For a man who had made a habit of hanging out in second place this year, fourth position on lap three was an unlikely spot from which to launch a run to victory in the Spanish Grand Prix. But, when you dig a little deeper, it starts to look like that was all part of Alex Marquez’s destiny to score his breakthrough MotoGP grand prix triumph.
The Gresini Ducati rider was lucky to even be so high up the order at that point. The Spaniard had held his grid position – also fourth – after the start but survived an exceedingly hairy moment at the end of the back straight on the opening lap. In an ill-calculated manoeuvre, he had arrived at Pedrosa corner far too fast, very nearly taking out his brother Marc as he shot between him and Francesco Bagnaia.
