Spanish rider Marc Marquez claims the 7th world title

Motegi: Spanish rider Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) won his seventh World Championship title after claiming the 2018 MotoGP trophy with a thrilling victory in Japan. The 25-year-old Spaniard became the youngest ever seven-title winner in history.

Marquez led the race in Japan after taking advantage of a spill from his key Italian rival Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), who crashed with two laps to go. The Spaniard led the Japan race in Motegi with a time of 42 minutes and 36.438 seconds, just 1.573 seconds ahead of second-placed British Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda).

Spain’s Alex Rins (Suzuki) came third in Motegi, while Italian Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) and Spaniard Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Although Dovizioso clinched the pole position on Saturday for the Japan Grand Prix at Motegi’s Twin Ring, he finished 18th on Sunday after his crash.

Marquez topped the MotoGP World Standing 2018 with 296 points, followed by runner-up Dovizioso (194 points). Rossi held the third position with 185 points, ahead of fourth-placed Spain’s Maverick Viñales (Yamaha). IANS