Barcelona (AFP) – Valentino Rossi gave his MotoGP world title prospects a massive boost with success in the Grand Prix of Catalonia on Sunday at a sombre Montmelo circuit reeling from the tragic death of Luis Salom.
Motorcycling’s headline act got the better of a gripping dogfight in the closing laps with pole sitter Marc Marquez, who crossed in second to take the championship lead.
Jorge Lorenzo lined up leading the MotoGP standings but came away pointless after being wiped out by Andrea Iannone.
Marquez now leads the championship after this seventh leg of the season on 125 points from Lorenzo on 115 points and Rossi in third on 103 points.
Salom suffered fatal injuries in a crash in Friday’s practice for the Moto2 Grand Prix won earlier on Sunday by Johann Zarco, who like Rossi and Moto3 winner Jorge Navarro dedicated victory to Salom.
Salom was honoured by a minute’s silence before racing.
The stricken Spaniard was only eight years old when Rossi notched up his first world championship win in 2000.
Sixteen years later the 37-year-old Italian veteran posted his 114th career victory and 88th in the top division after employing all his skill, nerve and experience to shake off a determined Marquez.
Given the difficult circumstances, there was a touching moment when the riders dismounted as Rossi and Marquez shook hands, drawing a line under their bitter rivalry from 2015.
“This is a great, great victory, one of the best of my career. It is for Salom and for his family,” said the Yamaha star.
By lap five Rossi had fought his way up to second from fifth on the grid, and he then pushed past teammate Lorenzo, who slipped back to fourth.
Lorenzo’s hopes of a third straight win after Le Mans and Italy disappeared when an impetuous Iannone tried an ill-fated and dangerous overtaking move with nine laps left.
Lorenzo was clearly furious at the Ducati rider’s antics.
As the defending world champion trudged back to the stands, Marquez went in hot pursuit of his arch rival Rossi.
The two-time world champion nudged his Honda up the inside of Rossi’s bike to take a look with five laps remaining, only for Rossi to close the door.
Two laps later Marquez muscled his way past, and it was nip and tuck between the pair until Rossi regained the lead to pull away and take the win by over two and a half seconds.
“I knew it would be hard, I was worried because when I was in front I was pushing a lot, but not enough to escape from Marc,” said Rossi.
Marquez, like Rossi and third-placed Dani Pedrosa wearing shirts in tribute to Salom, said: “Of course this battle is for Salom.”
He added: “When I saw Lorenzo KOed my mentality changed.”
Rossi claimed his seventh race here but first since 2009. He will be encouraged by the fact that 15 of the last 19 Catalonia winners have gone on to clinch the title.
Earlier, Zarco won the Moto2 race from pole.
After holding off Kalex teammates Alex Rins and Japan’s Takaaki Nakagami, the defending world champion’s thoughts turned to his departed Spanish colleague.
“This victory was for Salom. I give it to him. Now I will celebrate on the podium with all the riders together thinking of him,” the Frenchman said.
This was his third win of the season and it moved him up a place into third on 106 points behind new leader Rins on 116 and Briton Sam Lowes, who came in sixth, on 108.
Spaniard Jorge Navarro thrilled his home fans with a debut success in the Moto3 category.
The Honda rider’s win at his 33rd attempt over South Africa’s Brad Binder and Italian Enea Bastianini boosted his world championship prospects.
After this seventh leg of the season, the 20-year-old from Valencia moves on to 103 points, 44 points adrift of standings leader Binder.
“I’m feeling emotional,” said Navarro. “This win is for Luis.”
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