Ducati’s Márquez Clinches Seventh MotoGP Title at Japanese Grand Prix

Ducati rider Marc Márquez secured his seventh MotoGP championship on Sunday at the Japanese Grand Prix—his first since 2019—after sealing an unassailable lead in the standings with five rounds still to go.

To clinch the title, Márquez needed to finish the weekend at least three points ahead of his brother and title contender Álex, who rides for Gresini Racing. He did just that, taking second place behind teammate Francesco Bagnaia, while Honda’s Joan Mir finished third. Álex ended the race in sixth, leaving Márquez with a commanding 201-point lead.

Álex was the first to congratulate his brother, embracing him warmly after the race.

As Márquez crossed the finish line, he buried his head in his hands before letting out an emotional cry, overwhelmed by the moment. Later, he paused in front of a giant screen showing highlights of his long struggle—over 100 crashes, four surgeries, and six years of setbacks—before finally reclaiming the title 2,184 days after his last triumph.