---
title: "Marquez: It’s incredible!"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2016/10/16/marquez-its-incredible/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2016-10-16T14:12:05Z"
modified: "2016-10-16T14:12:05Z"
---

# Marquez: It’s incredible!

Repsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez wrapped up the 2016 MotoGP World Championship at the Twin Ring Motegi, becoming a triple World Champion in just his fourth year in the premier class, an achievement he did not expect this weekend.

After dominating the Aragon Grand Prix three weeks ago, the Japanese race presented itself with Marquez’ first opportunity to win the title. However, the Spaniard didn’t believe it at all possible as he had a 52-point gap over second-placed Valentino Rossi in the standings with 100 still on offer. Realistically, it would have taken a nightmare for Yamaha in Japan to hand Marquez the championship.

But this is exactly what unfolded over the course of 24 laps at Motegi. Both Rossi and his teammate Jorge Lorenzo were doing enough to keep the championship alive when they crashed out of the race, the Italian on lap seven and the Spaniard just six laps from home.

Marquez was beaten up in the opening stages of the Grand Prix. He took the initial holeshot when the lights went out, but found Lorenzo scything past on the inside of Turn 2 and Rossi challenging him into the next corner. The Spaniard held his resolve against Rossi and disposed of Lorenzo on the fourth lap, immediately pulling a gap on the Yamaha rider.

When the team told him that Lorenzo had crashed in the closing stages, Marquez couldn’t quite believe both of the men who could stop him winning the title were out. He later admitted that he made ‘four or five’ mistakes, the sudden realisation of what was about to happen catching him well off-guard.

The Spaniard took the chequered flag four seconds clear of the field to claim his fifth world championship and become the youngest rider in history to do so. He said afterwards that, now that the championship is done and dusted, he’ll approach the final three races with a ‘more Marc Marquez style’.

“It’s incredible! Before the race I didn’t expect to be Champion, and I said that here it would be impossible. However, when I saw that Rossi was out of the race, I decided to push hard for the victory. I was riding my hardest, and when there were three laps to go, I read on my pit board that Lorenzo was also out; on that same lap, I made mistakes in four or five corners, as it was difficult to stay focused!,” explained the Spaniard.

“I’m very happy because this title is very special considering some of the crashes I had last year, and also because it came at Motegi, Honda’s home. Honda has worked so hard this year, and you could see the fruits of that effort also at this track, where we’ve struggled in the past. I myself also improved during the season; for instance, I learned how to better use the front Michelin tyre. It has been a demanding year, but a fantastic one. It’s great for my team, and of course I don’t want to forget my grandmother, who passed away this year and would be very happy with this World Championship. Now we can just enjoy it and go into the last three races with maybe a more ‘Marc Marquez’ style.”