by Tracy Hagen

If there was any question whether the MotoGP rookie sensation Marc Marquez was planning to coast to the world championship or continue to put on a display of his extraordinary talents on two wheels, the race at Aragon was your answer. The young Spaniard won his sixth race of the year after running down reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo like a cheetah running down a gazelle.

Marquez now leads Lorenzo by 39 points in the championship with four races left to go. In the post-race press conference Lorenzo looked almost relived that the championship has been effectively decided and he need not worry about it any longer.

For Marquez’s teammate, Dani Pedrosa, celebrating his 28th birthday on Sunday, his MotoGP championship dream for 2013 ended at Aragon, and in a bizarre way. After running in third position in the opening laps, Pedrosa passed Marquez on lap five to take second and start the chase to Lorenzo. Marquez stayed right on Pedrosa’s rear wheel – literally – and at Turn 12 on the following lap something on Marquez’s bike snagged the rear wheel speed sensor off of Pedrosa’s bike. When Pedrosa snapped the throttle open on the exit of the turn the rear wheel spun out, leaving a long black mark on the track and sending Pedrosa flying over the handlebars. Pedrosa was physically unhurt but psychologically destroyed.

With Pedrosa off to the Medical Center Lorenzo’s teammate, Valentino Rossi, made it on to the podium instead of his customary fourth-place. Alvaro Bautista battled Stefan Bradl corner to corner on the final lap to earn fourth. Cal Crutchlow watched the two Hondas on his way to sixth, bitter that the engine in his Yamaha didn’t have any punch in the race.

Bradley Smith rode another fine race in seventh and ahead of all the Ducatis. Andrea Dovizioso was top Duc in eighth and teammate Nicky Hayden was way behind in ninth, fighting a bike that didn’t want to stay on the track.

Following the race Lorenzo simply said, “no excuses, [Marquez] was faster.” That is as much true about the race at Aragon as it is for the entire 2013 season.

Next race: Sepang, October 13