Marquez closes in on title with Aragon GP win

Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez competes in the MotoGP race of the Aragon Grand Prix at the Motorland racetrack in Alcaniz. (AFP/Javier Soriano)

ALCANIZ, Spain: Spaniard Marc Marquez closed in on the MotoGP world championship in his rookie season with a sixth race victory of the year in the Aragon Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 20-year-old passed reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo with 10 laps remaining to move 39 points ahead of his compatriot with just four races remaining.

Seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi was third as he held off pressure from Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl in a fantastic battle for a place on the podium.

However, it was a disastrous day for Marquez's Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa as he crashed out seconds after he and Marquez touched wheels to all but end his championship hopes.

"I braked as I saw I was touching him (Pedrosa) so I went wide. Maybe I touched a cable of his but I am very disappointed for Dani. It is very bad luck for him because it is very rare that this happens."

As in many races this season it was Lorenzo who made the fastest start as he leapfrogged Marquez, who had started on pole, to move into the lead.

However, after losing some time as he ran wide in the collision with Pedrosa, Marquez was gaining on Lorenzo all the time and eventually made his move down the inside of the Yamaha rider with 10 laps remaining.

"I made an error as always at the start and that is something I have to improve on for the future races, but I only lost a second so I was able to be aggressive on the tyres and recover.

"It was a very tough race but in the end I'm delighted to get these very important points."

Lorenzo had pulled himself back into championship contention with back-to-back victories in Britain and San Marino heading into the race, but he admitted that after a shaky start Marquez had simply been the better man on the day.

"There are no excuses, Marc was faster than us and he was better," he said.

"I can only congratulate him and look forward to the next race."

With Marquez comfortably clear at the front, the real battle later in the race was for third, fourth and fifth position as Rossi, Bautista and Bradl continually changed position.

However, it was Rossi's experience that won out as the 34-year-old sealed his fourth podium finish of the season.

"It was a good race for me. I had to fight very hard at the end with Bradl and Bautista, but to be on the podium is always a good result."