MOTEGI: Marc Marquez wrapped up his third straight MotoGP championship with victory at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday after title rival Andrea Dovizioso fell on the penultimate lap while trying to find a way past the Honda rider.

The Spanish sensation 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 Italian pair of Valentino Rossi, who won the last of his seven championships in 2009, and Giacomo Agostini, whose record eighth came in 1975, in the all-time list.

Marquez, who had sealed two of his previous titles at Motegi, moved 102 points clear of Ducatis Dovizioso with three races remaining.

Dovizioso started on pole and led for most of the race before Marquez, who had started sixth on the grid, made his move with four laps left.

Marquez had been on the Italian’s tail for much of the race and the pressure eventually told on the Ducati rider as he relinquished the lead.

Dovizioso attempted to move back past Marquez on the penultimate lap but pushed it too far and came off his bike. He recovered but eventually finished 18th.

Marquez crossed the finish line in a time of 42 minutes, 36.438 seconds, 1.573 seconds ahead of Honda rider Cal Crutchlow. Alex Rins was third on a Suzuki, 1,720 seconds off the pace.

Yamaha rider Rossi was fourth while Alvaro Bautista rounded out the top five on a Ducati.

“I feel really, really good,” whoo­ped Marquez after 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. 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 has now won seven world titles in total after also winning the 125cc championship in 2010 and the Moto2 crown in 2012.

The next stop is the Australian Grand Prix next weekend.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2018