---
title: "Marc Marquez’s MotoGP Championship Lead Shortens After Mugello Snafu"
description: "Jorge Lorenzo stole precious points from the Honda rider, earning his first win with Ducati along the way."
date: "2018-06-04"
modified: "2018-06-04"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21314/marc-marquezs-motogp-championship-lead-shortens-after-mugello-snafu"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Ducati"
  - "Jorge Lorenzo"
  - "Marc Márquez"
  - "MotoGP"
  - "motorcycle racing"
  - "Mugello"
  - "racing"
  - "Racing News"
  - "Valentino Rossi"
---

# Marc Marquez’s MotoGP Championship Lead Shortens After Mugello Snafu

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/06/fullsizeoutput_a69.jpeg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Honda Repsol's [Marc Marquez](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20665/marc-marquez-wins-motogp-grand-prix-of-spain-as-his-competitors-collide>) achieved the exact opposite of what he set out to accomplish at the 2018 MotoGP Grand Prix of Italy, which saw him finish in an embarrassing 16th place while Ducati's Jorge Lorenzo conquered the top step of the podium. As a result, the Spaniard's championship lead was reduced rather than extended.

Marquez arrived in Mugello with a massive 36-point lead in the MotoGP world championship standings over [Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20302/motogp-yamahas-maverick-vinales-on-pole-at-austin-after-marquezs-penalty>)—Marquez with 95 and Vinales with 59. With the point structure awarding 25 points to the race winner, it meant that regardless of what happened, Marquez would still lead the championship at the end of the day.

The Spaniard got his weekend off to a rocky start when all he could squeeze out of his Honda motorcycle was a lap time of 1:45.454, while the top three were laying times at least 0.2 seconds faster. Sunday's performance was drastically different as Marquez quickly rocketed to the front of the pack and gave [Lorenzo](<https://www.thedrive.com/motorcycles/21282/lead-role-for-ducati-panigale-v4-in-the-upcoming-ride-3-video-game>), Petrucci, and other front-runners a piece of his mind with some rather aggressive passing maneuvers. Then, disaster struck on Turn 10 when Marquez laid his bike down in embarrassing fashion and simply skidded to the gravel trap.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1003531919898771458

Luckily for him, everything on his Honda remained intact and he was able to rejoin the race and lap the famous 3.2-mile Italian circuit like a bat out of hell. He ultimately finished 16th and missed out on championship points. However, his [archenemy Valentino Rossi](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20001/motogps-valentino-rossi-is-scared-of-marc-marquezs-riding-style>) finished in third place and secured a precious 16 points, which although didn't earn him the championship lead, narrowed the gap down to only 13 points.

Marquez will have to reassess his aggressive riding style if he plans on maintaining the championship lead and winning more races, as his two-wheeled shenanigans have landed him in hot water more than once this season.

The MotoGP fraternity now heads to the homeland of many of its riders, Spain, where hundreds of thousands of fans will passionately cheer on [their favorite daredevils](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20987/motogp-champion-marc-mrquez-to-get-formula-1-test-with-red-bull>) come June 17.

![message-editor%2F1528149523290-screenshot2018-06-04at5.57.22pm.png](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1528149523290-screenshot2018-06-04at5.57.22pm.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/>)