Catalunya Moto GP 2014: Marc Marquez clinches victory in a thrilling finish

Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa on the podium

Barcelona, June 16 (IANS) Defending champion Marc Marquez won an incredible seventh consecutive race as he overtook teammate Dani Pedrosa on the last lap of a thrilling Moto GP de Catalonia Sunday.

It was a historic day for Marc and his brother Alex, who earlier in the day won the Moto 3 race, making them the first brothers to win races in different categories on the same day.

Marquez's win makes him the first rider to start a Moto GP season with wins in the first seven races since Valentino Rossi did it in 2002.

A tremendously exciting Moto GP race saw both Marquez and Pedrosa interchange positions several times over the 25 laps of a race, which became more complicated as it progressed thanks to a slight drizzle over the Montmelo circuit just outside of Barcelona.

Italian Valentino Rossi was also in the mix throughout the race and was able to nip ahead of Pedrosa in the closing metres to take second place for the fourth time this season.

The three riders produced a fascinating and aggressive race in which all of them had looked as if they could claim the final prize, but in the end it was Marquez's sheer bravado, which took him past Pedrosa to go 58 points clear at the top of the World Championship.

Earlier in the day, local boy Tito Rabat continued his dominance of Moto 2, finishing comfortably ahead of Marc Vinales and Johann Zarco, while Alex Marquez completed a clean sweep for Spanish riders as he claimed victory in the Moto 3 race, which opened proceedings.