Marquez Clinches Fifth MotoGP Title With Victory in Japan

Date: 21 October 2018 - 21:51

News ID: ۵۸۷۵۸

TOKYO (Reuters) - Spain's 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 25-year-old is now tied with Australian Mick Doohan on five premier class world titles, with only Italian's Valentino Rossi (seven) and Giacomo Agostini (eight) have won more.
Marquez, who had sealed two of his previous titles at Motegi, moved 102 points clear of Ducati’s 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.
That left Marquez knowing he was going to secure his fifth title as he completed his final lap, shaking his head in disbelief at the achievement.
In a bizarre turn of events, Marquez dislocated his shoulder while celebrating on the track with British rider Scott Redding.
Redding apologized for his role in the incident, adding: "Congratulations to @marcmarquez93 with 7 titles on there my babbbie. Once we were rivals "big rivals" now we have nothing but respect and fun!!! Sorry for the dislocated shoulder....."
Marquez pipped Dovizioso on the final lap of the Thailand Grand Prix last time out and while he did leave it quite as late at Motegi the result was the same.
Dovizioso, who was the championship runner-up to Marquez in 2017, will have to wait another year for a shot at his first MotoGP premier class title.
LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow was second after a brilliant performance that saw the Briton hang with Marquez and Dovizioso until the final stages.
Another Spaniard, Alex Rins, was third for Suzuki.
The next stop is the Australian Grand Prix next weekend.
**********  Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso and Repsol Honda's Marc Marquez in action during the MotoGP race