Mugello. For MotoGP fans, the name not only brings images of Tuscany, but also some extremely fast racing.The 3.259-mile circuit contains one of the longest straights – 0.7 miles – in MotoGP. And under pristine conditions Saturday, a new outright MotoGP Top Speed Record was set by Pramac Racing Ducati’s Andrea Iannone. The speed? How about 217.23 mph.And as the series headed into round six of 18 at this beautiful and fast circuit, two stories were in the forefront – Marc Marquez’s dominance so far, and Italy’s favorite rider Valentino Rossi starting his 300th grand prix.Marquez had won the opening five rounds from the pole, something last competed by Mick Doohan. Mugello also has much significance for the young Spaniard considering he took his first-ever GP there in the former 125cc class four years ago. As for Rossi, Mugello is his favorite circuit, and this weekend he became only the second rider since Loris Capirossi to start 300 GPs.But there was also one more story playing out…Movistar Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo, who qualified third behind Iannone and pole man Marquez. He had taken five-consecutive podiums at Mugello, including the past three consecutive wins, and was starving for his first win of 2014.But Marquez would deny Lorenzo the win. After 23 laps and one of the best battles in GP history, Marquez took his sixth-straight win of 2014 MotoGP. He now becomes the first rider to achieve six-straight wins since Rossi in 2002.Joining Marquez on the podium was two-time MotoGP Champion Lorenzo and nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi. This was the Doctor’s 151st career-podium finish.When the 23-lap Grand Prix of Italy got underway, Iannone – on a soft-front tire – would take the holeshot, followed by Lorenzo, Marquez, Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa, Monster Tech 3 Yamaha’s Pol Espargaro, Ducati Team’s Cal Crutchlow and Rossi.By mid lap, Lorenzo passed Iannone for the lead, and began a nearly flawless performance. Behind, Rossi was on a charge. The Italian, who qualified 10th on the grid and won at Mugello seven times, had made quick work of Crutchlow. The 34-year-old Italian moved into sixth on the opening lap.At the end of lap one at the end of the MotoGP’s fastest straights, Lorenzo opened up a gap on Iannone. Marquez was close behind, stalking the Ducati GP14 rider. As for Rossi, he continued his charge and was into fourth on the second lap.Heading into lap three, Marquez passed Iannone for second. Behind, Monster Tech 3 Yamaha’s Bradley Smith crashed out. On the following lap, Crutchlow folded the front of his GP14. The Ducati slide across the track, taking out LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl, who suffered a huge high side. Luckily, both riders walked away unharmed.Rossi was the next to pass Iannone, taking third. The Yamaha YZR-M1 pilot would remain in third, not encountering any battles for the remainder of the race. The same couldn’t be said for the situation up front as Marquez chased down Lorenzo.Marquez would closely stalk Lorenzo, waiting for a mistake. And on the back straight with eight to go, Lorenzo slightly touched the grass, giving Marquez that little bit needed to take the lead.Lorenzo would counter at the end of the straight once again, retaking the lead. And with six to go the battle was on for the first time this season between the two Spaniards. This fight would go down to the checkered flag.Marquez would once again pass Lorenzo at the beginning of lap four, taking his nemesis once again in the slipstream, but Lorenzo would immediately fight back, retaking the lead. The two seemed to scrap plastics a few times, fights similar to last season’s rounds in Sepang and Motegi.With three to go, Marquez got passed Lorenzo after the back straight, braking extremely late. But Lorenzo took a very daring inside pass at Marquez, and was out front once again.Marquez put the pressure on, and took the lead heading into the final lap. This time, the 21-year-old RC213V pilot would hold off his fellow countryman to take his sixth-straight win of 2014 MotoGP. He would take the victory by 0.121 of a second.Rossi finished third, 2.688 seconds behind Marquez, for his 151st-career podium.Pedrosa took fourth, 14.046 seconds off the pace, followed by Pol Espargaro. Rounding out the top 10 were Dovizioso, Iannone, GO&FUN Honda Gresini’s Alvaro Bautsita, NGM Forward Racing’s Aleix Espargaro – the top open-class finisher once again – and Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Ducati’s Yonny Hernandez.With his win, Marquez has a perfect 150 points after six rounds. He leads Rossi by 53 points, and Pedrosa by 54 points. The next closest rider is Lorenzo, who is 85 points back.The series now breaks for two weeks before heading to Catalunya in Spain for round seven of 18.2014 Mugello MotoGP Results:
Pos.
Points
Num.
Rider
Nation
Team
Bike
Km/h
Time/Gap
1
25
93
Marc MARQUEZ
SPA
Repsol Honda Team
Honda
173.8
41’38.254
2
20
99
Jorge LORENZO
SPA
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP
Yamaha
173.8
+0.121
3
16
46
Valentino ROSSI
ITA
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP
Yamaha
173.6
+2.688
4
13
26
Dani PEDROSA
SPA
Repsol Honda Team
Honda
172.8
+14.046
5
11
44
Pol ESPARGARO
SPA
Monster Yamaha Tech 3
Yamaha
172.7
+15.603
6
10
4
Andrea DOVIZIOSO
ITA
Ducati Team
Ducati
172.6
+17.042
7
9
29
Andrea IANNONE
ITA
Pramac Racing
Ducati
172.6
+17.129
8
8
19
Alvaro BAUTISTA
SPA
GO&FUN Honda Gresini
Honda
171.9
+27.407
9
7
41
Aleix ESPARGARO
SPA
NGM Forward Racing
Forward Yamaha
170.9
+41.886
10
6
68
Yonny HERNANDEZ
COL
Energy T.I. Pramac Racing
Ducati
170.7
+45.212
11
5
51
Michele PIRRO
ITA
Ducati Team
Ducati
170.7
+45.433
12
4
17
Karel ABRAHAM
CZE
Cardion AB Motoracing
Honda
170.7
+45.831
13
3
45
Scott REDDING
GBR
GO&FUN Honda Gresini
Honda
170.7
+45.839
14
2
7
Hiroshi AOYAMA
JPN
Drive M7 Aspar
Honda
170.6
+46.834
15
1
5
Colin EDWARDS
USA
NGM Forward Racing
Forward Yamaha
169.1
+1’09.554
16
70
Michael LAVERTY
GBR
Paul Bird Motorsport
PBM
168.5
+1’17.789
17
23
Broc PARKES
AUS
Paul Bird Motorsport
PBM
167.4
+1’35.031
18
63
Mike DI MEGLIO
FRA
Avintia Racing
Avintia
167.3
+1’37.501
Not Classified
8
Hector BARBERA
SPA
Avintia Racing
Avintia
166.4
16 Laps
84
Michel FABRIZIO
ITA
Octo IodaRacing Team
ART
163.2
17 Laps
35
Cal CRUTCHLOW
GBR
Ducati Team
Ducati
169.1
20 Laps
6
Stefan BRADL
GER
LCR Honda MotoGP
Honda
168.7
20 Laps
38
Bradley SMITH
GBR
Monster Yamaha Tech 3
Yamaha
167.1
21 Laps
2014 MotoGP Championship Point Standings (after six of 18 rounds):
