2014 Aragon MotoGP Results

Spoiler Alert: 2014 MotoGP results from Motorland Aragon in Spain listed below

Since Motorland Aragon joined Grand Prix racing in 2010, only two manufacturers have been victorious – Ducati in 2010 (Casey Stoner), and Honda for the past-three consecutive years (Stoner, Dani Pedrosa, Marc Marquez).

Though a Jorge Lorenzo’s factory Yamaha finished second in the past two years, the YZR-M1 had struggled, not able to catch the factory Honda.

But this all changed at round 14 of the 2014 MotoGP Championship when Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s skillfully won a dry-wet race. Joining Lorenzo on the podium of Grand Prix racing’s 800th premier-class start since 1949 was NGM Forward Racing’s Aleix Espargaro and Ducati Team’s Cal Crutchlow.

The wet conditions equaled disaster for the top runners in the series. The slick conditions caused crashes for the man who won at Misano two weeks ago – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Valentino Rossi – and the Repsol Honda duo of Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa.

The 23-lap race began under cloudy but dry conditions. Getting to turn one of 17 first was Pedrosa. The Spaniard was followed by Pramac Racing’s Andrea Iannone aboard the new GP14.2, which has a slimmer chassis, and the man who earned his 11th pole of 2014 MotoGP, Marquez.

Iannone took the lead on turn three, and Pedrosa lost a few positions. By the end of lap one, Iannone was out front ahead of Marquez, Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Monster Energy Yamaha’s Pol Espargaro and Rossi.

Marquez didn’t waste any time, and took the lead on turn one of lap two. Iannone quickly countered, but disaster struck; while riding at this best, he contacted Lorenzo. Iannone rode through the wet crash, attempting to keep the Desmosedici upright. But he lost traction, and crashed hard, the GP14.2 flipping numerous times. Iannone had crashed out, but walked away unharmed.

Due to wreck, Lorenzo was now second, followed by Pedrosa, Rossi, Pol Espargaro, Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso and LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl.

With 20 to go, Rossi attempted to pass Pedorsa ahead of turn seven. But the nine-time World Champion ran off the track, losing traction in a slim section of artificial grass. This caused a high side, and Rossi was taken off the track on a stretcher. He was later observed standing ahead of visiting the track’s Medical Center.

From there, a three-way battle began between the home favorites – Marquez, Lorenzo and Pedrosa,.

On lap nine, Lorenzo took the lead from Marquez at turn seven, and some aggressive riding between both Spaniards began as they entertained their home crowd. Marquez would retake the lead with 12 laps to go, just before the white flag was waved, indicating slick conditions.

With the white flag out, riders had the opportunity to switch to their rain bikes. But the decision is solely based on the rider, which made all the difference on the outcome of Aragon MotoGp.

As Lorenzo and Marquez swapped the lead up front, Pedrosa stalked closely, waiting for his competitors to make mistakes. Pedrosa eventually slipped past both riders, and a battle began between him and his teammate.

With 8 laps to go, a white flag with a red cross was waved, meaning the rain was getting heavier and the surface conditions slicker.

Aleix Espargaro was the first to pit, swapping to his rain bike. He was followed by the returning Nicky Hayden on the Drive M7 Aspar Honda, along with others running further back in the field.

Almost all riders swapped out for their rain bikes when five laps remained –  except for a few, including Marquez, Pedrosa and Dovi. Lorenzo pitted, rejoining the grid on his YZR-M1 set up for the wet.

As the rain got heavier, Marquez and Pedrosa stayed out for one more lap on their RC213Vs shod with slicks. Trouble began due to these decisions. Pedrosa was the first to crash out on the front straight while his bike was upright. He took a hard hit, but immediately began running to the pits to get his rain bike.

Next to crash ahead of pitting was Dovi, who lost his GP14.2 at the final turn.

With three laps to go, the young Marquez continued on his dry setup. But he would crash at turn two, holding onto the bike as he slid, not wanting the bike to start flipping. Marquez was able to get the RC213V started and returned to the race, the bike running with much damage. He was able to finish the lap and get his rain bike, but this forced him to rejoin the race in 13th.

Up front, Lorenzo’s decision to swap to his rain bike earlier allowed him to earn his first win of the season. This was the first time Yamaha won at Aragon, and its second-consecutive victory of 2014 MotoGP.

“Today I had one of the best starts in my career, and I was impressed with my pace and feeling in the bike in dry conditions. It was a pity that it started to rain as I felt I could fight for the victory in the dry, but then I saw that Marc and Dani stayed out on track on slicks, so I thought I’d take a risk and pit earlier than them for wet tires,” Lorenzo says.

“I then found myself in first position after my first lap on wet tires, so I just had to keep focused so I wouldn’t crash. This was my first victory in a long time, so I’m very proud and very happy.”

Aleix Espargaro – the first rider to pit – took second, earning his first-ever podium finish in the premier class. Crutchlow took third – his first podium of the season and best finish since sixth at the opening round in Qatar.

Bradl finished fourth after a battle with the following two finishers in sixth and seventh, Pol Espargaro and GO&FUN Honda Gresini’s Alvaro Bautista. Completing the top 10 were the Drive M7 Aspar duo of Hiroshi Aoyama and Hayden, and Bautista’s teammate Scott Redding.

Marquez would finish 13th, and Pedrosa 14th. This didn’t drastically affect the points battle up top, considering Rossi crashed out. With four rounds remaining, Marquez continues to lead the points battle with 292. He is 75 points ahead of Pedrosa, and 78 ahead of Rossi. Lorenzo is in fourth, 90 points behind.

The series now breaks for two weeks before a grueling stretch of three back-to-back races held in three different countries. It all begins with the Grand Prix of Japan at Sepang Oct. 10-12.

2014 Aragon MotoGP Results:

2014 MotoGP Point Standings (after 14 of 18 rounds):