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Marc Marquez has won the Spanish MotoGP to take the overall points lead after several of his rivals crashed out of the race.
Pole-sitter Cal Crutchlow wiped out before a three-rider crash involving previous points leader Andrea Dovizioso, his Ducati teammate Jorge Lorenzo, and Dani Pedrosa.
Pedrosa, who underwent wrist surgery less than a month ago, was thrown high over his bike and onto the asphalt after trying to go past the two Ducatis on the inside of the sunny Jerez circuit in southern Spain.
Lorenzo came across into the corner as Dovizioso went wide, colliding with Pedrosa and sending the two Ducatis into the gravel.
All three riders walked away from the crash — not before some wild gesticulating between the drivers on the gravel near their stricken bikes — although Pedrosa complained of severe pain in his right hip.
That left Marquez, who had manoeuvred into the lead from a fifth-place start, free to increase the gap and never be challenged as the four-time MotoGP champion cruised to his 37th career victory in the top category.
"Dani [Pedrosa] was the fastest, but a race is not only about being the fastest," Marquez said.
"You have to overtake, be aggressive in certain moments. I hope they are okay, but I won't lie, (it means) more points for me."
Marquez steered his Honda across the finish line in 41 minutes, 39.678 seconds, more than five seconds before Johann Zarco, who finished second.
Andrea Iannone completed the podium.
Italian great Valentino Rossi was fifth in a race that saw him reach a career milestone by completing the circumference of the planet in race kilometres.
Rossi has now covered 40,075km in competition over 23 seasons, starting at the 1996 Malaysian Grand Prix.
Marquez leads the competition with 70 points after four races.
Zarco is second with 58, followed by Maverick Vinales with 50.
AP/Reuters
Topics: gp1, motor-sports, sport, spain