Larry Lawrence | October 15, 2016
Photo by Gold & Goose
It was the unlikeliest of scenarios for Marc Marquez to win the MotoGP World Championship, but with his victory Sunday in the 24-lap Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi, in front of over 52,000 fans under sunny skies, and crashes by his closest rivals Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, Marquez was crowned 2016 World Champion. It marked his third MotoGP title in four years.
Marquez took over the lead on lap four and proceeded to dominate the race at Honda’s home track of the Twin Ring Motegi Circuit. It marked his fifth victory of the season. Marquez pulled off to the side of the track and jumped for joy and was lifted on the shoulders of friends and donned a jersey that commemorated Marquez’ total of five world titles as well as a special golden helmet.
It was an another superlative season for Marquez, who clinched the championship with three rounds still remaining.
In his post-race interview Marquez seemed almost stunned by the sudden turn of events that went his way. The hardest part for him in the end was to hold on to his focus to the checkered flag.
“Honestly you know… amazing,” he said, emotion filling his voice. “It’s an amazing feeling because I didn’t expect before the race. I really think that here it would be impossible. But then when I saw on the lap that Rossi was out, I say OK and I push 100 percent and go for the victory. I was pushing and pushing, but then on three laps on the pit board when I see Lorenzo is out, that lap honestly I make a mistake on four or five corners. I failed a gear and everything, it was so difficult to concentrate. Now I’m really happy, because it’s really special after last year season and then come back to the top here at Motegi. I’m really happy with my team, the mechanics and of course I don’t want to forget my grandmother that died this year. With this title she would be very happy.”
Marquez nailed a perfect start and led the 21-rider field into the first turn, but it was Lorenzo taking over the point with Rossi following in second. A few turns later Marquez aggressively moved back by Rossi with Aleix Espargaro also running up with the leaders.
Rossi and Marquez battled and swapped positions a couple of times in the first two laps, with Marquez ultimately taking the position. That allowed Lorenzo to open up a small 6-10ths of a second gap by the third lap.
Eugene Laverty was the first rider to crash on the Aspar Ducati at turn nine on lap three.
Marquez, running into the 1:45s, took over the lead with a hard-braking inside move into a turn on lap four and immediately established a half-second gap on Lorenzo and Rossi who were both in the 1:46 range.
On lap six Rossi got through on his Yamaha teammate at turn nine and found himself 9-10ths of a second behind the leader. Meanwhile Andrea Dovizioso moved past Alexi Espargaro to take fourth. At about that same time Jack Miller crashed out in turn one.
Second-place Rossi crashed in turn 10 on lap eight after washing out the front end of the Yamaha. He ended up down in a gravel trap and got back underway, but he immediately pulled into the pits and was done for the day.
Hector Barbara, subbing for Andrea Iannone, crashed the factory Ducati on lap nine, another victim of losing the front end.
With Rossi out it meant that if Lorenzo finished below fourth, Marquez would be crowned champion.
As the second half of the race began Marquez was safely out front, over three seconds clear of Lorenzo. Dovizioso and Aleix Espargaro continued to battle for the final podium spot, just a second or so behind Lorenzo. Maverick Viñales was a distant fifth.
In the closing laps Marquez was untouchable and completely in control at the front. Lorenzo was stiff and sore after his big crash on Saturday, yet he was doing an amazing job holding Dovi at bay. VIÑALES moved up to challenge his Suzuki teammate Espargaro with seven laps to go. After making one unsuccessful stab, Viñales finally made a pass stick on Espargaro a lap later at turns seven and eight, putting Viñales into fourth.
A spectacular turn of events happened with five to go when Lorenzo crashed at the apex of turn nine. That meant Marquez would be world champion for a third time if he could stay upright for four more laps.
In the end Marquez crossed the line 2.992 seconds ahead of Dovizioso with Viñales taking third. Aleix Espargaro and Cal Crutchlow rounded out the top five.
Marquez left Japan with an insurmountable 77-point lead on Rossi (273-196). Lorenzo remained third with 182.
The series next moves to Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on October 23 for the Australian Grand Prix.
MOTUL GRAND PRIX OF JAPAN MotoGP Race Classification Motegi, Sunday, October 16, 2016
1 |
25 |
93 |
Marc MARQUEZ |
SPA |
Repsol Honda Team |
Honda |
162.3 |
42’34.610 |
2 |
20 |
4 |
Andrea DOVIZIOSO |
ITA |
Ducati Team |
Ducati |
162.1 |
+2.992 |
3 |
16 |
25 |
Maverick VIÑALES |
SPA |
Team SUZUKI ECSTAR |
Suzuki |
162.1 |
+4.104 |
4 |
13 |
41 |
Aleix ESPARGARO |
SPA |
Team SUZUKI ECSTAR |
Suzuki |
162.0 |
+4.726 |
5 |
11 |
35 |
Cal CRUTCHLOW |
GBR |
LCR Honda |
Honda |
161.4 |
+15.049 |
6 |
10 |
44 |
Pol ESPARGARO |
SPA |
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 |
Yamaha |
161.1 |
+19.654 |
7 |
9 |
19 |
Alvaro BAUTISTA |
SPA |
Aprilia Racing Team Gresini |
Aprilia |
160.9 |
+23.032 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
Danilo PETRUCCI |
ITA |
OCTO Pramac Yakhnich |
Ducati |
160.5 |
+28.555 |
9 |
7 |
45 |
Scott REDDING |
GBR |
OCTO Pramac Yakhnich |
Ducati |
160.5 |
+28.802 |
10 |
6 |
6 |
Stefan BRADL |
GER |
Aprilia Racing Team Gresini |
Aprilia |
160.3 |
+32.330 |
11 |
5 |
21 |
Katsuyuki NAKASUGA |
JPN |
Yamalube Yamaha Factory Racing |
Yamaha |
159.6 |
+42.845 |
12 |
4 |
68 |
Yonny HERNANDEZ |
COL |
Pull & Bear Aspar Team |
Ducati |
159.1 |
+52.219 |
13 |
3 |
38 |
Bradley SMITH |
GBR |
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 |
Yamaha |
159.0 |
+53.783 |
14 |
2 |
53 |
Tito RABAT |
SPA |
Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS |
Honda |
158.9 |
+54.760 |
15 |
1 |
73 |
Hiroshi AOYAMA |
JPN |
Repsol Honda Team |
Honda |
158.6 |
+1’00.155 |
16 |
|
76 |
Loris BAZ |
FRA |
Avintia Racing |
Ducati |
158.3 |
+1’04.440 |
17 |
|
8 |
Hector BARBERA |
SPA |
Ducati Team |
Ducati |
156.0 |
+1’42.966 |
18 |
|
7 |
Mike JONES |
AUS |
Avintia Racing |
Ducati |
154.5 |
1 Lap |
Not Classified |
|
|
99 |
Jorge LORENZO |
SPA |
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP |
Yamaha |
162.3 |
5 Laps |
|
|
46 |
Valentino ROSSI |
ITA |
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP |
Yamaha |
161.3 |
18 Laps |
|
|
43 |
Jack MILLER |
AUS |
Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS |
Honda |
158.7 |
18 Laps |
|
|
50 |
Eugene LAVERTY |
IRL |
Pull & Bear Aspar Team |
Ducati |
153.3 |
22 Laps |