Spanish marvel Marc Marquez has completed a season of incredible record-breaking performances at the highest level of grand prix motorcycle racing.
Marquez clinched the MotoGP Championship by four points from Jorge Lorenzo at Valencia after a gripping season finale.
The first rookie to win the top class of grand prix racing since Kenny Roberts in 1978, Marquez (20 years 266 days) is also the youngest rider since Freddie Spencer (21 years 258 days) in 1983 to crack the title.
Along the way Marquez surpassed many other Spencer records set long before the latest two-wheel sensation was born.
Honda’s latest sensation has also become the fourth rider in the 65-year history of two-wheel grand prix racing to win world crowns in three different categories, joining the likes of Mike Hailwood, Phil Read and Valentino Rossi.
Significant records set by Marquez in 2013:
*In Qatar (Round 1), Marquez became the fourth youngest rider of all-time to finish on the podium in the premier class of Grand Prix racing after Randy Mamola, Eduardo Salatino and Norick Abe
*In Qatar Marquez was the youngest rider to take the fastest lap of the race in the premier class, at the age of 20 years and 49 days.
*His win at Austin at the age of just 20 years and 63 days, made him the youngest ever rider to win a premier class Grand Prix.
*Was the youngest rider at 20 years and 62 days to qualify on pole at Austin.
*The Austin win made Marquez the youngest rider in the 65-year history of World Championship Grand Prix racing to have won in three different classes.
*Marquez is the first rider to have won on either their first or second start in the premier class for 15 years, since Max Biaggi won on his 500cc bike debut at Suzuka in 1998
*The Austin triumph saw Marquez as the youngest rider to take back-to-back podium finishes in the premier class, clipping the record set by Randy Mamola in 1980 who was 20 years and 197 days.
*At the Spanish Grand Prix Marc Marquez became the youngest rider (20 years and 77 days) to finish on the podium at three successive premier class GP races.
*At the French Grand Prix he became only the second rider behind Max Biaggi to finish on the podium in his first four races in the premier class.
*Became the youngest rider of all-time to win back-to-back races in the premier class of Grand Prix racing at the Sachsenring at the age of 20 years and 154 days.
*His wins at the Sachsenring and Laguna Seca also made Marquez the first rookie in the premier class to win back-to-back races since Kenny Roberts in Austria and France in 1978
*The Indianapolis win by Marquez was only the second time a rookie in the premier class has captured three successive GP races alongside Kenny Roberts in 1978
*The victories by Marquez at the Sachsenring, Laguna Seca and Indianapolis saw him become the youngest rider to win three straight races in the top class at 20 years and 182 days, beating the previous mark set by Freddie Spencer (21 years and 125 days) in 1983.
*His win at the Czech GP gave Marquez the record of being the first rookie ever in the premier class to win four successive GP races
*Became the holder of the greatest number of wins (six) at MotorLand Aragon in the premier class by a rookie rider
*The victories at the Sachsenring, Laguna Seca, Indianapolis and Brno give him the record as the youngest rider of all-time to win four successive races in the premier class at the age of 20 years and 189 days, beating the previous record set by Mike Hailwood (22 years and 139 days) set in 1962.
*Finished with 16 top three finishes for the season, the greatest number by a rookie in the top class.
*Took pole position nine times in 2013, the greatest number by a rookie in the premier class.
*His points total of 334 is the greatest number of points ever achieved during a rookie season in the premier class.
