Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo told reporters that the relentless pace from Marc Marquez at the Indianapolis MotoGP completely drained his defences by the time his Spanish compatriot overtook him towards the end of the race.

On Sunday, twice defending world champion Marquez maintained his unbeaten record in the United States with a decisive victory, his third of the current season.

Marquez picked up 25 points to jump from fourth to third place in the championship standings still led by Lorenzo’s Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi who was third at Indianapolis.

Lorenzo, who reduced Rossi’s lead by four points to nine, conceded after the race that he didn’t have the energy to fight back when Honda’s Marquez passed him with three laps to go.

“My strong point is the concentration, you know, when I am leading,” said Lorenzo.

“I can keep the same pace more or less the entire race, a very fast pace with no mistakes, when I have a bit of space.

“When I have someone in front, of me it is more difficult. It’s harder to understand where I have to brake, for me it’s difficult to keep the same pace as before.

“I pushed so much during the race that I lost quite a bit of energy. I didn’t have so much energy to stay fresh and fight with him.

“But this has always been a good track for Honda, so to finish just behind Marc is very important.”

Marquez started on pole but was passed by Lorenzo on the very first corner and the pair pulled away in what became a two-man race.

“I saw from the beginning, okay... we will push in the last laps, because it was impossible (for Lorenzo) to open a gap... so I wait until the end and then with remaining three laps I pass him,” Marquez said in a pit row interview after the race.

“Then, I did a little bit of strategy and then the last lap I push a little bit more.”

Standings – Top 10