FILE PHOTO: Honda MotoGP rider Marc Marquez of Spain rides his bike during the third qualifying session ahead of the Valencia Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Ricardo Tormo racetrack in Cheste near Valencia, Spain, November 7, 2015. REUTERS/Heino Kalis/File Photo
November 12, 2017
VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters) – Honda’s Marc Marquez won his fourth MotoGP world championship in five years on Sunday after his only rival Andrea Dovizioso crashed out of a dramatic season-ending race in Valencia.
The 24-year-old Spaniard, who started on pole position with a 21-point lead and also almost fell, finished third and safe in the knowledge that he was the sport’s youngest four times champion in the top category.
Compatriot and team mate Dani Pedrosa won the race with French rookie Johann Zarco second for the Tech3 Yamaha team after leading early on.
With Dovizioso in fifth place and unable to find a way past his Spanish team mate and triple MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo, Marquez looked in control until he misjudged his braking and ran wide with seven laps to go.
The Spaniard managed to stay on the bike as he ran wide, dropping to fifth and with Dovizioso ahead of him.
Both Ducati riders then fell a lap later, with Dovizioso getting back in track before retiring in the pits as Honda started the celebrations.
Marquez ended the season with 298 points to runner-up Dovizioso’s 261.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis)
