Marc Marquez was unable to wrap up a fourth MotoGP title after struggling to fourth in a wet Malaysian Grand Prix while championship rival Andrea Dovizioso cut his lead to 21 points.
The Spaniard qualified outside of the front two rows for only the second time in his premier class career in seventh, and admitted afterwards that he did not have the pace to fight for the win.
Marquez shot off the line to briefly take the lead into the first corner at the start of a wet Sepang race, but ran wide and dropped to third.
The Honda rider was passed by Dovizioso at Turn 4 on the fifth lap, and while he tried to stick with the Italian as he pursued his Ducati team-mate he opted to settle into fourth as to avoid a potential crash.
A struggling Johann Zarco presented an opportunity to get back on the podium for Marquez, but did not feel the risk of fighting with the Frenchman justified the three-point gain it would have netted him.
“Today the was the most difficult one we could have had for the championship because we had rain conditions and the track was extremely slippery,” said Marquez.
“I got a good start and I tried to push at the beginning because I didn’t want to get stuck in the middle of the group.
“Then I tried to find the feeling and the pace, but I saw the Ducatis were very fast, so I decided to not take too many risks, to be calm, and to get good points for the championship.
“I though about trying to get Zarco, but the risk was too big just to have an advantage of 24 points instead of 21.
“This wasn’t the race to win the title, but rather to get closer to it.”
Despite prolonging the title battle, Dovizioso does not believe Marquez – who now only needs an 11th-place finish in Valencia to win the championship – will feel any extra pressure as he knows beating the Spaniard will require something dramatic to happen to him.
“Today, after a difficult weekend, he did fourth like what he has done this season,” said Dovizioso.
“He did an incredible season, so when he’s in a bad situation he get a good position. That’s why he is first in the championship.
“So, to go to Valencia, his good track, Honda working well there I think.
“Also, I think we can be competitive, but to gain 21 points (back) have to happen something (dramatic).
“So, yes, the pressure on the last race in Spain for sure is quite heavy, but already he did (win the title at the last round) in the past.”
