VALENCIA: Marc Marquez cemented his status as the top rider in motorcycle racing on Sunday after the Spaniard won his fourth MotoGP world title in five years on Sunday after his only rival Andrea Dovizioso crashed out of a dramatic season-ending race in Valencia.

The 24-year-old, who started on pole position with a 21-point lead and also almost fell, finished third and safe in the knowledge that he was the sport’s youngest four-time champion in the top category.

Dovizioso’s fate was sealed when the early season pace-setter crashed out five laps from the end as Marquez ultimately won the championship by 37 points.

“It’s an amazing feeling. During the race I always tried to be calm, control the situation,” said Marquez of his wobble during the race.

“Suddenly I said now is the time to push because I felt really good. But in turn one I lost concentration on the brake point, I braked too late...Marquez style until the end,” he grinned.

Compatriot and team mate Dani Pedrosa won the race with French rookie Johann Zarco second for the Tech3 Yamaha team after leading early on.

Marquez drew level with British trio Mike Hailwood, Geoff Duke and John Surtees, and American Eddie Lawson as one of just five riders to triumph four times at the top level.

He replaced the late Hailwood as the youngest ever four-time champion in the top flight, achieving the feat at 24 years and 268 days compared to the British great’s 1965 record of 25 years and 107 days.

The Spaniard, who has won all his titles with Honda, also replaced Italian great Valentino Rossi as the youngest to win six world championships with two other world championships at lower levels.

Only three men — Giacomo Agostini (eight), Rossi (seven) and Mick Doohan (five) — have won the premier category championship more often than Marquez.

With Dovizioso in fifth place and unable to find a way past his Ducati team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, despite repeated team orders, Marquez looked in control until he misjudged his braking and ran wide with seven laps to go.

The Spaniard managed to stay on the bike as he ran wide into the gravel trap, dropping to fifth place and with Dovizioso ahead of him.

Both Ducati riders then fell a lap later, first Lorenzo and then Dovizioso. The Italian got back on track before retiring in the pits as Honda started the celebrations.

“Dovi has been a very strong rival. I learned a lot of things from him,” Marquez said. “I have had a lot of stress this year, it’s been very rough. I hadn’t confessed this before, but during a period of the season I lost some hair ... it’s tough, but you get through it with the team you have around you.”

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2017