SEPANG (Malaysia): Recently crowned world champion Marc Marquez won a season record-equalling 12th MotoGP race with victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Honda-riding Spaniard, who sealed his title defence in Japan two weeks ago, had a poor start on pole but clawed his way back to the front to finish nearly three seconds ahead of runner-up Valentino Rossi.

Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo briefly held the lead early but was reeled in to finish third, while Marquez’s team-mate Dani Pedrosa was forced to retire after crashing twice in his eight laps.

German Stefan Bradl was fourth on a Honda, with Yamaha’s Briton Bradley Smith fifth.

Marquez, who completed the Sepang circuit in 40minutes 45.523 seconds, now equals Australian Mick Doohan’s record of 12 wins in a season and the 21-year-old has a chance to own the record with victory in the final race at Valencia.

The win also sealed the constructor’s title for Honda, their 21st in premier class racing.

Marquez will head to Valencia on 337 points, carrying a 62-point lead over Yamaha’s Italian great Rossi. Lorenzo remains third in the championship on 263 points.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2014