Valencia MotoGP: Marc Marquez Wins Fourth Title In Dramatic Season Finale

The calculations were simple for Dovizioso to clinch the championship. He needed the race victory and hope that Marquez couldn't finish inside the top 11. But unfortunately both didn't happen. Marquez led the opening laps, but slipped to second in the process of looking over his shoulder.

Ducati riders Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso were in fourth and fifth respectively. Lorenzo was reluctant to move out of the way of the Italian rider. Finally, the team put up a message on the pit board, instructing Lorenzo to drop a position.

After a tense 30-lap encounter, Marquez briefly took the lead by passing Johann Zarco, but he was overtaken straight back by the French rider. Marquez pushed hard for the lead and almost blew his fourth title when he misjudged the braking point at the first corner. He ran wide into the gravel and rejoined the race in fifth position.

Ahead of Marquez more drama was set to take place as Lorenzo crashed out of the race with six laps remaining. Ducati's hopes of first MotoGP title was shattered when Dovizioso too crashed out of the race.

After all the drama, Marquez found himself in a comfortable third position which was enough to clinch his fourth MotoGP title. Meanwhile, his teammate Pedrosa took the race lead at the start of the final lap and won the race. Alex Rins registered his best ever result by finishing the race in fourth position.

MotoGP 2017 Rider's Standings

1. Marc Marquez (SPA) Honda
2. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Ducati
3. Maverick Vinales (SPA) Yamaha

Valencia GP Race Result

1. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Honda
2. Johann Zarco (FRA)Tech3 Yamaha
3. Marc Marquez (SPA) Honda

DriveSpark Thinks!

The season finale of the 2017 MotoGP played host to the title race between Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso. But Dovizioso had a tough chance to win the title as Marquez was in a excellent form. Eventually, Dovizioso succumbed to the pressure allowing Marquez to cruise through the race to claim his fourth title.