Marquez secures second MotoGP title as Lorenzo wins Motegi race
MotoGP master Marc Marquez rode into the record books by claiming a second consecutive World Championship in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.
It was a perfect performance with Marquez knowing that second place in the race to race winner and Yamaha rival Jorge Lorenzo was enough to deliver the title. This was Marquez showing that he is capable of putting aside his trademark high-risk style to reinforce his superstar status at just 21 years of age.
Marquez and the factory Repsol Honda team now appear set for a long period of domination having claimed their second world title with three races remaining. Marquez's second place in Motegi gives him an unbeatable 312 points ahead of Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa equal on 230 with Lorenzo fourth on 227 points.
The Motegi circuit is owned by Marquez's employers Honda and he became the first Honda rider in any class to clinch a world title at the company's home track.
"It's incredible, I cannot explain the feeling, it is like a dream," Marquez said. "Just two years in MotoGP and two titles, I cannot imagine this.
"For the fans it maybe looks easy because I am always smiling and happy but I also feel the pressure especially after the two big mistakes in Misano and Aragon.
"It was important here to win for Honda so I focussed in the race just to win the title and not the victory. I'm happy with my team, family and fans who are always pushing me."
On his way to the title, Marquez has won 11 of 15 races so far this season and reversed the mistakes at two recent races, Misano and Aragon, that momentarily slowed his championship charge.
Marquez staged a superb fightback at Motegi after being shuffled back to sixth place in an opening lap scramble. But he did not panic and executed a clinical race strategy to overtake teammate Pedrosa and then Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso before engaging Rossi in a brief tussle for second.
Rossi finished third in a race that was won in superb style by Lorenzo who backed up his victory prediction after qualifying fifth.
This was Lorenzo's second consecutive race win at Motegi and he is now closing in on a challenge for runner-up spot in the championship. Once he passed Yamaha teammate Rossi for the lead Lorenzo was untouchable out front, controlling the gap while Marquez went about securing the title behind him.
It was all about Marquez winning a second world title and establishing his status as the benchmark rider in MotoGP. Marquez joined MotoGP at the beginning of the 2013 season and it has taken him just 33 race starts to win two win titles and 17 races at a staggering win rate of 50%.
