Marquez crowned MotoGP Champion

The latest crown was the MotoGP title. Marquez took the title in Japan at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit. It’s the seventh time the Spaniard has become World Champion. Here’s how the stats now line-up for the (still) youthful Honda man...

TITLES

■ Marquez becomes the youngest rider to win five titles in the premier class at the age of 25 years and 246 days, taking the record off Valentino Rossi (26 years, 221 days).

■ He becomes the youngest rider of all time to reach the milestone of seven World Championships, beating Mike Hailwood’s record, who was 26 years and 140 days old when he won his seventh title back in 1966.

■ Marquez joins Valentino Rossi, Mick Doohan and Giacomo Agostini as one of four riders who has won five or more premier class World Championships.

■ He becomes one of the eight riders who have more than seven titles across all categories: John Surtees (7), Phil Read (7), Carlo Ubbiali (9), Mike Hailwood (9), Valentino Rossi (9), Angel Nieto (13) and Giacomo Agostini (15).

VICTORIES

■ Marquez has won at least five GPs per season in the last nine years across all three categories: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP.

■ The Spaniard is the first rider to achieve the above in the 70-year history of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, beating his own record of last season. Previously, Mike Hailwood was the only rider to have achieved at least five victories per season in the seven years between 1961 and 1967.

POLE POSITIONS

■ With five pole positions this season, Marquez increases his overall (since 1974) pole position tally to 78 across all classes.

■ In Thailand, Marquez (25 years, 231 days) became the youngest rider to reach the milestone of 50 pole positions in the premier class, taking the record off Mick Doohan, who was 32 years and 122 days old when he took his 50th pole position at Philip Island in 1997.