Marc Márquez

First steps (1993-2001)
A rider with such passion and talent for motorsport, Marc Marquez was always going to end up in the World Championship and seemed destined for titles from the start. He first raced in Grands Prix when he had just turned 15. His father was one of the thousands of fans who, year after year, travelled by motorbike to the Grand Prix held in Jerez. It is little wonder that when Marc Marquez was 4, he asked for a motorbike for Christmas and received his wish.

On February 1993, Czechoslovakia disappeared after 74 years and actress Audrey Hepburn had passed away some days before. On the 17th of that month, a future champion was born in Lleida. Young Marc has always lived in Cervera, a small town near the capital of the province where he lives with his parents and his brother Alex. Three years younger, his brother has followed in his steps and in 2014 was Moto3 World Champion.

When he was four, Marc Márquez asked for a motorbike for Christmas and, with two training wheels, he took his first steps with it. He would go with his father to an esplanade near their house, to an industrial area or even a friend’s field to practice before taking part in his first races. When he was five, he participated in the “Enduro for kids” in the initiation category. He would have preferred to practice motocross, a more fun competition where all the riders start at the same time and where he was able to put himself to test against other kids, without having to look at the times when the race is over. However, in motocross did not exist a class for his age at that time.

The following year, 1999, his father bought him a second-hand KTM 50, which he used to keep enjoying enduro and also to start in motocross. In 2000, although he continued competing in enduro, he was also runner up at the Motocross Catalan Championship and, a year later, he took another step forward and was Catalan Champion of the initiation category. He kept practising enduro, a discipline in which he finished fourth that year with a Kawasaki 65, already with gears.

From dirt to tarmac (2001-2007)
Nevertheless, that year his life would take an important turn. The Motorcycling Catalan Federation launched the Conti Cup, a road racing promotion series that included bike, helmet, overall, gloves, boots and licence. His good performances in the fastest motocross races inspired him to try his luck on the Kart circuits’ tarmac, although the initial stages were a little disappointing. Marc, who was used to be in front in motocross, did not know how to not go fast. However, by mid season he started to feel more comfortable and decided to repeat the experience the following year.

It was then when he entered in Procurve, a team from Mataro with which he finished third in the Conti Cup. He kept competing in motocross but he started to focus in road racing. With the same team he changed to the big circuits by taking part in the Open RACC 50, a six-race Catalan Championship held in Montmeló (2), Calafat (3) and Can Padró (1). It was supposed that his first year should be one of adaptation and learning, but Marc won the championship with an overwhelming performance, sometimes finishing some races with an advantage of 20 seconds over his rivals.

Due to the excellent results of 2003, the following year Márquez jumped to the 125 class with a Honda 125 GP. He signed for the RACC Impala team, with Pol Espargaró –who was two years older- as his team mate. After the six races held in Montmeló (2), Valencia (2) and Albacete (2), he took the runner-up position behind his team mate.

A year later, the team changed his name to RACC CajaMadrid and the Monlau mechanics started to be part of it. It was an important year for the rider, as it was then when he met Emilio Alzamora, 1999 125cc World Champion. During that season Márquez won the 125cc Catalan Championship, as well as the 85cc class of the Supermotard Catalan Championship. The following year he repeated the Catalan triumph, and at the same time made his debut in the Spanish Road Racing Championship (CEV), where he achieved the eight overall position.

In 2007 he participated again in the CEV, this time with KTM, but several crashes prevented him from taking a better position than ninth overall. Márquez, with 1.50m height and 43kg, was forced to take a 20kg ballast that affected the bike negatively in the changes of direction, as the inertia would drag him out of the track. Nonetheless, he was able to win one of the seven races of the Championship, at the Jerez circuit.

World Championship Debut (2008)
At the end of the 2007 season, shortly before the last race in Valencia, he went with n Emilio Alzamora to the Ricardo Tormo Circuit to attend the Valencia Grand Prix. Immersed in the world championship atmosphere, Márquez thought he was there to learn and prepare himself for the last CEV round. But Alzamora had a surprise for him: the next year he would be part of the big World Championship family. Both surprised and elated, Marc accepted the challenge and in 2008 he embarked in a new odyssey, in which he would learn and grow as a rider.

His debut in the Motorcycling World Championship was with the Repsol KTM Team livery at the Portuguese Grand Prix that took place in Estoril. During the preseason, an ill-timed crash ended with a fracture of his right arm that prevented him from being in the starting grid in the first two races. But he was finally able to make his debut around the middle of April. Márquez gave glimpses of his talent in that very first race, but it was in the second, in China, where he won his first two points and made his remarkable potential clear.

In the following races he kept being seen among the top places, but it was in his sixth race, at the English Grand Prix, where he was able to set a milestone in motorcycling history. Márquez reached the finish line in third position, the youngest rider ever to get on a World Championship podium and the youngest Spanish rider to achieve that feat.

With a KTM, the Repsol rider alternated great performances, such as in San Marino and Indianapolis, with an occasional setback, such as in the Malaysian Grand Prix, where he had to finish the season ahead of time. In the practice sessions, Marc was run over by a rival, with such misfortune that his leg was trapped between the wheel and the swingarm and broke the epiphyseal plate of his tibia. Nevertheless, the season’s assessment was impressive, as he finished in thirteenth position overall, despite having missed four races due to injury.

Second year in the World Championship (2009)
Again with Repsol livery, Marc showed again in his second World Championship season the talent that had impressed everyone, breaking new precociousness records: at the French Grand Prix, the Repsol rider was the second youngest rider ever to get a pole position in the World Championship. Again with a 93 in his fairing, a number that shows the year he was born, he competed that season in the official KTM team, fighting week after week to get on the podium. He achieved it in the third round of the year, in Jerez, and despite being among the top group in several occasions, bad luck and crashed combined to prevent him from repeating the feat in the rest of the season.

From the start of the Championship, Márquez was among the fastest group and at the Qatar Grand Prix aroused a situation that would repeat itself several times during the year: a crash when he was fighting for a place on the podium. In France, Germany, England, Portugal and Valencia, Márquez left with bare hands after superb performances that demonstrated his talents.

Despite all the difficulties, Marquez finally achieved his objective: to finish nearly all Grand Prix among the top five. In many occasions, it was clear that he had a superior level than his own bike –a KTM, a brand that announced its retirement from the World Championship at the end of that season –allowed him. Considered as one of the young promises of the Spanish Motorcycling, he did not lack offers for 2010, a season that the Repsol rider will face with the Ajo Motorsport team and a Derbi.

World Champion (2010)
It was his third year in the Continental Circus and the first one he had the same weapons as the rest of his rivals. With a bike exactly identical as the rest of the candidates for the triumph in each race, it was the season in which Marquez was able to fully show his potential and took every opportunity to keep setting records in his short but remarkable career as a rider. From the preseason, the Repsol rider set a record pace, showing a great adaptation to his new bike and team.

In the first race, Marquez showed his aspirations when he took the pole position and got onto the podium, although he had the feeling he could have done better. However, he soon found the first obstacle: after setting another pole position in the second Grand Prix of the season in Jerez, in the race he was incredibly unlucky. He had not finished the first lap when the exhaust system broke, detaching itself and knocking the rear wheel in one of the Andalusian track fast corners. Marc was thrown through the air and dislocated his right shoulder.

Putting a lot of effort in his recovery, he got again on the podium on the following race, in France, before achieving two weeks later the first victory of his sporting career at the Mugello Circuit. A success that demonstrated the talent of the Repsol rider, who won the following four races consecutively, also setting all the pole positions and breaking precociousness records set years ago by the young Valentino Rossi.

The summer break interrupted Marquez’s winning streak and in the first practice of the Czech Republic Grand Prix he dislocated his left shoulder in a crash. Despite that, he was able to compete in the race and, although he mounted the wrong tyres, which ended completely worn, he finished in seventh position. Again with a huge effort in his physical recovery, the rider from Cervera (Lleida) showed again the high level he had before the summer. Nevertheless, a mistake at the Indianapolis Circuit made him crash again when he was leading the race. He was able to finish tenth – despite receiving a 20-second penalty-, and kept the lead of the championship.

A lead that, although reinforced by a new victory in the following round in San Marino, he lost two weeks later at the Aragon Grand Prix. He was run over by another rider and was forced to leave with no points for the second time in the season. He then faced the Asian tour fully determined and with the personal aim to return to Spain as leader of the class. And he did it. Márquez dominated the class with authority both in Japan, Malaysia and Australia, winning the three rounds setting the fastest time in the practice sessions and achieving the race victory. Undoubtedly, this was an important step forward in his battle for the title, as he set a perfect hat-trick without a single mistake.

Then the Portuguese Grand Prix arrived. There Marc Márquez astonished all the motorcycling world with a performance worthy of a Hollywood movie. With the race suspended due to the rain, the Repsol rider crashed in the new formation lap, less than ten minutes before the restart of the race. His bike was repaired just in time with the help of all his mechanics and even other riders. He started from the last position of the grid, but was already fourth at the end of the first lap after a wonderful performance. In the end, he set an epic victory just ahead of Nico Terol. Pol Espargaró, tenth, got out of the championship battle. The title would be decided in Valencia in a duel between two riders: Marc Márquez and Nico Terol.

The Repsol rider arrived to the last round of the season with an advantage of 17 points in the overall classification, but perfectly aware that the World Championship had not finished and that he had to keep concentration until reaching the chequered flag. In a perfect weekend Marquez set yet another pole position, matching the record of pole positions set by a living legend of motorcycling, the Repsol rider Mick Doohan. In the race he showed the maturity that had characterized him all season, although for once he avoided entering the battle for victory. His final fourth position allowed him to reach the finish line celebrating the title. He was the 2010 125cc World Champion at 17, after getting 10 victories and 12 pole positions.

After getting the title, the natural step for the young Repsol rider is to change classes in 2011 and follow his unstoppable progression with any bike he might lay his hands on. With a new team created from scratch, Marquez will count on engineers with lots of experience in Moto2 and MotoGP for his debut in the intermediate category. A real jungle where he will need to show all the talent that has turned him into a true motorcycling star and keep progressing.

The Repsol rider arrived at the last race of the season with a comfortable advantage of 17 points in the overall standings, but was aware that he couldn’t afford to lose concentration until the chequered flag had been waved. On a perfect weekend, Márquez took yet another pole position —equalling the record for the most in a season, held by fellow Repsol competitor Mick Doohan. In the race itself he rode with the maturity typical of his season, avoiding the risky fight for victory and doing what was necessary in order to clinch the title. Fourth place was enough to ensure that, at 17 years old and with 10 wins & 12 poles, the Spaniard was 125cc World Champion for 2010.

Runner-up at Moto2 in his first year (2011)
With the title in the bag, the young rider made the move up to Moto2 for 2011. He did so as part of a team created especially for him, boasting experienced mechanics and the same Repsol support that had helped his career in 125cc. It took him four races to get to grips with the class, as three crashes from the opening four races gave him plenty of food for thought. At the French GP, however, he announced his arrival as a serious title contender.

Victory at Le Mans and second place at Montmeló showed that he was not out of his depth in the class, but one race later he suffered another crash whilst fighting for the win at the British GP. This was the final blip before a huge comeback, in which he picked up three consecutive wins —Assen, Italy and Germany—, one second place —Brno—, a further three wins on the bounce —Indianápolis, San Marino and Aragón— and another second place —Motegi.

That run cut a gap of 82 points between the Spanish star and series leader, Stefan Bradl, putting Márquez in front for the first time. There was still to be another amazing comeback in 2011 —this time at the Australian GP. After being penalised for an infraction in Free Practice and sent to 38th on the grid, he would have to do something very special to take something away from Phillip Island. That Sunday he overtook 35 rivals to complete the podium.

Seven wins, three second places and a third place gave Márquez the Rookie of the Year honour for 2011, although his season ended on a sour note when he crashed in qualifying for the penultimate race of the season in Malaysia and was unable to compete in the final two events. That meant that he conceded the title, albeit taking a creditable runner-up spot in the Moto2 World Championship.

Moto2 World Champion for 2012
Marc Marquez faced his second year in the intermediate category with the highest possible aspirations. Accompanied by the same team as last year, the Repsol rider fought to repeat the form shown in his brilliant 2011 season right from the start, in the cylinder class that has become the most competitive in the world. In this jungle of talented riders, he has emerged as champion at the penultimate round of the season.

The start of the year was not easy for Marquez, who missed almost the entire preseason whilst recovering from an injury sustained in free practice for the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, which had also prevented him from participating in the last two rounds of that campaign. Marc recovered in time for the Qatar Grand Prix, the first race of 2012, but had accumulated very few miles on his Moto2 bike. Despite this, he started 2012 as one of the favorites to take the title.

He did not disappoint. The Repsol rider overcame everything thrown his way and and took the win in the desert, showing that he was fully recovered and ready to push for the title. That victory was followed by a second in Jerez and another win in Portugal. At the fourth round, held at the Le Mans circuit, the Spaniard took pole position but suffered a crash in an intense downpour on race day. That small blot on his record was followed by 9 podiums from 12 races. Eight wins —in Qatar, Portugal, Holland, Germany, Indianapolis, Czech Republic, San Marino and Japan—, two runner-up finishes —Jerez and Aragon—, and three third places —Catalunya, Great Britain and Australia—, established his credentials.

With everything going in his favour, rain again caught Marquez out at the Malaysian Grand Prix. Three laps into the race, the Repsol rider crashed out. Fortunately, the advantage gained at the preceding races allowed for him to clinch the crown just one week later.

The newly crowned Moto2 World Champion has some extraordinary figures to his name in a great year: He is the rider under-20 with the most wins, 25, had been on the podium 13 times from a possible 16 possible and has broken the record for points scored in Moto2 by racking up 299 —with one race to go in 2012. With the title already under his belt, Marc Marquez now faces his final Moto2 contest with no pressure and one eye on MotoGP, where he ride in the Repsol Honda Team.

Winner of MotoGP title in his rookie season

Marc Marquez joined the prestigious Repsol Honda team this season, with the intention of learning and adapting to the premier class. However, his meteoric rise has seen him break records race after race. With a total of 334 points to his name, the young Spaniard becomes the youngest MotoGP World Champion to date. Courtesy of some incredible results, Marquez has once again made history in Grand Prix racing.

His debut was brilliant: Under the floodlights at Qatar, Marquez took his first podium of the season. With a third place, the Repsol rider became the youngest rostrum finisher of the MotoGP era, at 20 years and 49 days old. A win and the lead of the overall standings did not take long in arriving; taking off from pole position, Marquez took victory at round two of the season, held in Austin. At 20 years and 63 days old, he became the youngest winner so far of a premier class race.

The series arrived in Spain next, and Marquez claimed a third consecutive podium. He rode his first wet weather premier class GP in France next, starting from pole. Although he would lose places at the start, he recovered for third place and a perfect podium record.

This record would come to an end in Italy, over a difficult weekend in which he suffered a scary crash in the second free practice session –leaving him with an abrasion to his chin and a fissure to his right humerus. Despite this, Marquez lined up for the race –although he would crash again with 3 laps remaining. He returned from his first DNF to place third in Catalonia, and would continue his rostrum run through to the antepenultimate round. Second place in the Netherlands went his way as he overcame two small fractures to his foot and hand, following a crash in practice.

Four wins in succession signaled a rich run of form for Marquez. The streak included a perfect weekend in Germany, where he took pole, the race fastest lap and the win. The results would put him in the lead of the class, and he would not relinquish the position for the rest of the season. A thrilling pass on Valentino Rossi just before the Corkscrew section of the Laguna Seca circuit gave him the win at the US Grand Prix, making Marquez the first rookie to achieve the feat and the youngest rider to win two races in a row. He would have another impeccable race at Indianapolis, where he made it a clean sweep of race victories on US soil. A further triumph in the Czech Republic made him the first rider to win five races in his rookie season.

Silverstone saw a creditworthy second place finish, overcoming a shoulder dislocation suffered in the morning warmup. Marquez repeated second in San Marino, where he dominated the practice sessions and took a sixth pole position of the year. At MotorLand Aragon he returned to winning ways, taking off from the head of the grid and claiming victory number 6 of the season. MotoGP then embarked upon its triple flyaway section of the season, beginning in Malaysia: Marquez was second in Sepang, extending his advantage in the overall standings.

The second in the trio of races took place at one of the series’ most popular circuits: Phillip Island. A problem with degradation of the tyres brought by Bridgestone to the Australian GP reduced the race to just 19 laps, with an obligatory pit stop on either lap 9 or 10. A mistake in strategy by Marquez’ team meant that he would attempt to make his change on lap 11, leading to his disqualification. Maintaining concentration and leaving the events of Australia behind him, at Motegi he claimed another 20 points and closed further in on his title dream, acheived at Valencia aged 20 years and 266 days thanks to a third place finish.

Marquez’ numbers from 2013 are outstanding: 16 podiums from 18 races, 6 wins –Austin, Germany, the United States, Indianapolis, the Czech Republic and Malaysia–6 second places –Spain, the Netherlands, Great Britain, San Marino, Malaysia and Japan–and 4 third places –Qatar, France, Catalonia and Valencia–. The only two races in which he was off the podium were the Italian GP and the Australian GP, at which he crashed out and was disqualified, respectively. 9 pole positions have gone to the Spaniard –in Austin, France, Germany, Great Britain, San Marino, Aragon, Malaysia and Valencia.

A season of records

April 7th. Youngest rider on the premier class podium in the MotoGP era. 20 years and 49 days old (with 3rd at the Qatar Grand Prix). Youngest rider to score the fastest lap in a premier class race.

April 20.Youngest rider to achieve a pole position in the premier class (GP of the Americas).Aged 20 years and 62 days.

April 21.GP Victory at the GP of the Americas, aged 20 years and 63 days.Youngest rider in history to win a race in the premier class and also the youngest winner at races in all three categories. Also the youngest rider to lead the premier class standings and take two consecutive podiums in MotoGP, and to achieve pole, the fastest lap and the win at the same Grand Prix.

May 5. Finishes second behind DaniPedrosa at Jerez and becomes the youngest rider to take three consecutive podiums in the premier class. Aged 20 years and 77 days.

July 22.First rookie to win at Laguna Seca and first rookie to achieve consecutive victories in the category. Aged 20 years and 154 days.

August 18. Victory at Indianapolis, aged 20 years and 182 days, makes him the youngest rider to win 3 races in a row in the premier class. Also becomes the first to win three races in the USA (in the first year the feat is possible).

August 25. Victory at Brno makes him the youngest rider to win four consecutive races in the premier class, and the rider with the most wins in his first season.

August 31. A fifth pole gives him a record number of poles for a rookie.

September 1. Second place at Silverstone earns most podiums ever achieved by a rookie, beating Valentino Rossi’s previous record from 2000. With 233 points, he breaks the scoring record for a rookie in his first season, previously held by Pedrosa with 215.

November 10. Crowned youngest World Champion in history, aged 20 years and 266 days.Youngest champion in history to win the title in all three categories.The youngest champion to win the title in his first year.

After becoming the youngest MotoGP World Champion in history in 2013, the Repsol rider started his second season in MotoGP brilliantly. Marquez won the first 10 rounds, in all possible manners: After a duel with Rossi in Qatar, escaping in Austin, rallying after a poor start in Argentina, overcoming the opposition of Rossi and Lorenzo on the opening laps at Jerez, moving up from tenth position in Le Mans, dicing with Lorenzo for victory until the last corner at Mugello, a fantastic finish with Pedrosa in Montmelo, swimming in Assen, starting from the pitlane in Germany and taking win number 10 at Indianapolis.

After gathering 250 points, Marquez’ winning streak was cut short at Brno. The Repsol Honda rider crossed the line in fourth place in a race in which his teammate, Dani Pedrosa, got the win. However, at the next race Marquez made up for it with an uncontested victory at Silverstone, claiming his ninth pole position of the season in the process.

Leaving behind two crashes at Misano and MotorLand –he took just four points from the two races- Marc Marquez was again proclaimed MotoGP World Champion -this time in Japan. At the home of Honda the Repsol rider secured his second MotoGP crown, a milestone that makes him the youngest rider in history to win two consecutive World Championships in the premier class. Added to titles achieved in 2010 in the 125cc class and in 2012 in Moto2, Marquez holds a total of 4 World Championships aged just 21.

A bittersweet season for Marquez

Marquez started the 2015 season with a positive fifth place in Qatar, fighting back after a mistake at the start that had left him in last position. In the second round of the year, at Austin, he asserted his status as favourite to claim another victory at the Texan track. In Argentina, a crash on the last lap while fighting for victory left him out of the points for the first time.

He also experienced misfortune away from the track, as a crash when training dirt track forced him to undergo surgery before the Spanish Grand Prix. However, he gritted his teeth at Jerez to claim second place. Fourth in Le Mans, two consecutive crashes at Mugello and Barcelona again slowed his progress before he returned to the rostrum: Marquez scored two wins at Sachsenring and Indianapolis and two second places at Assen and Brno that revived his chances of taking the title. However, in Great Britain another crash -this time in the rain- provided him with a setback.

The Spaniard would win again at Misano, but another zero in the Aragon Grand Prix after falling on the second lap further hindered his chances. Fourth in the rain in Japan, Marquez scored a spectacular victory at Phillip Island, before closing the flyaways with a crash after a controversial incident involving Valentino Rossi at the Malaysian Grand Prix. In the last event of the season, at Valencia, the Repsol Honda rider signed off with a second place finish, taking third in the overall standings.

The title of maturity

After a 2015 in which errors hindered his final result, consistency has been Marc Marquez’ forte in 2016. The changes in MotoGP to adopt the single ECU and change tyre supplier caused many mistakes amongst the premier class riders, and the Spaniard has emerged as the most reliable rider to take more wins than anyone.

The Repsol Honda team rider started the year with a podium in Qatar and two consecutive victories in Argentina and Austin. Adding to this positive start, he claimed another podium in Jerez. Following a difficult French GP at Le Mans where, in spite of a crash, he finished 13th and scored valuable points, he returned to the rostrum with second place at Mugello and in Catalonia –where he took the lead of the overall standings that he would never relinquish.
Marquez showed his cool in the wet with second at Assen, then returned to winning ways with a seventh straight German GP victory at Assen.

The second half of the season began with a fourth place at new venue Austria, plus a podium at Brno. The Repsol Honda rider took respective fourth places at Silverstone and Misano, showing his ability to secure points when it was not possible to win. This maturity did not stop him from taking two more wins at Aragon and Motegi, claiming his third MotoGP title after four seasons in the premier class –and the fifth of his career– with three rounds still remaining. His numbers once again reaffirm his place as the youngest star to make legendary achievements in MotoGP.

The determination to retain the title

Marc Márquez began his fifth season in MotoGP as World Champion, after a change in mentality in 2016 allowed him to recover the title. This determined attitude was one that he had to maintain at the beginning of 2017, when finishing outside the podium places in Qatar and suffering a fall in Argentina.

The dynamic would change at one of his favourite tracks, the Circuit of the Americas, where he took his fifth victory in five years. However, when the World Championship arrived in Europe and despite of a podium finish at Jerez, he had a crash in France and was sixth in Italy. The following race, the Catalan Grand Prix -and especially the post-race test- marked a turning point for Márquez’ season. The podium he took in Barcelona was followed by another in the Netherlands, before he earned the win in Germany for the eighth consecutive year. This allowed him to take the lead in the overall standings just before the halfway point of the season.

After another victory in the Czech Republic, Márquez claimed his fifth consecutive podium in an exciting Austrian GP. A mechanical problem in Great Britain prevented him from finishing the race and would make him concede the lead of the World Championship. However, he bounced back and took two triumphs at Misano and MotorLand Aragón, returning him to first place in the standings.

On the flyaway rounds, Márquez took the final steps towards his fourth MotoGP title in five seasons. A podium in Japan, a victory in Australia and a fourth place in Malaysia, allowed him to reach the last race of the season with a 21-point lead. It was a chance he did not let go to waste, and he was crowned World Champion for the sixth time in his career. At just 24 years old, he is the youngest rider ever to achieve so many titles.

Seven times World Champion

The start of the 2018 World Championship was a repeat of some of the most exciting moments from the previous season: A tight duel between Marc Márquez and Andrea Dovizioso until the final corner at the Qatar Grand Prix. The race went the Italian’s way, but the Repsol Honda rider was just a few thousandths of a second behind, at one of the circuits of the calendar where in theory the team were going to struggle.

After a chaotic race in Argentina affected by rain, Márquez took three consecutive victories: His sixth win in as many years at the Grand Prix of the Americas, then two important triumphs at Jerez and Le Mans.

A crash at the Italian Grand Prix interrupted the streak for the Spanish rider, but from that round on he only increased his lead in the overall standings. A podium in Barcelona was followed up by a spectacular victory in Assen and, for the ninth consecutive year, a win at Sachsenring.

After the summer break, Márquez again battled with Ducati rider Dovizioso -and also his teammate, Jorge Lorenzo – at the Czech Republic, Austria and San Marino. Demonstrating his increasing maturity but relentless competitiveness, he took three valuable podiums before victory at Aragón, on a weekend in which he had a corner named after him.

A win in Thailand allowed him to have a mathematical chance of being proclaimed MotoGP World Champion in Japan. The Repsol Honda rider clinched the title on the first time of asking, winning his fifth MotoGP crown and his seventh in all classes.