Spanish Marc Marquez Shatters Australian Mick Doohan’s MotoGP Record, Notches 13th Win In A Season At Valencia And World Championship
Spanish world champion Marc Marquez won his record-breaking 13th race of the season to confirm his status as the king of MotoGP in 2014 by winning the final race of the year at Valencia, Spain. Marquez’s feat outdid Mick Doohan of Australia and his record of 12 race wins in the 1997 season.
Honda’s Marquez clocked in at 46 minutes and 39.627 seconds to end up first place with Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi (+3.516) and Marquez’s teammate at Honda and compatriot Dani Pedrosa (+14.040) settling for second and third, respectively.
"When it started to rain, I just had to concentrate and then I was out on my own. I was enjoying it a lot and I thought I would risk it, I didn't have anything to lose,” Marquez said via BBC Sports post-race. “It went well and now I have to celebrate."
Marquez had the season championship in the bag even before the Valencia race but is now officially the MotoGP champion for the 2014 season finishing with 362 points well ahead of the Italian Rossi, who ended up with 295 points. Another Spaniard, Jorge Lorenzo finished in third overall with 263 points.
Final MotoGP Championship Standings
1. Marc Marquez (Honda - Spain) - 362 points
2. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha - Italy) - 295 points
3. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha - Spain) - 263 points
4. Dani Pedrosa (Honda - Spain) - 246 points
5. Andre Dovizioso (Ducati - Italy) - 187 points
Valencia MotoGP Result - Top 5
1. Marc Marquez (Honda - Spain) - 46:39.627
2. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha - Italy) +3.516
3. Dani Pedrosa (Honda - Spain) +14.040
4. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati - Italy) +16.705
5. Cal Crutchlow (Ducati - Great Britain) +16.773
Marquez’s road to his second and back-to-back MotoGP world championship was on track early stringing 10 straight race wins in the fist 10 races on schedule. He matched the previous world record of 12 by the Aussie Dohan in Malaysia in the penultimate race and made sure he broke the record with the dominating win at home. Marquez’s victories include races in Qatar, Americas, Argentina, Spain, France, Italy, Catalunya, Netherlands, Germany and Indianapolis. The 21-year-old then won in races in Great Britain, Malaysia and Valencia.