Team title, 2020 on Marquez's mind

Marc Marquez will seek to sign off a memorable MotoGP season with a twelfth win of the year at Valencia on Sunday.

Such a result could also be enough to almost single-handedly secure the teams' world championship for Repsol Honda, which starts the season finale just two points behind the factory Ducati Team, and therefore wrap the triple crown of riders', constructors' and teams' titles.

Team title, 2020 on Marquez's mind

Marc Marquez will seek to sign off a memorable MotoGP season with a twelfth win of the year at Valencia on Sunday.

Such a result could also be enough to almost single-handedly secure the teams' world championship for Repsol Honda, which starts the season finale just two points behind the factory Ducati Team, and therefore wrap the triple crown of riders', constructors' and teams' titles.

Marquez has scored 395 of Repsol Honda's 430 points, with struggling team-mate Jorge Lorenzo managing just 25 points and his injury replacement Stefan Bradl adding 10 points.

Since Lorenzo hasn't scored more than two points at a race since Mugello, Repsol Honda might be looking at a realistic maximum of 27 points on Sunday (25+2) and so would need a combined result of no more than 25 points for the Ducati pairing of Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci to snatch the team's title from the Italian brand.

On paper it could be close, with 2019 race winners Dovizioso and Petrucci not managing more than 25 points for the past five rounds. Valencia is also one of Lorenzo's favourite circuits, although, on the other hand, Marquez hasn’t won at the track since 2014.

“First I want to say thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate in Cervera," said Marquez, referring to the hometown party to celebrate the riders' titles by both Marc and younger brother Alex.

"It’s always very special to do this party and to have my brother alongside me as World Champion again was really magical.

"Now we return to work. We have the objective of winning the Team Championship in Valencia, but also we are looking to 2020 already and continuing to try some options while we have this time before we go into test mode after the race.

"We will try to put on one more really nice show for the fans before winter!”

Marquez - now the most successful Honda rider in premier class history, with 55 race wins - fought his way from eleventh on the grid to second place, behind Yamaha's Maverick Vinales, last time at Sepang, having been caught out while trying to stalk Fabio Quartararo in qualifying.

Lorenzo, who crossed the line in 14th place at Sepang, pledged to do all he can to help Repsol Honda secure the teams' title this weekend.

“Valencia is a circuit that is quite different to the ones we have been racing at. It is very tight compared to the likes of Phillip Island and Sepang and it can sometimes be quite cool, especially in the morning and this is something we must pay attention to," he said.

"After a more positive race in Malaysia, I am striving to continue making these gains and do everything I can to help the Repsol Honda Team win the Team Championship.”

Injuries and a lack of confidence with the front of the Honda mean Lorenzo - a MotoGP winner at Valencia in 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2016 - has suffered his lowest-scoring season since a 125GP debut in 2002.

Marquez is poised to be the only RCV rider in the championship top eight.

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