20-year-old Honda Repsol rookie rider Marc Marquez is now the youngest ever MotoGP world champion after finishing third on the podium at the final Valencia Grand Prix. Even though Marquez has been a sensation throughout the 2013 MotoGP season, defending world champion Jorge Lorenzo was determined to force Marquez into a last race showdown for the championship title.
Jorge Lorenzo interrupted Marc Marquez's momentum with two consecutive victories at Australia's Phillip Island Grand Prix and the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi. The points lead that Marquez built all season had shrunk from 43 to a gap of just 13. For Lorenzo to defend his title, he must win, and Marc Marquez must finish no higher than fourth.
The tide seemed to fall into Marc Marquez's favor early in the weekend when Marc Marquez managed to take pole while engine problems caused Lorenzo to hop onto his backup motorcycle to qualify second. Undeterred, Lorenz rode extremely well and took the lead to control the pace. Demonstrating cunning race craft, Lorenzo even slowed down his pace to form an eight rider lead pack, increasing the probability for Marc Marquez to lose out in the chaos of battle.
Unfortunately, Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi struggled to pass Alvaro Bautista for fourth to position himself for a battle with Marquez. What's more, podium challenger Tech 3 Yamaha's Cal Crutchlow fell off and ended his race. Lorenzo would execute his plan without the assistance of his teammate and fellow Yamaha rider.
The tactic to slow the pack down put Jorge Lorenzo at risk as well when Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa stole the lead from Lorenzo to force a battle for the lead. Lorenzo responded to Pedrosa with a breathtakingly messy battle that allowed Marquez to sneak in front. The hard charging Lorenzo managed to answer anything the Honda riders tried to pull and took back the lead. Erring on the side of caution, Marquez sat comfortable in third without a challenge.
Marc Marquez, at just 20 years of age, is now the youngest ever MotoGP world champion and also the first rookie to take the title since "King" Kenny Roberts in 1978. Watch the incredible last lap of Valencia in the video below:
