Ducati's Marquez wins his seventh MotoGP title at Japanese Grand Prix

MOTEGI, Japan :Ducati's Marc Marquez clinched his seventh MotoGP championship at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday and his first since 2019 after he took an unassailable lead in the world championship with five rounds to spare.

Marquez needed to outscore his brother and title contender Alex of Gresini Racing by three or more points by the end of the weekend, and finished second behind his teammate Francesco Bagnaia in Sunday's race to clinch the title.

Honda's Joan Mir was third, while Alex finished sixth, giving Marc a 201-point lead over his brother. Alex was the first to approach Marc and congratulate him, giving him a warm embrace when they came to a stop.

Marc had his head in his hands after he crossed the line and when the magnitude of the accomplishment hit him, the Spaniard let out a scream.

SIX-YEAR WAIT

Marquez then came to a stop in front of a big screen and, with tears in his eyes, watched a montage of his struggles over the past six years, which included more than 100 crashes and four operations, as he reclaimed the title after 2,184 days.

The coronation was complete when he added his name etched on a silver plaque to the cylindrical MotoGP trophy known as the 'Tower of Champions'.

"It's impossible even to speak... I just want to enjoy the moment, but it's true that it was difficult, it was super difficult, but now I'm at peace with myself," Marquez said as he fought back tears.

"I did a big mistake in my career, to come back too early (from surgery) and then I fight, fight, fight - and I won again! So I'm at peace."

Ducati's pole sitter and Saturday's sprint winner Bagnaia had a strong start and two laps later he was more than a second clear of KTM's Pedro Acosta while Marquez slotted in behind his Spanish