Repsol Honda Media Press Release:
Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez has clinched his second consecutive Championship on Honda’s home soil, becoming the first Honda rider to clinch a World title – in any class – at the Motegi circuit, with his well earned second place finish. Teammate Dani Pedrosa fought to the end and finished just half a second off the podium in 4th position.
It was a tense start to the race with both riders dropping places on the first lap. However, they gradually passed Iannone and Dovizioso and by lap fourteen Marc was 3rd with Dani behind him in 4th, chasing leaders Lorenzo and Rossi. Marc battled with Valentino on lap 15, then finally passed him on lap 16, and began to try and open a gap. Valentino didn’t let him escape and kept the pressure on him until the final lap, with Marc taking second place by just 1 second in front of Valentino and just 1.6s behind Lorenzo. He now has an 82 point lead with just 75 points left to play for in the final three rounds, gifting him the 2014 World Championship.
Marc is the youngest ever rider to win two consecutive premier-class World Championships at the age of 21 years 237 days, taking the record from Mike Hailwood who was 23 years 152 days when he won his second successive 500cc title in 1963. This is the third time which the MotoGP world title has been secured at the Motegi circuit (previously in 2007 with Casey Stoner, and 2008 with Valentino Rossi).
Dani is now third in the standings but tied on points with Valentino, with Jorge just 3 points behind, and will be fighting in the final three races to earn second in the World Championship. The paddock now leave Japan and head South to Australia for next week’s grand prix in Phillip Island.
Marc Marquez #93
2nd
“I am very happy to have sealed this second consecutive World Championship, because although it is difficult to maintain this level, in the end we succeeded! Today is the time to enjoy this title. In the race I had a very clear objective, which was to finish ahead of Valentino and Dani – the other riders did not matter to me so much today. I just had one goal in mind and the important thing is that I was able to achieve it. I want to dedicate this title to all the people who have helped me – they know who they are – and especially to my family and the team, who are the foundation for all of this.”
Dani Pedrosa #26:
3rd
“I wasn’t as fast off the start as the riders at the front, which meant that I lost two or three seconds early on. However, later I was able to come back, set good times and cut the distance a lot. However, as has happened to me before on other occasions this season, I was continually having to make up the time that I had lost at the start. I have to congratulate Marc and his team today, because they have done a really good job this season and deserve the title.”
Motul Grand Prix of Japan – Round 15:
1 Jorge Lorenzo 99 ESP 25 Movistar Yamaha MotoGP YAMAHA 42’21.259
2 Marc Marquez 93 ESP 20 Repsol Honda Team HONDA +1.638
3 Valentino Rossi 46 ITA 16 Movistar Yamaha MotoGP YAMAHA +2.602
4 Dani Pedrosa 26 ESP 13 Repsol Honda Team HONDA +3.157
5 Andrea Dovizioso 4 ITA 11 Ducati Team DUCATI +14.353
6 Andrea Iannone 29 ITA 10 Pramac Racing DUCATI +16.653
7 Stefan Bradl 6 GER 9 LCR Honda MotoGP HONDA +19.531
8 Pol Espargaro 44 ESP 8 Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YAMAHA +19.815
9 Bradley Smith 38 GBR 7 Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YAMAHA +23.575
10 Alvaro Bautista 19 ESP 6 Go & Fun Honda Gresini HONDA +35.687
11 Aleix Espargaro 41 ESP 5 NGM Mobile Forward Racing YAMAHA +40.668
12 Katsuyuki Nakasuga 21 JPN 4 YAMALUBE Racing Team with YSP YAMAHA +51.027
13 Hiroshi Aoyama 7 JPN 3 Drive M7 Aspar HONDA +51.093
14 Nicky Hayden 69 USA 2 Drive M7 Aspar HONDA +55.792
15 Hector Barbera 8 ESP 1 Avintia Racing MotoGP FTR-KAWASAKI +59.089
16 Scott Redding 45 GBR Go & Fun Honda Gresini HONDA +59.508
17 Alex De Angelis 15 RSM NGM Mobile Forward Racing YAMAHA +1’16.547
18 Michael Laverty 70 GBR Paul Bird Motorsport ART & PBM +1’28.021
19 Mike Di Meglio 63 FRA Avintia Racing MotoGP FTR-KAWASAKI +1’29.470
20 Broc Parkes 23 AUS Paul Bird Motorsport PBM +1’33.253
21 Yonny Hernandez 68 COL Pramac Racing DUCATI DNF
22 Karel Abraham 17 CZE Cardion AB Motoracing HONDA DNF
23 Danilo Petrucci 9 ITA IodaRacing Project IODA-SUTER DNF
24 Cal Crutchlow 35 GBR Ducati Team DUCATI DNF
Rider Standings:
1 Marc Marquez 93 ESP 312 Repsol Honda Team HONDA
2 Valentino Rossi 46 ITA 230 Movistar Yamaha MotoGP YAMAHA
3 Dani Pedrosa 26 ESP 230 Repsol Honda Team HONDA
4 Jorge Lorenzo 99 ESP 227 Movistar Yamaha MotoGP YAMAHA
5 Andrea Dovizioso 4 ITA 153 Ducati Team DUCATI
6 Aleix Espargaro 41 ESP 117 NGM Mobile Forward Racing YAMAHA
7 Pol Espargaro 44 ESP 116 Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YAMAHA
8 Andrea Iannone 29 ITA 102 Pramac Racing DUCATI
9 Stefan Bradl 6 GER 96 LCR Honda MotoGP HONDA
10 Bradley Smith 38 GBR 92 Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YAMAHA
11 Alvaro Bautista 19 ESP 79 Go & Fun Honda Gresini HONDA
12 Cal Crutchlow 35 GBR 63 Ducati Team DUCATI
13 Scott Redding 45 GBR 60 Go & Fun Honda Gresini HONDA
14 Hiroshi Aoyama 7 JPN 54 Drive M7 Aspar HONDA
15 Yonny Hernandez 68 COL 39 Pramac Racing DUCATI
16 Nicky Hayden 69 USA 38 Drive M7 Aspar HONDA
17 Karel Abraham 17 CZE 33 Cardion AB Motoracing HONDA
18 Colin Edwards 5 USA 11 NGM Mobile Forward Racing YAMAHA
19 Michele Pirro 51 ITA 11 Ducati Team DUCATI
20 Danilo Petrucci 9 ITA 9 IodaRacing Project IODA-SUTER
21 Broc Parkes 23 AUS 7 Paul Bird Motorsport PBM
22 Alex De Angelis 15 RSM 7 NGM Mobile Forward Racing YAMAHA
23 Mike Di Meglio 63 FRA 4 Avintia Racing MotoGP FTR-KAWASAKI
24 Katsuyuki Nakasuga 21 JPN 4 YAMALUBE Racing Team with YSP YAMAHA
25 Hector Barbera 8 ESP 3 Avintia Racing MotoGP FTR-KAWASAKI
26 Michael Laverty 70 GBR 2 Paul Bird Motorsport ART & PBM
27 Leon Camier 2 GBR 1 Drive M7 Aspar HONDA
For more information: Repsol Honda Team
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