MotoGP: Marquez champion in ‘explosion of joy’

Marc Marquez took honours once again in 2018, this time taking the Japanese Grand Prix and along with that, his 7th MotoGP world championship with three races left of the year. The Spaniard got a good start from 6th on the grid and was already 2nd by the end of the opening lap, with Andrea Dovizioso leading.

Marc dropped to 3rd for a while as Cal Crutchlow took up the chase to Dovizioso but Marquez soon responded, taking 2nd back before upping the ante and pushing Dovi hard. Cal was then in a battle for 3rd place with Suzukis Alex Rins and Andrea Iannone, but the Italian dropped it at turn 10.

Marquez took the lead with a handful of laps remaining and whilst Dovizioso chased him hard, the Italian joined former teammate Iannone in the turn 10 crasher’s club, tucking the front and sliding out of contention, both to retain his Japanese GP crown and also to fight for the championship.

“I feel really, really good. I would say it’s a dream came true, or better, that I’m living a dream. It’s something so special, here together with my team, all the Honda and HRC people, my family and my staff. It has been a great season, and ever since Aragon I’ve been tasting, imagining this title, because it was very close. Then I realized that this wasn’t my style, and I needed extra motivation, so I set the goal of trying to achieve it with my first match ball—in Motegi, by winning the race,” said Marquez, who has now won five out of six championships since being in the premier class.

“This circuit was a challenging one to manage that, but it seems like when I’m under pressure, I feel better on the bike! Today the race was as I expected. I was prepared to make a good start and immediately make some passes. I got to second place at the end of the first lap, and then was able to follow Andrea and stay with him. I thought I could try and attack before the last lap because I felt I had something extra to give. He was pushing very hard and made a mistake, and that’s a shame because he deserved to be here on the podium. That’s also something that I think Dani would deserve at least once this season.

“Anyway, when I crossed the finish line it was an explosion of joy. My people prepared this Level7 celebration, but I didn’t know anything ahead of time. I never want to know, but I think it’s because I used to play that kind of game a lot. Now it’s time to celebrate this seventh title and enjoy these final three races.”

With three races to go, Marquez has won at all three of them in the past – taking the upcoming Australian Grand Prix in 2017. Will he be able to see out the season as champion in a blaze of glory?