MotoGP Japan: First Chance To Seal The Title For Marquez

Excluding the Japanese Grand Prix, there are three more rounds remaining. A total of 100 points is up for the grab. Movistar Yamaha duo Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo are second and third in the championship standings respectively.

Marquez has a 52-point lead over Rossi and a 66-point advantage over Lorenzo. The two-time MotoGP champion would not only need to win at Motegi to clinch the title, but hope Rossi finishes no higher than 15th and Lorenzo outside the top four.

Marquez says that he is prepared to do a damage limitation strategy, which means losing as few points as possible to the Yamaha riders.

He said, "The Japanese Grand Prix is an important appointment for us as it is Honda's home race and one where we have great memories, as we clinched the title in 2014. On the other hand, it's a circuit that has always been a bit challenging for us.

"So for example, if Aragon was a track that I marked for attacking, Motegi is one that I marked for giving up as few points as possible. That said, we'll approach it with an open mentality, aiming for the best result possible but ready to adapt to the circumstances."

Marc's Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa has won three times at Motegi, including last year's wet race.

Dani said, "Motegi is one of my favourite tracks, and in addition to the fact that it's Honda's home circuit, I've had good results there.

"Clearly, we want to get the best result possible in front of our Japanese fans, but we must arrive there and start working on the bike and the tyres to understand if we'll be able to be as competitive as we have been lately.

"At this moment, the most important thing is to find the best combination of the tyres and the bike, with me also in the formula of course, to try and start to go well beginning Friday."