Rossi wins MotoGP race in front of home crowd as Marquez crashes
Age-defying Valentino Rossi has ended a five-year losing streak at his home track to score a triumphant victory in the San Marino Grand Prix.
Rossi received a rapturous welcome from fans after his 81st career MotoGP win at his home track Misano, just 20 minutes from his house. His last win in Misano was in 2009.
Rossi, 35, used a superb display of race craft to win, easing down ahead of Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo. Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa was a distant third with Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso fourth.
While Rossi's win was a dramatic return to form, the race was highlighted by the end of Marc Marquez's normally mistake-free race performance.
Marquez's bid for a 12th win of the season crumbled on Lap 10 when he crashed while trying to close down the gap to leader Rossi.
This was Marquez's first race crash this season and while he was able to restart his Honda, he finished 15th and 75 seconds behind Rossi.
Rossi's 81st win came 14 years after his first MotoGP victory in 2000 at the British Grand Prix.
"I am very happy because the feeling to win at Misano is much better, in front of my home crowd and family and friends," Rossi said. "I think the Yamaha had a small advantage here in Misano. I was very strong in the warmup and knew I could fight for the victory.
"At the beginning I had some battles with Marc and Jorge but I knew if I could resist it that I had a good pace. To win again after one year is a great feeling and I couldn't wish for any more from today."
It was Rossi's first race win in more than year, his previous win being the 2013 DutchTT at Assen.
Rejuvenated by an intensified preseason fitness campaign and the appointment of a new crew chief, Rossi has long spoken of his strong desire to win again. Before this stylish win in Misano, he had finished second four times this season to the all-conquering Marquez.
Lorenzo was the only one of the top riders to choose the hard compound front tire but he quickly realized that his pole position qualifying effort and early lead was not enough.
"I am really disappointed with my race, if I couldn't win I hoped to fight more than I did," Lorenzo said. "But the Yamaha 1-2 is good for us. I knew after practice Valentino had a very good pace but I expected to be faster, not slower than when I won here last year.
"I was only one to use the hard tire on the front which I liked after practice but from the first lap of the race, I didn't have edge grip. Today Valentino deserved the win."
Despite his poor result Marquez continues to hold a comfortable lead in the world championship standings on 289 points, 74 clear of Pedrosa with Rossi third on 214 points. Lorenzo is fourth with 177 points.
