Alex Marquez recovers for virtual home podium

Another dramatic race saw a number of falls, but once again Alex Marquez showed his consistency to continue his perfect podium record with Marc Marquez clinching an important fourth.

Rapid adaption to the new MotoGP 2020 video game saw Alex Marquez start on the middle of the front row for the 13-lap Red Bull Virtual GP of Spain with team-mate Marc Marquez further down the order than usual on the third row. Both were confident in their pace as the lights went out on the third virtual race of the year.

Turn One was a messy affair as riders dipped and dived, but a great start aboard the RC213V saw Alex lead out of the opening corner. He and Francesco Bagnaia duked it out for much of the first lap until an uncharacteristic mistake from Alex at Turn 10 saw the Moto2 World Champion slide off. Quickly remounting, Alex charged forward and picked his way through the field. By lap four, the MotoGP rookie was in second – where he would eventually finish the race as a second fall ended his chance of winning. The result moves Alex to be joint leader of the championship.

Able to make up several positions off the line, Marc Marquez found himself in and amongst the top five immediately. With Alex’s crash ahead, Marc was again battling for the podium and spent following laps battling with Viñales. The pair were soon joined by Marc’s Repsol Honda Team team-mate and the reigning World Champion looked for an opening. Late antics with Petrucci saw Marquez drop back to fourth and collect strong points for the championship.

Leaving their home round with another podium and double-top five finish has the Repsol Honda Team pleased with the opening rounds of the virtual season.