Autosport Awards
Autosport Awards 2018: Marc Marquez wins Rider of the Year
MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez remains unbeaten in the Autosport Awards' Rider of the Year category presented by Tata Communications
The now five-time premier-class title-winner came out on top of the Autosport readers' vote for the third straight season, meaning he has won it every year since it was added to the Awards line-up in 2016.
His opposition this year was not limited to his MotoGP rivals, as record-shattering World Superbike counterpart Jonathan Rea joined the shortlist - a reflection of Autosport's sister title motorsport.com's comprehensive WSBK coverage and the enormity of Rea's achievements in that discipline.
But Marquez still prevailed in the battle to get the most votes from the Autosport readers.
Although he was unable to attend the ceremony in London because of a clash with motorcycle racing's end of season event, he sent a video message from Andorra.
"I'm very, very happy to receive this special award but of course I'm very, very sorry I cannot be here with all of you because we are in the Andorra for the FIM Gala," said Marquez.
"But I would like to say thanks to all the Motorsport Network, they supported and followed me during all these years.
"I'm happy, it's time to enjoy it. See you in 2019. Full gas."
Marquez has only lost one MotoGP title since arriving at the top level in 2013 with 125cc and Moto2 crowns under his belt already.
While his early successes owed much to his explosive speed and aggression, in recent years he has added more stealth to his armoury and become a master of managing a championship campaign - knowing when to settle for a podium.
That has helped him see off the growing challenge of Ducati, and prompted predictions that he is well on course to surpass Valentino Rossi and become regarded as the greatest motorcycle racer of all time.
Previous article
Autosport Awards 2018: M-Sport Ford wins Rally Car of the Year
Next article
Autosport Awards 2018: Mercedes F1 wins Racing Car of the Year
LEGO Ferrari 488 GTE
Why Campos Never Made It Into Formula 1
The F1 and Indy 'nearly man' that found contentment in Japan
Having had the door to F1 slammed in his face and come within three laps of winning the Indianapolis 500, the collapse of a Peugeot LMP1 shot meant Japan was Bertrand Baguette's last chance of a career. But it's one which he has grasped with both hands
The female all-rounder who arrived "too early"
From Formula 3 to truck racing, Dakar and EuroNASCAR via a winning stint in the DTM, there's not much Ellen Lohr hasn't seen in a stellar racing career that highlights the merit in being a generalist. But she believes her career came too early...
How Radical's latest machines fare on track
The lightweight sportscar manufacturer has not rewritten the rulebook with its latest machines, but the new SR3 XX and SR10 still provide a step forward on its previous successful models
The real-life racing rogues stranger than fiction
The forthcoming Netflix film linking the world of underworld crime and motorsport plays on a theme that isn't exactly new. Over the years, several shady figures have attempted to make it in racing before their dubious dealings caught up with them
How a GP is thriving in a COVID-free territory
The New Zealand Grand Prix's mix of rising talent and big-name stars thrilled the crowds (yes, remember crowds?) assembled for the Toyota Racing Series meeting at Hampton Downs last weekend and left distant observers craving a repeat
How a much-changed Macau GP kept the party going
OPINION: The 67th edition of the Macau Grand Prix might have been a largely muted affair to the outside world without its international influx and star line-ups, another victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, but organisers deserve huge credit for keeping the party going
Engineer's view: Motorsport's revolutionary braking tool
Although brake pressure and temperature logging is commonplace, measuring and understanding braking performance hasn't been so straightforward. But that's about to change following the introduction of a groundbreaking new sensor
The high-tech materials helping Renault in its F1 rise
The Renault F1 team is at the vanguard of innovative solutions pushing development of the V6 turbo hybrid engine rules, embracing the full potential of material science in its bid to get back to the top
