Marc Marquez has achieved his fourth MotoGP world championship and sixth overall in premiere class with a stunning ride at the race in Valencia. The 24-year-old Honda ace needed to finish in the top 11 to beat Andrea Dovizioso to the crown.
He did so and becomes the youngest rider to win four titles in the class. The gutsy Italian Andrea Dovizioso was left disappointed but he rode his heart out throughout the season and is a favourite for many to comeback and win next year. He was frustratingly held up by Ducati team-mate Jorge Lorenzo before both crashed out in different incidents.
Honda’s second rider Dani Pedrosa had won the race ahead of the Yamaha rookie Johann Zarco in second position. Marquez had started the race from pole position and led after the start before being passed by Zarco on the third lap. He stayed behind the French rider before suffering a scare.
It happened when Marquez passed Zarco to re-assume the lead only to go off the track at the first turn on lap 23. However, Marquez skillfully managed to stay on his bike and it was definitely the save of the season for how importance it was.
He rejoined in fifth behind Spaniard Lorenzo and Italian Dovizioso. Lorenzo seemed to be receiving orders from his garage to let Dovizioso pass but he refused before amusingly went off. When Dovizioso crashed a while later, Marquez’s title was confirmed in such an epic season.