Marc Marquez confirmed his status as MotoGP’s supreme racer with a superb victory in the Valencia Grand Prix, a record 13th victory for the season.
This takes Marquez one ahead of five-time World Champion Mick Doohan for most wins in a season which he set in 1997.
Racing under huge pressure before a home crowd, Marquez had reason for a double celebration. Just an hour before the MotoGP race, his young brother Alex clinched the Moto3 World Championship with third place in that race.
This is the first time in the 66 year history of motorcycle Grand Prix racing that two brothers have both won world titles. This was Marc Marquez’s 19th win from 36 starts in just two seasons of MotoGP.
“I am really, really happy for this win, perhaps more than in Motegi when I clinched the championship especially as just an hour before the race I was celebrating Alex’s championship win,” Marquez said. “Finally the season is over and this is incredible feeling what we have achieved. Now it is time to enjoy it with our family.
“It is a season I will never forget.”
Marquez, on a factory Repsol Honda, finished ahead of Italian veteran Valentino Rossi, who clinched runner-spot in the championship.
Rossi’s main challenger for second in the points, teammate Jorge Lorenzo, retired from the race after stopping to change bikes in the damp conditions.
Honda rider Dani Pedrosa finished third ahead of the Ducati factory riders Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow.
Marquez finished the season with 362 points – ahead of Rossi on 295, Lorenzo 263 and Pedrosa 246.
All of Marquez’s previous 18 victories had come after starting on the front row of the grid. At Valencia he started fifth, his worst qualifying of the season.
But that means nothing with the Marquez brothers, Marc and Alex, celebrating a history-making day in motorcycle grand prix racing.