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Marc Marquez Wins San Marino MotoGP, Takes Championship Lead

BBC Sport •
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Defending MotoGP champion Marc Marquez moved to the top of the drivers' standings with victory at the Misano circuit in San Marino on Sunday. Italian Ducati rider Marco Bezzecchi crashed out of his home grand prix on the second lap after starting the race on pole. Spaniard Marquez, 33, came through on his Ducati to win the race by 0.657 seconds from his brother Alex, 30, while Pedro Acosta was third. Previous championship leader Jorge Martin struggled to match the pace of the front runners on his Aprilla, finishing down in fifth place.

Seven-time champion Marquez moved level with compatriot Martin on 274 points after 14 races. But he leads the way, with eight rounds remaining, as a result of his greater number of race wins - five, compared with Martin's single victory.

"There are a lot of races to go," said Marquez, who missed part of the season through injury but has clawed back 203 points in the past seven grands prix. "Now we are leading but the most important thing is that here we took 37 points."

The championship moves on to Austria for the next race weekend - from Friday to Sunday, 18-20 September.