Marc Marquez clinches title with record-breaking win

Newly-crowned World MotoGP champion Marc Marquez claimed a record-breaking 13th win of the season in Valencia.

The Spaniard’s victory in the final race of the championship beat Australian Mick Doohan’s record of 12 race wins in a season, set in 1997.

Marquez led from the 11th lap on his Honda and finished in 46 minutes 39.627 seconds, ahead of Valentino Rossi and team-mate Dani Pedrosa.

Rossi secured second spot in the championship ahead of Jorge Lorenzo.

It was a special Sunday all round for the Marquez family after Marc’s 18-year-old younger brother, Alex, clinched the Moto3 crown  earlier in the day.

Marc Marquez had started fifth on the grid in Spain after a crash in qualifying on Saturday, but quickly moved up to third behind Yamaha rider Rossi and Ducati’s Andrea Iannone.

He then passed Rossi on lap ten and Iannone a lap later, before sealing a comfortable victory despite some intermittent spells of rain.

The 21-year-old said: “The truth is I’m very, very happy. During the race, at times, I was thinking of my brother and thought I had to do well.

“When it started to rain, I just had to concentrate and then I was out on my own. I was enjoying it a lot and I thought I would risk it, I didn’t have anything to lose.

“It went well and now I have to celebrate.”

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow finished fifth, just behind Ducati team-mate Andrea Dovizioso.

Second place in the overall standings was Rossi’s best finish since he won the last of his seven premier class world titles in 2009.

Valencia MotoGP result:

1. Marc Marquez (Spa) Honda 46:39.627

2. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha +3.516

3. Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Honda +14.040

4. Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Ducati +16.705

5. Cal Crutchlow (GB) Ducati +16.773

6. Pol Espargaro (Spa) Yamaha +37.884

7. Aleix Espargaro (Spa) Yamaha +38.168

8. Stefan Bradl (Ger) Honda +41.803

9. Michele Pirro (Ita) Ducati +45.710

10. Scott Redding (GB) Honda +51.191

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Source: BBC Sport