MOTO GP : Marquez cruises to win in Texas, Crutchlow crashes out

REUTERS - Marc Marquez, Honda's reigning MotoGP world champion drove away with the Grand Prix of Americas for the 6^th time in a row yesterday (April 22). The 25-year-old Spaniard took his first victory of the season in a dominant fashion. He was handed a three-place grid penalty in qualifying and started fourth, but seized the lead on the opening lap before disappearing into the distance at Austin's Circuit of the Americas (COTA). It was the four-times MotoGP champion's 10th successive win in the United States in the top category, with the others coming at Laguna Seca and Indianapolis. Maverick Vinales, who started on the pole for Yamaha, finished second and 3.560 seconds behind his compatriot while Italian Andrea Iannone was third in his first podium with Suzuki. Andrea Dovizioso finished fifth for Ducati and regained the championship lead with 46 points after three races, the Italian is now one clear of Marquez with Vinales third on 41 points. Britain's Cal Crutchlow, who had led the standings after winning in Argentina, crashed his LCR Honda with 12 laps to go and failed to score after rejoining in 22^nd place and finishing 19^th.