Marc Márquez wins seventh MotoGP world championship

Marc Márquez clinched his seventh MotoGP World Championship on Sunday at the Japanese Grand Prix, securing the title with a second-place finish.

The Catalan rider sealed the championship mathematically with five races still remaining, finishing ahead of his brother Alex Márquez, who came in sixth.

Márquez only needed to finish ahead of his brother, or place first or second regardless of Alex’s result, to secure the title.

The victory marks one of the most remarkable comebacks in MotoGP history, coming after a 2020 injury that nearly forced him to retire from the sport.

“From glory, it turned into hell,” Márquez said, overcome with emotion after the race. “I am at peace with myself now.”

Márquez had dominated MotoGP in 2019, enjoying a near-perfect season before his crash at Jerez in 2020 sidelined him for nine months.

He suffered a fractured right humerus, and premature attempts to return triggered a four-season struggle, including four surgeries on the same arm.

Complications in 2020, from a broken plate to a persistent infection, further delayed his recovery.

“I made a big mistake in my career by coming back too early,” he said, reflecting on the surgeries. “It has been the biggest challenge of my life,” he admitted.

The 32-year-old is beloved in his hometown of Cervera, where news of his victory was met with heartfelt excitement, as dozens of locals woke up early to watch their star race together.

Yet the celebrations will have to wait a little longer, as Marc is racing in Indonesia next week.