Barcelona MotoGP: Dani Pedros says 'no regrets' over defeat

Pedrosa came the closest to beating Marquez that he has all year as he launched a series of attacks on his race-leading team-mate over the closing laps, when the pair were able to break away from what had been a four-way fight with the Yamahas of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

On the last lap Pedrosa twice managed to get past Marquez only to run wide enough for the sister Honda to repass, and they then touched at Turn 11 as Marquez hugged the inside line and Pedrosa tried to get a final run.

Though both stayed upright, Pedrosa slid very wide and lost second to Rossi.

"I tried my best in the last couple of laps but immediately [Marquez] started changing his lines - taking much tighter lines," said Pedrosa.

"So I found myself with less space and a couple of times nearly touched him.

"On the last lap I really, really tried but then I touched him so lost second place.

"But I'm very happy with the battle and with second place and how the day has been today.

"I have no regrets."

Marquez said he had thoroughly enjoyed the fraught run to the flag, as he claimed his seventh win from seven rounds this season.

"The last laps were so nice," he said. "It was really, really special to fight with Valentino and Dani.

"I think everybody enjoyed those overtakes, and in the end the most important thing is that we get 25 points."

Another near-miss had occurred at half-distance when Marquez skated over the Turn 1 run-off area after an attempt to pass Rossi for the lead went awry.

"I braked too late and I didn't know whether to turn in or go off at first, but then I decided to go off the track because then it was just me taking the risk and I didn't put another rider in a limited situation," said Marquez.