Five-star Marquez romps to Motogp title as Dovizioso crashes ISL: Pune face Bengaluru FC on Monday

TOKYO: Honda's Marc Marquez stormed to a nail-biting victory in Japan Sunday to capture his third straight Motogp world championship as Ducati rival Andrea Dovizioso crashed out.

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.

“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.

Fellow Honda rider Cal Crutchlow finished runnerup after Dovizioso's fall with Alex Rins (Suzuki) edging out Rossi (Yamaha) to round out the podium.

Marquez has now won seven world titles in total after also winning the 125cc championship in 2010 and the Moto2 crown in 2012. PUNE: In search of their first win, FC Pune City Monday face a formidable Bengaluru FC in an ISL clash here.

The Stallions are languishing in the ninth spot on the table after picking up just a solitary point from their first two away games. "I think Bengaluru FC is the best team in India. They are playing the second season with almost the same players.

They have changed only two-three players. That is very important. Albert Roca has gone but Carles Cuadrat is the same. It is important to follow a continuous philosophy," said Pune coach Miguel Angel Portugal. A win against Bengaluru will not just be Pune's first of the season, but it will also be their maiden victory over the opposition to whom they bowed out in last edition's playoffs.