---
title: "Marc Marquez Wins MotoGP Grand Prix of Spain as His Competitors Collide"
description: "Honda's Dani Pedrosa collided with the Ducati duo of Dovizioso and Lorenzo in spectacular fashion."
date: "2018-05-06"
modified: "2018-05-06"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20665/marc-marquez-wins-motogp-grand-prix-of-spain-as-his-competitors-collide"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Dani Pedrosa"
  - "Jerez"
  - "Jorge Lorenzo"
  - "Marc Márquez"
  - "MotoGP"
  - "motorcycle racing"
  - "News"
  - "Racing News"
  - "Spain"
---

# Marc Marquez Wins MotoGP Grand Prix of Spain as His Competitors Collide

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/05/gettyimages-955282750.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Honda Repsol's Marc Marquez emerged victorious at the [2018 MotoGP Grand Prix of Spain](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20655/cal-crutchlow-claims-pole-at-the-motogp-gran-premio-de-espaa>), where Yamaha Tech 3's Johann Zarco and Suzuki's Andrea Iannone followed in second and third place. Race-hopefuls Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo of Ducati were wiped out of contention by the Honda of Dani Pedrosa mid-race.

Things got off to an interesting start at the Circuito de Jerez when Jorge Lorenzo's Ducati catapulted to the front of the pack as soon as the lights went out. The [red Desmosedici GP 18](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20317/motogp-fans-and-riders-show-their-love-for-nicky-hayden-in-austin>) was simply a blur in the visor of pole-sitter Cal Crutchlow, who was basically left standing still by the Ducati. Lorenzo went on to lead the field and fend off Marquez, Pedrosa, and others courtesy of the soft front tire he had opted for prior to the race start.

![message-editor%2F1525624270663-gettyimages-955275218.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525624270663-gettyimages-955275218.jpg>)
*GETTY*

![message-editor%2F1525624284434-gettyimages-955275768.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525624284434-gettyimages-955275768.jpg>)
*GETTY*

![message-editor%2F1525624404053-gettyimages-955270662.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525624404053-gettyimages-955270662.jpg>)
*GETTY*

By lap eight, the Spaniard's rubber began to deteriorate and he had no choice but to surrender the lead to Marquez, who didn't waste time at the front and began to build a solid gap to Lorenzo, Dovizioso, and his teammate Pedrosa. At this stage of the race, [Cal Crutchlow](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19982/lcr-hondas-cal-crutchlow-wins-explosive-2018-motogp-grand-prix-of-argentina>) had fallen to fourth place from first and was enjoying a lonely tour of the famous Spanish circuit.

https://twitter.com/_/status/993106202111434757

Chaos struck in the closing stages of the race when Dovizioso began growing impatient at the fact that Lorenzo, who was still struggling with his tires, wouldn't allow him to pass, further allowing Pedrosa to catch up. Dovizioso attempted a move on his teammate on Turn 6 but ran wide, forcing Lorenzo to move to a higher line and causing the massive collision that saw Pedrosa fly through the air in dramatic fashion. While the collision can't be blamed on Dovizioso (Pedrosa carried way too much speed into the corner), it surely triggered a chain reaction.

![message-editor%2F1525624449179-gettyimages-955266124.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525624449179-gettyimages-955266124.jpg>)
*GETTY*

![message-editor%2F1525624458302-gettyimages-955274672.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525624458302-gettyimages-955274672.jpg>)
*GETTY*

![message-editor%2F1525624473414-mymm\_\_axs2647.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525624473414-mymm__axs2647.jpg>)
*YAMAHA*

Further down the field, Yamaha's Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales wrapped up a weekend to forget due to poor qualifying and race pace. Rossi got lucky with the attrition rate up front and eventually finished in fifth place, while [Vinales had to settle](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19827/yamahas-maverick-vinales-aims-for-back-to-back-motogp-wins-in-argentina>) for seventh.

![message-editor%2F1525625275105-screenshot2018-05-06at11.50.34am.png](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525625275105-screenshot2018-05-06at11.50.34am.png>)
**MotoGP**

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)