News 16 Oct 2017

Marquez satisfied despite last lap mistake at Motegi

Repsol Honda charger secures 100th podium of grand prix career.

Source: Supplied.

Reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has applauded Japanese grand prix winner Andrea Dovizioso’s gritty move on the final lap after an error from the Repsol Honda rider allowed his chief title challenger to capitalise.

Despite wet conditions, Marquez and Dovizioso put it all on the line for victory in the closing stages, which ultimately went down to the last corner of the final lap. The result sees Marquez’s advantage trimmed to 11 points.

Marquez began the final lap out front, but a small mistake at turn eight where he almost crashed out enabled Dovizioso to close in and then take the lead. He tried one final attack braking late into the last corner, but exited a little wide and Dovizioso won the drag race to the finish line by 0.249s.

“Of course I tried and gave it my 100 percent, fighting until the last lap and the last corner,” Marquez said. “It was an amazing race with the two guys fighting for the championship fighting for the win. Today there was a lot of water on track and for some reason I was struggling a little more than expected. I tried to push and be smooth, but Andrea was very fast too for the entire race.

“Entering the last lap, I knew I had only a very small advantage ahead, but then I made a small mistake in turn eight – well, quite a big mistake actually – and he caught me. After he passed he was very strong on the brakes and I wasn’t able to match him.

“In the last corner I tried again, but it was not possible to pass him again. Today he did an incredible race and won, but anyway I’m happy with our result as I was expecting him to be very very fast here. We scored some good points and made a good show for the fans so it’s okay.”

Marquez’s second place signals the Spaniard’s 100th career podium from 165 starts – the youngest rider ever to achieve this milestone – and his 61st in the premier class since joining Repsol Honda in 2013.

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