Marc Marquez says early-season crashes for Andrea Dovizioso proved “key” to him winning the 2018 MotoGP title, as he was able to build up a points buffer which made “everything easier”.
Marquez cited '17 runner-up Dovizioso as his main title rival during the pre-season, but established a dominant points lead after taking back-to-back wins at Jerez and Le Mans when the Ducati rider crashed out of podium contention.
After this period, Marquez finished all but one race on the podium and secured his fifth MotoGP world championship after taking his eighth win of the year.
Coming to Motegi with a 77-point advantage, Marquez says Dovizioso's early-season misfortune and his consistency – something he took inspiration from the Ducati rider for after last year – was the “key” to his '18 title success.
“Since first race I saw Ducati was the bike and the team against the title,” he said.
“I think was the important point [of the season] was Jerez and Le Mans. I won two races in a row and Dovi, who was the [nearest] guy, and also [Jorge] Lorenzo crash and not make any points.
“And there I increase the advantage, and when you get a big advantage everything is easier.
“So that was the key of the season, and of course I was able to be fast in every track, and a bad race, a difficult race was finish second or third. So that was a good signal.”
He added: “We tried to work in the pre-season to achieve this kind of consistency, and it's what I learn about Dovi last year.
“He was really good to manage the situation, and this year we did a really great job together with Honda HRC, all the staff, because sometimes I give a little bit more to the bike and the bike a little bit to me.
“So this compromise, this consistency was really good all season. Honestly speaking, I just struggled in Mugello and there was the only mistake of the season, the big mistake, but apart from that all season I was able to be very constant and this was the key.”
Marquez also revealed following the Motegi race, during trackside celebrations, Aprilia's Scott Redding managed to dislocate the Spaniard's shoulder while congratulating him – an injury, he claims, has occurred several times this year during training.
“Scott stopped and just I heard him, and I feel something strange and I dislocate my shoulder.
“Then I just stand on the asphalt and my brother and [personal trainer] Jose put it in again.
“It's not the first time, maybe it was my weak point of the season. During the season I dislocate many times training at home.
“So in December I need to have a pit stop with Dr [Xavier] Mir and for next year will be perfect."
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