There were those around the Paddock on race morning that thought Marc Marquez’s winning streak just might come to an end at the storied Indianapolis Motor Speedway. How wrong those folks were. Marquez recovered from an uncharacteristically bad start to dominate the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, and in the process collect his tenth straight victory on the season.
“I sometimes think I may finish second or third,” said Marquez jokingly to reporters afterwards. However, that would not be the case on this day, as he piloted his Respol Honda to a second straight Moto GP Elite Class win at 16th and Georgetown. Movistar Yamaha teammates Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi provided a valiant effort in terms of keeping the winner honest as they came home second and third respectively. Neither of them had anything capable of overtaking Marquez who now has tied Mick Doohan’s incredible 1997 mark of 10 consecutive wins.
Notes: The Moto GP race got off to a rough start with a first lap crash that took both Alvaro Bautista and Yonny Hernandez out of the race. Stefan Bradi would tangle with Alex Espargaro on lap 13, ending the day for both riders.
While Marquez’s streak of 10 straight Moto GP wins seems impossible to fathom, it is not the first time a rider has surmounted such an impressive feat. Mick Doohan also did it in 1997 and Mike Hailwood set this lofty standard back in 1964. Marquez will look to win his 11th straight event on Aug. 17 as Moto GP arrives in Czechoslovakia.
The Moto 2 event was captured by Mika Kallio. The race had to be red flagged after a crash involving four drivers.
Efren Vazquez took home his first career win in the Moto 3 contest.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has confirmed that Moto GP will return in 2015 with a date to be announced.
Danny Bridges, who found the smoked salmon in the Paddock dining area to his liking, can be reached at (317) 578-1780 or at Bridgeshd@aol.com.
Danny Bridges is an award-winning journalist and a longtime sports columnist for the Indianapolis Recorder. He covers college, professional sports and especially all things IndyCar racing. He can be reached at 317-370-8447 or at bridgeshd@aol.com.
