Repsol Honda Team rider claims victory in Japan and moves level with Mick Doohan on 54 wins in the premier class.
Starting from pole position, Marc Márquez set the fastest lap of the race and led from start to finish at Motegi.
The win in Japan was the tenth of the season for the Repsol Honda Team rider, and his fourth in a row. The run, from the San Marino Grand Prix onwards helps clinch the constructors title for Honda.
Marc Márquez, 1º: “It wasn’t an easy race. I was pushing from the beginning, the strategy was clear – I had to try to open a gap. I felt strong and with the team we had calculated a pace of 1’46 low but then I was able to ride in 1’45 high – good news for me but I had to slow down a little bit. I worked on riding as smooth as possible and I was able to open the gap to two seconds but in the final two laps we were getting a little low on fuel because Motegi is always very demanding. There was a little bit of pressure to win the Constructors Championship in Japan, but I love the pressure and it is great to win it here for Honda because everyone works so hard. All the Repsol Honda Team did a great job to find the best setting and strategy for this race.”
