Marquez seals title with win in Motegi

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) wrapped up a sensational seventh world championship after claiming a stunning victory in Japan. A race-long battle with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) ended with the latter crashing out of contention at turn 10 with two laps to go, handing the title to the Spanish sensation.

Dovizioso got the perfect launch from P1 on the line as Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) came into off the front row. Meanwhile, Marquez kept the inside line from P6 to get himself into P3 before dispatching Miller at Turn 9 for P2 – Dovi’s qualifying advantage disappearing after half a lap.

“I feel really, really good. I would say it’s a dream came true, or better, that I’m living a dream. It’s something so special, here together with my team, all the Honda and HRC people, my family and my staff,” said Marquez.

“It has been a great season, and ever since Aragon I’ve been tasting, imagining this title, because it was very close. Then I realised that this wasn’t my style, and I needed extra motivation, so I set the goal of trying to achieve it with my first match ball – in Motegi, by winning the race.

“This circuit was a challenging one to manage that, but it seems like when I’m under pressure, I feel better on the bike! Today the race was as I expected. I was prepared to make a good start and immediately make some passes. I got to second place at the end of the first lap, and then was able to follow Andrea and stay with him. I thought I could try and attack before the last lap because I felt I had something extra to give.

“He was pushing very hard and made a mistake, and that’s a shame because he deserved to be here on the podium. That’s also something that I think Dani would deserve at least once this season. Anyway, when I crossed the finish line it was an explosion of joy.

“Now it’s time to celebrate this seventh title and enjoy these final three races.”

Marquez has now joined Mick Doohan, Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini as the only four riders to have taken five or more premier class titles.

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) finished second ahead of Alex Rins (Ecstar Suzuki). Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) brought his YZR-M1 home in fouth, with Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Ducati) finishing fifth iafter a strong latter half to the race – an equal best result of the season for the Spaniard. Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) couldn’t recover from a difficult start as he finished in sixth, ahead of fellow Yamaha rider Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha).

Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) crossed the line eighth on his last Grand Prix visit to Japan, the ‘Little Samurai’ having a healthy five-second gap back to ninth place Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Ducati) – the Italian losing ground to Crutchlow and Zarco in the Independent Team Championship. Battle of the rookies was won by 10th place Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), the Malaysian beating Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda) by less than a second.

Aussie Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Ducati) crashed midway through the race.