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It required a highly unlikely set of circumstances yet, in the end, there could not have been a more perfect finale.
Honda, at their home circuit, even had time to open and pass around the pre-prepared T-shirts celebrating Marc Marquez’s third MotoGP championship and fifth world title overall (he was 125cc World Champion in 2010 and Moto2 World Champion in 2012).
His first title, marking him as the youngest to claim the elite crown, was built on outstanding raw pace and incredible angles and he managed to maintain that for long enough the following season to retain the title.
However, last year he had a remarkable six races in which he crashed out. There was a certain irony, therefore, when he was handed this latest celebration as a result of crashes during practice and then the race itself.
Crashes, struggles and controversy marked the toughest year of Marquez’s premier class career – and 2016 saw the rider from Cervera stage an incredible comeback. Controlled, poised and willing to play the long game - this was the new Marquez - and he was here to take back his crown.
The scars of last season have created a new rider. Where 2015 saw the Spaniard push too hard and make mistakes, this season has replaced those flaws with calm and control – pushing when the victory is there to be taken, and taking the points when the stakes are too high. He is the only rider to claim points in every race this season.
The 23-year-old Spaniard had only an outside chance to seal the title but the result at Motegi gives him an unassailable 77-point lead over Italian Rossi.
Already the youngest rider to win a MotoGP race and the title in his maiden season in 2013, Marquez’s triumph in Japan made him the youngest to seal three championships. He finished nearly three seconds ahead of Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso, with Suzuki’s Maverick Vinales third.
The opening laps hardly gave an indication that he would claim his fifth victory of the year as the leading contenders traded positions.
With a slow start for polesitter Rossi, it was championship leader Marquez who got the holeshot into Turn 1 – before reigning champion Lorenzo quickly took the lead at Turn 2.
With Rossi getting past Marquez soon after, Aleix Espargaro (Team Suzuki Ecstar) then took advantage to take the Italian legend. The rider from Tavullia fought back, before a duel between the Movistar Yamaha of Rossi and the Repsol Honda of Marquez saw the two switching positions in an early battle for honour.
Rossi was first to fold, as the nine-time world champion made a mistake and lost the front end of his Yamaha – leaving teammate Lorenzo as the last man standing in between Marquez and the crown. The status quo between the two remained, with Marquez in a clear lead, as battle raged behind.
