MotoGP Valencia race

17:15 That's a wrap for our MotoGP live coverage for 2017, as the series continued to entertain and dazzle despite Marquez's ever-present brilliance.

In case this race has left you hankering - understandably - for more MotoGP, the 2018 season opener is unfortunately a ways' away, but we'll get a first firm look at what the series' various teams and manufacturers are cooking up for the next title battle in the upcoming mid-week post-GP test.

But for now, farewell and have a good day.

17:11 Pedrosa: "Well, it was a very difficult race because I wasn't feeling so comfortable with the front, I was struggling with the front grip all race. And I didn't find the perfect feeling. But at the end I could see that the race was there and I had to go. Johann was very strong all the race, so it was very difficult because he was braking and going into the corner very fast, but in the end I had to try. I try a few different times but I make mistakes, and finally into Turn 1 I could make it stick. Obviously I knew he would come back so I try to block in the rest of the track.

"Amazing to finish the season in that style, and I'm very proud because in front of all these people it's amazing."

17:07 Zarco: "I really thought I can win the race, I asked not to show which one is behind me, I wanted to keep a clear mind, and I thought Marquez was behind. But in the end it was Pedrosa, and when he overtook me on the first corner of the last lap, he was clever because he waited a little bit and then I couldn't go well into the corner. And when I saw it was Dani, I knew I could be stronger than him on the brake, but all the time some metres were missing to overtake him."

17:04 Marquez: "You know, amazing, amazing feeling, during the race I was always trying to be calm, trying to control the situation but suddenly I say 'okay now it is time to push' because I felt really good. But in Turn 1 honestly I lost the concentration on the brake point, I brake too late and, you know, Marquez-style until the end.

"I want to congratulate Dovi and all the Ducati staff, because they did amazing, and the fair play was there, so really happy."

16:59 Riders' championship: Marquez 298; Dovizioso 261; Vinales 230; Pedrosa 210; Rossi 208; Zarco 174; Lorenzo 137; Petrucci 124; Crutchlow 112; Folger 84.

16:56

16:56 Worth noting that Repsol Honda has also wrapped up the team's title, making it a Honda hat-trick in 2017 - as the manufacturers' crown had gone the Japanese marque's way even before Valencia.

16:53

16:52 Six, of course, being the number of the 24-year-old superhuman's world titles - four in MotoGP, one in 125cc, one in Moto2.

16:51 Marquez is celebrating his title at the side of the track, with a... giant red six-sided dice. He throws it in celebration, and it fittingly lands on six.

16:49 Finishing order: 1 Pedrosa; 2 Zarco; 3 Marquez; 4 Rins; 5 Rossi; 6 Iannone; 7 Miller; 8 Crutchlow; 9 Pirro; 10 Rabat; 11 Smith; 12 Vinales; 13 Petrucci; 14 Abraham; 15 Barbera; 16 Baz; 17 van der Mark.

16:48 Rins holds off Rossi to claim a career-best fourth place finish, fellow Suzuki rider Iannone brings up the top six.

16:47 Marquez is third, and he is MotoGP champion for the fourth time in five seasons. He is 24.

16:47 Dani Pedrosa wins the final race of the 2017 MotoGP season, as Johann Zarco comes up 0.337s short.

16:46 Pedrosa has three tenths in hand with two sectors to go.

16:46 Final lap - and Pedrosa passes Zarco into Turn 1!

16:44 Pedrosa is all over Zarco but the Tech 3 rookie is still hanging on. He's been on pole this season, but he is yet to win a MotoGP race. A lap and a half left to run.

16:43 Dovizioso still being applauded by his crew, and doesn't look overwhelmingly heartbroken. He was surely well aware how much of a long shot it was today.

Lorenzo nowhere to be seen, it should be noted.

16:42

16:42 In the meantime, there's still a victory battle raging on. Pedrosa was briefly ahead of Zarco for P1, but ran wide mid-corner and allowed the Frenchman back through.

16:41 Dovizioso back in the garage and applauded by his Ducati crew.

16:41 Sam Lowes had crashed out shortly before the two Ducatis did, by the way. And Pol Espargaro seems to have now dropped his KTM.

16:40 Well, well, well. It almost fell apart for Marquez and then it all fell apart for Ducati in just half a lap.

Dovizioso went wide, was in the gravel, couldn't keep the bike upright. He has rejoined now, so technically Marquez isn't champion just yet - but that's just pedantry.

16:39 And Andrea Dovizioso is down! Marc Marquez is 2017 MotoGP champion.

16:38 Lorenzo down while chasing Pedrosa!

16:37 "Runs so very wide" was a massive understatement, apologies. He was on his knee and sliding out. He should've been on the floor.

16:37 And then he runs so very wide at Turn 1! He's back on the bike, in fifth place, four seconds behind Dovizioso.

16:36 Marquez pounces on Zarco at the final corner, great move.

16:35 Seven and a half laps left in the 2017 MotoGP season. Lorenzo has received another dashboard message, I'll let you figure out what it is.

16:35 Running order: 1 Zarco; 2 Marquez; 3 Pedrosa; 4 Lorenzo; 5 Dovizioso; 6 Rossi; 7 Rins; 8 Iannone; 9 Miller; 10 Crutchlow; 11 Pirro; 12 Smith; 13 Vinales; 14 Rabat; 15 Petrucci; 16 Abraham; 17 Baz; 18 van der Mark; 19 P. Espargaro; 20 Barbera; 21 Lowes.

16:33

16:33 On a better note for Ducati, that lead fight - Marquez passing Zarco at Turn 2 but giving up the spot at Turn 4 - has bunched up the top five somewhat.

16:32 Another message to Lorenzo and it's those familiar words. "Suggested mapping: mapping 8".

16:31 Marquez had briefly taken the lead from Zarco while the Ducati team order saga was going on, but the Frenchman needed only a few corners to retake it.

16:30 Lorenzo's mechanics bring out the pitboard with a "-1" and a downward arrow. Still no response from the Spaniard.

16:29 Pedrosa is now much closer to the Zarco - Marquez battle than to Lorenzo, who - according to TV graphics - has received yet another subtle 'mapping 8' hint.

16:27 And it does - "suggested mapping 8" to Lorenzo, again.

16:25 For almost certainly the first time this race, the gap between Pedrosa and Lorenzo is up to a second. Ducati really needs to suggest that mapping again.

16:24 Bautista has crashed again.