Source: MotoGP.

Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez’s win streak was snapped by teammate Dani Pedrosa on Sunday at Brno, a result that has taken increasing weight from the second-year Spaniard’s shoulders.

The MotoGP World Champion and runaway standings leader had dropped to sixth off the start and was never able to get higher than third. A battle with former Moto2 rival Andrea Iannone (Pramac Racing) saw the two touch on two occasions.

The battle cost Marquez time, allowing Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) to break away. A mid-race battle between Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) and Marquez then emerged.

The Honda rider put up a tough fight but Rossi eventually overtook him. A gap then began to form and Marquez settled for fourth, his first time off the podium in a MotoGP race which he has finished.

“Today was one of those Sundays in which I neither felt completely comfortable, nor had found the best set up for the bike,” Marquez said. “It wasn’t down to a mistake by me or by the team, it was simply that we didn’t have the same feeling as on other Sundays.

“In a way it’s taken a weight off my shoulders, as now people won’t be asking me if I can win every race anymore. It was also important that we were able to focus on staying in fourth, even though it was tough not to be fighting for the win.

“We took 13 points which are important for the world championship and we have a big advantage. What matters is who wins the title, not who wins the most races.”

Teammate Pedrosa went on to win the Czech GP, continuing Honda’s streak of wins this season. Despite finishing in fourth, Marquez still has a 77 point lead in the standings over teammate Pedrosa.