Marquez wins third MotoGP title as Rossi, Lorenzo crash in Japan
MOTEGI: Marc Marquez grabbed his third world championship by winning the Japan Grand Prix Sunday with rivals Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo crashing out in a stunning surprise.
The 23-year-old Honda rider became the youngest man to win three premier-class world championship titles, and did so at Honda’s home circuit, where he had never won before, with three more races remaining in the season.
Marquez finished the 24-lap race in 42min 34.610sec in dry, sunny conditions, 2.992sec ahead of Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso and 4.104sec ahead of Maverick Vinales of Suzuki.
“Obviously, amazing... Amazing feeling,” Marquez said immediately after his victory with a big smile, his face flushed with excitement.
He knew he had a chance to claim the trophy but securing it would require Yamaha duo Rossi and Lorenzo to perform uncharacteristically slowly, so Marquez focused on expanding his 52-point lead against Rossi.
With 19 laps to go, Rossi also passed Lorenzo to pursue Marquez. But in the following lap, the Italian slipped on the tarmac at a hairpin bend on turn 10 for reasons that even the nine-time world champion could not himself immediately identify.
With five laps remaining, Lorenzo also slipped on the track, sending Marquez to unexpected victory.
“It was difficult to concentrate after Lorenzo crashed out,” Marquez said. He added that he had struggled to find his form early in the season and felt personal pressure after a stressful 2015 season, which was marked with crashes, lost opportunities and an open feud with Rossi, while Lorenzo reclaimed the world championship.
“Last year, I paid an expensive price. I learned,” Marquez said.