Moto GP: Biker Alex Marquez makes history

Spain's rider Alex Marquez after winning the Moto 3 title in Valencia yesterday

Valencia: Alex Marquez made motorcycling history on Sunday when claiming the Moto3 crown to join Marc Marquez, the MotoGP champion, as the only brothers to hold titles in the same season.


Spain's rider Alex Marquez after winning the Moto 3 title in Valencia yesterday. Pic/AFP

Alex, at 18 three years Marc's junior, took third in the Valencia Grand Prix behind Australian Jack Miller, who was winning his sixth race of the season with Isaac Vinales in second. Miller's win wasn't enough to make up the 11-point advantage Honda rider Marquez had in the championship standings heading into the final race of the season.

In the end the championship was decided by just two points as Marquez ended the Moto3campaign on 278 with Miller on 276 and Marquez's teammate Alex Rins third on 237. "It's incredible. I thought it would be the race of my life and it was," said Marquez. "I felt good throughout the race. I felt comfortable.

I am so happy and I just want to thank everyone who has supported me through every moment." His proud elder brother Marc said: "After my brother's victory I am very happy and now we'll wait and see if I can win too." Marquez senior was talking ahead of his attempt to break a single season record for race victories with his 13th MotoGP triumph of the campaign.

Alex Marquez joins Marc and Moto2 champion Esteve Rabat as the all-Spanish winners of the three motorcycling classes for 2014. A disappointed Miller, meanwhile, was left to take some consolation from adding another race victory to his tally for the year.

"I did what I could. We tried our hardest but in the end it was not enough," said the 19-year-old. "We can be happy with the most victories this season and we finish on a victory so a big thank you to the Red Bull team, they helped me so much this year and I can't thank them enough."