Dovizioso: I'll try and get payback on Marquez

Andrea Dovizioso stands between Marc Marquez and a MotoGP title victory at Motegi this weekend.

The Ducati rider is a distant 77-points behind Marquez, but will at least delay the Honda rider's world championship celebrations if he beats the Spaniard in Japan.

That's exactly what happened last year, when Dovizioso won a thrilling final lap showdown in the rain - but it was Marquez who triumphed after the #4 tried to pass at the last corner in Thailand.

Now Dovizioso wants 'payback' in Japan.

“After the Buriram result I think that the title battle is almost over, and even though it’s not yet a mathematical certainty, we will of course be fully committed in the next few races," said the Italian.

"Together with my team, we are able to understand some new important details in every race, and so we’ll continue working this way also at Motegi, where our aim is to win.

"I like the Japanese track a lot and our Desmosedici is always efficient in braking and acceleration there, so I can’t wait to get out on track and try and get payback on Marquez.”

Valentino Rossi is the only other rider still in mathematical MotoGP title contention, but is 99 points behind, meaning the Italian will drop out of contention unless he wins Sunday's race and Marquez fails to score.