Marquez tops world standings after MotoGP victory

SACHSENRING - Spanish rookie Marc Marquez earned his second win of the season with victory at the German MotoGP on Sunday to go top of the championship standings.

He hit the front early and built up his lead to claim victory with Britain's Cal Crutchlow second and six-times world MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi third.

Marquez's time was 41 minutes 14.653 seconds over the 30 laps, with Crutchlow 1.559 seconds back and Rossi coming more than nine seconds further back.

With title leaders Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo both absent after collarbone injuries, pole sitter Marquez lost ground at the start to find himself racing in fourth by the first bend. But he hit back, taking the lead from home hero Stefan Bradl along the main straight on the third lap.

Marquez, in his first MotoGP campaign, was following up his Grand Prix of the Americas victory in Texas in April. He has now finished on the podium in all seven races he has finished in 2013, his retirement at the Italian MotoGP the only blot.

Sunday's victory allowed Marquez to overtake compatriot and Honda team-mate Pedrosa, who was forced out after fracturing his collarbone in Saturday's practice, to go top of the world standings with 138 points, two points clear of Pedrosa.

Reigning world champion Lorenzo was ruled out of the race on Friday, when he injured the left collarbone he broke two weeks ago and underwent surgery on Saturday in Barcelona to reinsert a damaged titanium plate.

"I'm happy, it's great to win, but you shouldn't forget that both Pedrosa and Lorenzo weren't here," said Marquez.

"I hadn't expected to control the race like that."

Both Yahama Tech 3's Crutchlow and Rossi on the Yahama factory bike complained about losing grip, but the British rider produced a brave performance after twice crashing in Friday's practice session.

"I was trying to catch him (Marquez), I had a good start, even though it might not have looked like it, I struggled a bit with the rear tyre," said Crutchlow, who raced with an injured hand.

"I am pleased with the finish position we had here, having come off the floor twice on Friday.

"It's not been a great weekend and I admit I don't feel great."

Rossi, who picked up his first win for three years a fortnight ago in Assen, admitted he had hoped to finish higher.

"I am happy, but I had thought I'd do better," he said. "I had a few problems with the rear tyres, we just have to keep working hard."

Marquez led a Spanish lock-out of all three races at Sachsenring, with his countrymen Jordi Torres and Alex Rins winning the Moto2 and Moto3 races.

Torres, on a Suter, was winning his first race, beating Simon Corsi and Pol Espargaro, while Kalex's British rider Scott Redding, who came in seventh, retained the lead in the Moto2 riders' standings.

Rins denied his KTM team-mate Luis Salom a fourth consecutive win of the season in the Moto3 category.

Salom, aiming to add this to his wins in Italy, Catalunya and Assen, is on top in the overall standings.