Marc Marquez claims MotoGP title hat-trick in Japan

Marc Marquez who started sixth on the grid passed Ducati rival Andrea Dovizioso with a daredevil move on lap 21 of 24.

Published : Oct 21, 2018 12:21 IST

Marc Marquez has now won five championships in motorcycling's premier class, putting him level with Australian legend Mick Doohan.
Marc Marquez has now won five championships in motorcycling's premier class, putting him level with Australian legend Mick Doohan.
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Marc Marquez has now won five championships in motorcycling's premier class, putting him level with Australian legend Mick Doohan.

Honda's Marc Marquez stormed to victory in a nail-biting Japan race Sunday to capture his third straight MotoGP world title.

The Spaniard has now won five championships in motorcycling's premier class, putting him level with Australian legend Mick Doohan. Marquez, still just 25, trails only the Italians Rossi, who won the last of his seven championships in 2009, and Giacomo Agostini, whose record eighth came in 1975.

“I feel really, really good,” whooped Marquez after Dovizioso's late spill confirmed his eighth victory of the season.

“I already imagined that it will be (decided) here but the important thing is that when you have the first chance, you do it.

“It wasn't the best circuit to do it but I worked hard all weekend,” added Marquez.

“I was able to follow Andrea and decided to attack before the last lap. I was pushing really hard, so he made a mistake -- I'm disappointed because he deserves to be on the podium with us.”

Marquez started from sixth on the grid at Motegi but quickly knifed through the field and was third by the end of the first lap. He flirted with disaster on lap 14, however, after overtaking Dovizioso at turn nine before running wide at the next corner and spitting up dirt and dust as he battled to control a violent wobble.

That heart-in-mouth moment allowed Dovizioso to retake the lead, but Marquez continued to swarm all over the Italian, finally slashing past him with a daredevil move on lap 21 of 24.

Dovizioso, who needed to complete a pole to flag victory to keep alive his fading championship hopes, crashed out on the penultimate lap in a desperate last push, ending this year's title race.

Marquez was mobbed by his team mechanics after crossing the line for this eighth win of the season to confirm his coronation with three races left.

“The big boss will enjoy this,” smiled Marquez after wrapping up the title at Honda's home race.

 

Fellow Honda rider Cal Crutchlow finished runner-up after Dovizioso's late spill with Alex Rins (Suzuki) edging out Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) to round out the podium.

“We're pleased with the result,” said Crutchlow. “The problem we had was Dovi kept slowing down the pace and it allowed the people behind to catch,” added the Briton.

“But we did a great job of managing the situation. Obviously then Dovi crashed so I took second, but I'm very pleased.”

Meanwhile, three-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo will miss next weekend's Australian race after sitting out the Japanese round with injury. Ducati said the Spaniard, who fractured his wrist at the previous race in Thailand, will aim to return at the penultimate weekend in Malaysia at the start of November.
 

IN THE POINTS: 

1. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda)
2. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) +1.572 seconds
3. Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) +1.720
4. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) +6.413
5. Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto) +6.919
6. Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) +8.024
7. Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha) +13.330
8. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) +15.582
9. Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) +20.584
10. Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) +24.985
11. Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) +25.931
12. Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) +26.875
13. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) +27.069
14. Katsuyuki Nakasuga (Yamalube Yamaha Factory Racing) +32.550
15. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda) +37.718

 

 

TITLE STANDINGS: 

1. Marc Marquez - 296
2. Andrea Dovizioso - 194
3. Valentino Rossi - 185
4. Maverick Vinales - 155
5. Cal Crutchlow - 148

1. Repsol Honda - 391
2. Movistar Yamaha - 340
3. Ducati - 325
4. Suzuki Ecstar - 231
5. Alma Pramac Racing - 207

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