Valencia MotoGP: Marc Marquez clinches record-breaking win

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Marc Marquez celebrates in ValenciaImage source, Getty Images
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Marc Marquez celebrates in Valencia

Newly-crowned World MotoGP champion Marc Marquez claimed a record-breaking 13th win of the season in Valencia.

The Spaniard's victory in the final race of the championship beat Australian Mick Doohan's record of 12 race wins in a season, set in 1997.

Marquez led from the 11th lap on his Honda and finished in 46 minutes 39.627 seconds, ahead of Valentino Rossi and team-mate Dani Pedrosa.

Rossi secured second spot in the championship ahead of Jorge Lorenzo.

It was a special Sunday all round for the Marquez family after Marc's 18-year-old younger brother, Alex, clinched the Moto3 crown, external earlier in the day.

Marc Marquez had started fifth on the grid in Spain after a crash in qualifying on Saturday, but quickly moved up to third behind Yamaha rider Rossi and Ducati's Andrea Iannone.

He then passed Rossi on lap ten and Iannone a lap later, before sealing a comfortable victory despite some intermittent spells of rain.

The 21-year-old said: "The truth is I'm very, very happy. During the race, at times, I was thinking of my brother and thought I had to do well.

"When it started to rain, I just had to concentrate and then I was out on my own. I was enjoying it a lot and I thought I would risk it, I didn't have anything to lose.

"It went well and now I have to celebrate."

Britain's Cal Crutchlow finished fifth, just behind Ducati team-mate Andrea Dovizioso.

Second place in the overall standings was Rossi's best finish since he won the last of his seven premier class world titles in 2009.

MotoGP championship standings

Marc Marquez (Spa) Honda

362 points

Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha

295 points

Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Yamaha

263 points

Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Honda

246 points

Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Ducati

187 points

Valencia MotoGP result:

1. Marc Marquez (Spa) Honda 46:39.627

2. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha +3.516

3. Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Honda +14.040

4. Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Ducati +16.705

5. Cal Crutchlow (GB) Ducati +16.773

6. Pol Espargaro (Spa) Yamaha +37.884

7. Aleix Espargaro (Spa) Yamaha +38.168

8. Stefan Bradl (Ger) Honda +41.803

9. Michele Pirro (Ita) Ducati +45.710

10. Scott Redding (GB) Honda +51.191

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