Japan: Ducati’s Marc Marquez has clinched his seventh MotoGP championship and his first since 2019 after securing an unassailable lead in the world championship with five rounds remaining.
The Spaniard’s triumph was confirmed after he finished second behind teammate Francesco Bagnaia, outscoring his brother and title rival Alex Marquez of Gresini Racing. Marquez needed to outscore Alex by at least three points to secure the championship. Crossing the finish line in second, Marquez extended his lead to 201 points, while Alex settled for sixth. A touching moment followed when Alex was the first to congratulate his brother, sharing a warm embrace on the track.
The victory was deeply emotional for Marc, who had his head in his hands as the reality of the accomplishment sank in. Watching a montage of his six-year journey back from injuries including over 100 crashes and four operations, Marquez was moved to tears. His coronation was finalised when his name was engraved on the iconic cylindrical MotoGP trophy, the ‘Tower of Champions’.
Marquez stated that, “It’s impossible even to speak. I just want to enjoy the moment. It was super difficult, but now I’m at peace with myself. I made a big mistake coming back too early from surgery, but I fought and fought and I won again!”
The race began with Ducati pole sitter and sprint winner Bagnaia taking control early, opening a clear gap over KTM’s Pedro Acosta by the second lap. Marquez initially struggled to keep pace with Acosta, allowing Honda’s Joan Mir to challenge for third. On lap 11, Marquez overtook Acosta, though he remained four seconds behind Bagnaia, who powered to his second victory of the season.
Acosta eventually fell back due to grip issues, letting Mir secure third place and a rare podium finish after retiring from ten races this season. Ducati experienced tense moments when smoke began emitting from Bagnaia’s bike in the second half of the race, but the Italian rider managed to cross the chequered flag safely.
Bagnaia remarked that, “I don’t want to take the spotlight from Marc, he deserves it today. I’m happy with my performance, though it’s a little shame it came so late in the season. I hope I can continue this momentum and keep fighting at the front.” Marc Marquez’s remarkable comeback marks a defining chapter in MotoGP history, ending a 2,184-day wait to lift the title once again.
TRENDING | At least 36 dead in stampede at political rally in Tamil Nadu
