Moto GP, Austin, Texas

Marc Marquez became the youngest man to win a MotoGP race by winning the Grand Prix of the Americas in Texas after a race long battle with teammate Dani Pedrosa.

The win for the 20 year old Spaniard broke a record that had stood for 31 years when Freddie Spence won his first top class race.

The Spaniard completed what had been a perfect weekend for the Repsol Honda Team having been fastest in every practice session and claiming his first pole position on Saturday.

Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo finished third on a circuit where the Yamaha's were at a distinct disadvantage with their lack of straight-line speed.

Britain's Cal Crutchlow fought off Stefan Bradl to finish fourth on his first visit to the track, despite an early mistake, while Valentino Rossi was well off the pace down in sixth, and Bradley Smith finished in twelfth to earn his first MotoGP points.

Despite starting at the front Marquez found himself back in third after turn one following storming starts from Pedrosa and Bradl. Quickly disposing of Bradl, he shadowed his fellow Honda rider until on lap thirteen he eventually got past his teammate and was never troubled from that point on as he took the chequered flag 1.5 second ahead of Pedrosa.

Having never been to the track before this weekend Cal Crutchlow rode a very good race to finish in a lonely fourth. After grabbing all the headlines in Qatar Valentino Rossi struggled throughout and could only come home in sixth following a mid race fight with Doviziozo and Bautista.

Speaking to broadcasters straight after the race the young Spanish sensation expressed his disbelief of his achievement: “It's unbelievable! my first victory in MotoGP, it's a dream come true. I want to thank everyone who has supported me, especially the team.”

For Pedrosa it was another race where he was just pipped by his teammate and afterwards he felt the physical exertions were too much: “I was very happy with the way I working the bike, but started to lose strength in my left arm I guess due to the hard braking and started to lose speed through the change of directions (chicanes.) I had a bad lap which was 1.5 second slower and that is where I lost the race”

The result of the race mean Marquez now moves level on point with world champion Jorge Lorenzo who conceded that it was Honda's day: “Yesterday we were so far back from Dani and Marc. This morning in the warm-up we found something but it was not enough so third was the best we could do. Marc's win today was just phenomenal.”

Cal Crutchlow claimed before the start of the weekend that he thought it would not be the worst thing if his Tech 3 team was to miss this race but the Brit had another strong race and finished in a creditable fourth. “I think we did a good job. We've worked really hard. I'm pleased I planned to beat some riders who had tested here and we did that so we can go away from here quite proud.”

Full result

1. Marquez
2. Pedrosa
3. Lorenzo
4. Crutchlow
5. Bradl
6. Rossi
7. Dovizioso
8. Bautista
9. Hayden
10.Iannone
11.Espargaro
12.Smith
13.Spies
14.De Puniet
15.Hernandez
16.Laverty
17.Aoyama
18.Barbera
19.Corti
20.Staring
21.Young

The next race takes the riders to Europe, and to Spain. Don’t miss Matthews full report, only here at Driving for Pleasure