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MONTEREY, California - Rookie Marc Marquez won the US Grand Prix, extending his championship points lead and becoming the youngest rider in MotoGP history to win back-to-back series races.
Marquez, who won earlier in Germany in July, captured his third victory of the season as he beat Stefan Bradl from pole at the Laguna Seca raceway.
The Honda rider becomes the first rookie to win at Laguna Seca.
IN THE LEAD
Marquez said: "I'm very happy because it's great to go into the summer break with this result. It's a new circuit and I've got 25 points."
Bradl claimed his first podium spot and nine-time World champion Valentino Rossi finished third.
Marquez also won races at a new course in Austin, Texas and in Germany, as he surpassed Freddie Spencer as the youngest to record consecutive victories.
RISKY MOVES
Starting in second place, Marquez negotiated a couple of nifty passes, including overtaking Rossi on the treacherous Corkscrew corner in the early stages.
He then roared past Bradl to win the race by 2.2secs on the 3.5km track on a northern California hilltop.
Marquez said: "I overtook Valentino then caught Bradl. I stayed behind him for about 12 laps, then tried to pass him to open up a gap."
Laguna Seca is the second of three MotoGP events on US soil in 2013 as international motorcycle racing seeks to make a big splash and gain more North American fans.
Marquez now has a 16-point lead over team mate Dani Pedrosa in the overall points race at the season's halfway mark. Lorenzo is in third, 26 points behind of Marquez.
Honda's Bradl celebrated his first podium finish from pole position: "I am so pleased with my result. The pressure was high this week.
"My first podium here. We did good speeds all week."
Rossi held off Alvaro Bautista for the final podium spot. Pedrosa rounded out the top five.
Rossi returned to Yamaha this year after a couple of frustrating seasons with Ducati.
Former 2006 MotoGP champ Nicky Hayden was the top American rider, finishing in eighth. Hayden said he won't be returning to Ducati in 2014.
Jorge Lorenzo finished sixth as he rode through the pain of a broken collarbone. He injured it in a crash at Assen, Netherlands in June and then re-fractured it in Germany.
Officials held a moment of silence before the start of the race to honour the memory of Italian Andrea Antonelli who died after a crash during the World Supersport race in Moscow earlier, July 21 2013.
The second half of the MotoGP season begins in three weeks in Indianapolis.
Results of the US Grand Prix at the Laguna Seca raceway on Sunday:
1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 44min00.695secs
2. Stefan Bradl (GER/Honda) at 2.298secs
3. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 4.498
4. Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Honda) 4.557
5. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 9.257
6. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 12.970
7. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Yamaha) 15.304
8. Nicky Hayden (USA/Ducati) 33.963
9. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 34.129
10. Hector Barbera (ESP/FTR) 1.02.369
Championship standings
1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 163 points
2. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 147
3. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 137
4. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 117
5. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Yamaha) 116
6. Stefan Bradl (GER/Honda) 84
7. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducti) 81
8. Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Honda) 71
9. Nicky Hayden (USA/Ducati) 65
10. Aleix Esparagaro (ESP/ART) 52
Marquez, who won earlier in Germany in July, captured his third victory of the season as he beat Stefan Bradl from pole at the Laguna Seca raceway.
The Honda rider becomes the first rookie to win at Laguna Seca.
IN THE LEAD
Marquez said: "I'm very happy because it's great to go into the summer break with this result. It's a new circuit and I've got 25 points."
Bradl claimed his first podium spot and nine-time World champion Valentino Rossi finished third.
Marquez also won races at a new course in Austin, Texas and in Germany, as he surpassed Freddie Spencer as the youngest to record consecutive victories.
RISKY MOVES
Starting in second place, Marquez negotiated a couple of nifty passes, including overtaking Rossi on the treacherous Corkscrew corner in the early stages.
He then roared past Bradl to win the race by 2.2secs on the 3.5km track on a northern California hilltop.
Marquez said: "I overtook Valentino then caught Bradl. I stayed behind him for about 12 laps, then tried to pass him to open up a gap."
Laguna Seca is the second of three MotoGP events on US soil in 2013 as international motorcycle racing seeks to make a big splash and gain more North American fans.
Marquez now has a 16-point lead over team mate Dani Pedrosa in the overall points race at the season's halfway mark. Lorenzo is in third, 26 points behind of Marquez.
Honda's Bradl celebrated his first podium finish from pole position: "I am so pleased with my result. The pressure was high this week.
"My first podium here. We did good speeds all week."
Rossi held off Alvaro Bautista for the final podium spot. Pedrosa rounded out the top five.
Rossi returned to Yamaha this year after a couple of frustrating seasons with Ducati.
Former 2006 MotoGP champ Nicky Hayden was the top American rider, finishing in eighth. Hayden said he won't be returning to Ducati in 2014.
Jorge Lorenzo finished sixth as he rode through the pain of a broken collarbone. He injured it in a crash at Assen, Netherlands in June and then re-fractured it in Germany.
Officials held a moment of silence before the start of the race to honour the memory of Italian Andrea Antonelli who died after a crash during the World Supersport race in Moscow earlier, July 21 2013.
The second half of the MotoGP season begins in three weeks in Indianapolis.
Results of the US Grand Prix at the Laguna Seca raceway on Sunday:
1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 44min00.695secs
2. Stefan Bradl (GER/Honda) at 2.298secs
3. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 4.498
4. Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Honda) 4.557
5. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 9.257
6. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 12.970
7. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Yamaha) 15.304
8. Nicky Hayden (USA/Ducati) 33.963
9. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 34.129
10. Hector Barbera (ESP/FTR) 1.02.369
Championship standings
1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 163 points
2. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 147
3. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 137
4. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 117
5. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Yamaha) 116
6. Stefan Bradl (GER/Honda) 84
7. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducti) 81
8. Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Honda) 71
9. Nicky Hayden (USA/Ducati) 65
10. Aleix Esparagaro (ESP/ART) 52