Honda MotoGP rider Marc Marquez of Spain celebrates on podium after becoming the youngest MotoGP world champion at the end of the Valencia Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Ricardo Tormo racetrack in Cheste, near Valencia, Sunday. — Reuters VALENCIA, Spain — Spaniard Marc Marquez at 20 years of age became the youngest rider to ever win the MotoGP world championship as he finished third at the Valencia Grand Prix Sunday. Two-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo claimed his eighth victory of the season, but it wasn't enough to overturn Marquez's 13-point lead which he held heading into the race. In the end there was just four points between them. Marquez's Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa finished second. Needing just to finish in the top four to seal the title in his maiden year in MotoGP, Marquez started on pole but was immediately overtaken by Lorenzo heading into the first corner. Pedrosa then also moved past Marquez and an incredible battle between Pedrosa and Lorenzo ensued as the latter tried to bunch the leading pack in an attempt to increase Marquez's chances of sliding down the field. However, his plan backfired as both Lorenzo and Pedrosa ran wide and allowed Marquez to briefly move in front. Lorenzo then retook the lead with unerring ease, but Marquez cruised round in second before allowing Pedrosa to pass with five laps remaining to ensure there was no late drama. Maverick Vinales became the Moto3 champion by winning here, edging runner-up Alex Rins after fellow challenger Luis Salom crashed. Only three points separated points leader Salom, Vinales and Rins entering the decisive event. Spaniard Nicolas Terol won his third Moto2 race of the year. Moto2 champion Pol Espargaro set off in pole position and built on his lead in the early stages, but came off the track on lap eight, leaving the coast clear for Terol to seal the win on home soil. Another Spaniard Jordi Torres finished second, whilst Frenchman Johann Zarco picked up his second podium of the season in third. By winning the world title in his debut MotoGP season, Marquez became the first rookie to clinch the premier class championship since American Kenny Roberts in 1978. Legends of the sport believe there are greater accomplishments ahead for Marquez, whose ‘93' number emblazoned on his Repsol Honda is for the year of his birth. “He has all the potential to become the greatest of all time, or better than me, or win more than me,” nine-time world champion and 106 GP winner Valentino Rossi said. Australia's 1987 500cc world champion Wayne Gardner said Marquez's progress has been “incredible” while American 1993 champion Kevin Schwantz said he had never seen someone like the young Spaniard get up to speed on a MotoGP bike so quickly. “For me it was more difficult moving from 125cc to Moto2 than Moto2 to MotoGP,” Marquez said. Marquez began riding in the world championship as a 15-year-old in 2008 and made the podium at Donington in his first season despite a shortened campaign due to injury. He blossomed in 2010 with 10 victories from 12 poles on his way to the 125cc world championship title, graduating to Moto2 the following year. Marquez had vision problems after a crash in the 2012 pre-season before he charged through the season for nine victories to win the world Moto2 championship by 56 points. — Agencies
