Marquez returns home to celebrate 2018 MotoGP title

Fresh from the MotoGP flyaway triple-header where he clinched two race wins and the 2018 MotoGP world title, Marc Marquez has received a hero’s welcome in a celebration ceremony at his hometown of Cervera.

The seven-time world champion clinched his fifth premier class crown in MotoGP with victory at the Japanese round which started the traditional triple-header before trips to Australia and Malaysia.

Having claimed his ninth victory of the year with his Sepang triumph last weekend, Marquez returned to Europe for sponsor commitments at Milan’s motorcycle show EICMA before going home to his boyhood town Cervera, an hour outside of Barcelona, to celebrate his title success.

“We’ve won seven World Championships and, although it seems like a lot, we’ve won them in a very short amount of time,” Marquez reflected. “I’m living a dream, so we have to enjoy it while it lasts.

“This title is special, but for me so is every title, because I enjoy them as if each were the first. Winning is the fuel that I need; It allows me to improve and continue to evolve.”

Marquez has maintained his tradition of celebrating his world titles with a special event in Cervera which included a press conference at the town’s university before taking part in a parade with his family and Repsol Honda crew.

The event ended with Marquez addressing his fans on stage thanking them for their support.

“Undoubtedly, the most special thing is being able to celebrate with my team and the fans like we’ve done today,” he said. “That’s really important, because when we win, we all win –and when we lose, the same people who today have come out in Cervera are there as well.

“Seeing my fans, experiencing what we have today and the great atmosphere that was present throughout the celebration is the most important thing.”

Marquez returns to MotoGP action next weekend for the 2018 season finale at Valencia, which is followed by the post-season two-day test at the same venue the following week.

If the Repsol Honda rider finishes on the podium in Valencia he will notch up his second-highest points total in a season which would only be bettered by his 2014 MotoGP title triumph when he won the first 10 consecutive races and 13 races in total.