Marquez wins fourth MotoGP title
MARC Marquez cemented his status as the top rider in motorcycle racing on Sunday after the Spaniard won his fourth MotoGP world title in the final race of the season.
After suffering a scare where he nearly crashed out, the Honda rider was assured he would retain the crown with six laps remaining of the Valencia Grand Prix when challenger Andrea Dovizioso crashed out of the race on his Ducati.
At the age of 24, Marquez became the youngest four-time champion, breaking the milestone set by 25-year old Mike Hailwood back in 1965.
Marquez only needed to finish in 11th place or better to seal the title. Starting from pole, the Spaniard steered his Honda to a thirdplace finish behind his team-mate and race winner Dani Pedrosa, and Yamaha’s Johann Zarco.
Dovizioso was the sole rider who could challenge Marquez. His only hope of stealing the title was to win and see Marquez finish 12th or worse. Instead, the Italian crashed out as pressure built near the end.
Moments before Dovizioso fell, Marquez had a scare himself when he barely managed to keep his bike up and on course for the championship. Shortly after taking the lead from Zarco, the front tyre of his Honda slid out and he only managed to stave off disaster by poking out his front elbow.
“That save will go down in history and that elbow gave us the title,” Marquez told Movistar television. “I told myself ‘I won’t let go even if the bike flips, if I have to get hurt then this is the time to do so.’”
Marquez celebrated his fourth title in five years. He also has two titles in the lower classes.
“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.”
In Moto2, Miguel Oliviera won ahead of champion Franco Morbidelli and South Africa’s Brad Binder. It was Binder’s third consecutive podium after struggling with injury earlier in the season.