Image: Supplied.

Repsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez wrapped up a sensational seventh world championship title at the home of Honda after claiming a stunning victory at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan.

A race-long battle with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) ended with the latter crashing out of contention at \turn 10 with two laps to go, handing the title to the number 93 – his fifth in the premier class.

Dovizioso got the perfect launch from P1 on the line as Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) came into off the front row. Meanwhile, Marquez kept the inside line from sixth to get himself into P3 before dispatching Miller for second.

Crutchlow then got past Miller to latch onto Marquez and Dovi, with Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) making a great start from ninth to get himself up to fourth as he passed Miller into turn 11.

The three at the front then put the hammer down as Dovizioso slammed in a 1m45.7s on lap six, Crutchlow and Marquez kept tabs on the Italian, but fourth-place Rossi suddenly found himself over eight-tenths back. The nine-time world champion in turn had two Team Suzuki Ecstar riders right on his tail-pipes.

With 11 to go, the Suzukis passed Rossi and were closing in on the front three, with fifth-place Alex Rins setting a lap nearly a second quicker than race leader Dovizioso.

Then, Marquez made his first move on lap 14 at turn nine, but on the exit of turn 10 he ran wide and onto the dirt, allowing Dovizioso to re-take the lead. The Suzukis were firmly in the fray at this point but then disaster struck for Andrea Iannone, the Italian crashing out at Turn 10.

With eight to go, Dovizioso and Marquez exchanged 1m45s with Crutchlow a whisper behind, but a 0.5s gap appeared between the LCR rider and Marquez. A lap later the number 35 was two tenths slower as the front two started to make the decisive break, with Rins ready to pounce on Crutchlow.

And so it was, Dovizioso vs Marquez on the final five laps. Marquez sat behind the Desmosedici before making a move into P1 at turn nine – no immediate reply for Dovi. With three to go the Ducati was swarming, but there was no way past with two to go.

Then, a huge moment and one that decided the 2018 title. Pushing hard to keep with Marquez, Dovi tucked the front of his GP18 at turn 10 with just over two laps to go, crashing out of the race to leave Marquez with a healthy margin to Crutchlow and Rins. The number 93 took title number seven at the home of Honda, his eighth win of the season.

Crutchlow held off Rins for P2 at the line, with Rins less than two-tenths behind the British rider to secure a phenomenal home podium for Suzuki. Rossi brought his YZR-M1 home in fourth, with Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) claiming fifth in Japan after a strong latter half to the race.

Zarco couldn’t recover from a difficult start, he ended sixth, with fellow Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) seventh. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) crossed the line eighth, from Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) and top rookie Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3). Miller crashed midway through the race.

Fabio Quartararo (MB Conveyors – Speed Up) produced a quality ride to seal a second Moto2 victory of the season as he held firm to beat championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46), with Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) claiming third.

However, huge drama then emerged post-race with the Frenchman being disqualified from the rankings, his Speed Up machine’s tyre pressure under the minimum required. This meant Bagnaia was promoted to the victory, Baldassarri takes home second and Oliveira third. Remy Gardner (Tech3 Racing) took home a point for P15.

The championship pendulum swings again in the Moto3 class as Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PruestelGP) took a stunning third win of the season, beating Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) and Darryn Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo. Double disaster hit for Del Conca Gresini Moto3 – Fabio Di Giannantonio and points-leader Jorge Martin both crashing out.

Detailed results