At 25 years of age, Spanish rider Marc Marquez took his Repsol Honda RC213V to the eight victory of this MotoGP season, and by doing so, Marquez secured his fifth MotoGP title in six years, the third in a row, and also his seventh world title with all classes included.
Indeed, Marquez had his first chance to close the title fight at today’s MotoGP race in Motegi, at the Japanese GP, and the Honda rider didn’t take it on the safe side and made sure he showed everyone who’s the strongest rider in the premiere class of motorcycle racing.
Starting from sixth on the grid, Marquez made it up the field throughout the 24 laps race. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati), had a slim chance to keep the title fight alive after the Japanese GP, but for that to happen, he had to win. Dovizioso knew what he had to do, and starting from pole position, the Ducati rider grabbed the lead as long as he could, until Marquez did what he knows best and passed his main title rival to take the lead on lap 21.
Dovizioso still tried to answer to Marquez attack, but in doing so, the Italian exaggerated and crashed out of the race, leaving Marquez alone to cross the finish line and claiming the 2018 MotoGP title with three races left until the end of the season.
Second position went to Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda), while third position fell in the hands of Alex Rins (Ecstar Suzuki) ahead of Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha), who by finishing the Japanese GP in fourth took advantage of Dovizioso’s crash and moved closer to his compatriot in the fight for the second position in the championship. Dovizioso and Rossi are now separated by just 8 points.
Marc Marquez has now five MotoGP titles and equaled racing legend Mick Doohan’s total number of titles in the main class. Valentino Rossi was 26 when he got his fifth world title, and Marquez is fast closing in at Giacomo Agostini record of eight titles.
After the checkered flag, Marc Marquez had the chance to celebrate in front of his fans and at Honda’s home racetrack, but the celebrations had a little bit of pain. Scott Redding (Gresini Aprilia), wanted to congratulate the newly crowned champion and gave Marquez a pat on the shoulder. That action made Marquez shoulder to pop out of place, and the new MotoGP had to receive medical attention on the racetrack, with track officials managing to put the shoulder back into place allowing the celebrations of Marquez seventh world title to proceed as planned.