Motegi: Repsol Honda rider and multiple world champion Marc Marquez produced a sublime show to clinch his third Motul Grand Prix of Japan at the Twin Ring Circuit here on a balmy and sunny Sunday afternoon.
Clear skies prevailed after a downpour soaked the track on Saturday, Marquez exploited the condition to the fullest and dictated the terms from the first lap itself as he held the lead through 24 laps. Though Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabiano Quartararo was hot on his heels, he failed to outpace him in any of the laps as the Honda star rider clinched his fourth title in a row this season.
The strong sun was enough to make the track dry and the temperature hovering at around 21 degrees centigrade was “perfect” for Marquez to conquer the Motegi track again in front of almost-capacity crowd.
“The weather was perfect today and I am happy with my win. It went according to strategy and was able to maintain the gap and pushed further in later stage to win comfortably, “ Marquez said with a big smile after the race.
Spain’s Marquez finished in 42 minutes and 31.492 seconds, just ahead of 20-year-old rookie Frenchman Quartararo (42 min 42.492sec) with Team Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso coming third on podium as he was 2.6 seconds late.
The Spaniard Marquez had also won the title here in 2016 and 2018.
Marquez is now leading the championship with 350 points. Team Ducati Dovizi-oso is second with 231 points, while A. Rins of Team Suzuki is third with 176 points
Despite the lead, Maqruez was kept his guard high. Marquez hit the fastest lap of day in fifth lap.
Honda’s other rider Jorge Lorenzo, who owns the lap record here with 1:43.79 in 2015, had a disappointing finished as he came at the 19th spot.
It was another good news in store for Team Honda as they also clinched the MotoGP Constructors’ World Championship with 356 points for a record 25th time ahead of Ducati (270) and Yamaha(268).
Though it was a forgettable race for former world champion Valentino Rossi, who had a huge fan following here, of Monster Energy Yamaha team as he met a crash in the 20th lap.
Italy’s Luca Marini won the Moto2 while Lorenzo Dalla Porta from Spain grabbed the Moto3 victory.
