Motegi MotoGP race day

09:08 That's all for our live coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix, a thoroughly enjoyable race that ended with Marquez adding another title to his tally. How many more times will that happen in the future?

09:04 Rins: "I am very happy, this was a fantastic race in Suzuki's home, in Japan. I am very happy because during all the race I was pushing, pushing, after the crash of Andrea I was a little bit long from them, but finally was good. Thanks to all the fans that come here to support us, little by little we are there."

09:02 Crutchlow: "Everyone obviously saw it's gonna be a good battle today, we are pleased with the result on Honda's home race and the team has done a fantastic job. The problem we had was Dovi kept slowing down the pace and it allowed the people behind to catch, but I think we did a great job of managing the situation. I was struggling a bit on the left-hand side with the rear grip so I was just trying save the tyre for the end of the race, and keep Rins at bay, that's all I needed to do. Then Dovi crashed so I took second place but in the end I am very please, I think at the moment we are riding very well, had some good results lately and now we head to Phillip Island in good spirits."

08:59 Marquez: "I feel really really good. After Aragon I already feel, I already imagine that it will be here, but the good thing is when you have the first chance, and you do it. Wasn't the best circuit to do it but I work hard all weekend, I was able to follow Andrea, then I say okay, I will try to use the same strategy as Thailand, attack before the last lap because I felt like they had something. I was pushing really hard, he did a mistake, disappointed because he deserves to be here on the podium with us, but okay, the big boss will enjoy it."

08:57 Hats off to Rins, who took his third podium finish of the season. You can't find a better place for a top three finish than Suzuki's home race.

08:55 Parc Ferme interviews 'slightly' delayed by a 'calm and not at all excited' Marquez and Honda team.

08:51 Standings with three races to go (Top 10): 1 Marquez 296; 2 Dovizioso 194; 3 Rossi 185; 4 Vinales 155; 5 Crutchlow 148; 6 Zarco 133; 7 Petrucci 133; 8 Lorenzo 130; 9 Rins 118; 10 Iannone 113.

08:49 Finishing order: 1 Marquez; 2 Crutchlow; 3 Rins; 4 Rossi; 5 Bautista; 6 Zarco; 7 Vinales; 8 Pedrosa; 9 Petrucci; 10 Syahrin; 11 Morbidelli; 12 Smith; 13 P. Espargaro; 14 Nakasuga; 15 Nakagami; 16 Simeon; 17 Torres; 18 Dovizioso; 19 Redding; 20 Luthi; 21 Guintoli.

08:48 Marquez's fifth 500cc/MotoGP title puts him on level with Mick Doohan. Only Giacomo Agostini with eight, and Valentino Rossi with seven is ahead of him now. And he is 25.

08:45 Crutchlow somehow managed to hold off Rins, but Dovizioso's crash means both will stand on the podium.

08:44 Dovizioso lost control of his bike at Turn 10 and while he managed to rejoin, he is only 18th at the finish.

08:43 Marc Marquez wins the Japanese Grand Prix and becomes the 2018 MotoGP champion!

08:41 Dovizioso crashes!

08:40 Marquez can't shake off Dovizioso, but no overtakes between them on this lap. Only two to go now. Who is ready for a last-lap thriller?

08:38 No mistakes from Marquez this time and he crosses the line in the lead with three more laps remaining.

08:38 Marquez makes his move with a swift block-pass at Turn 9.

08:35 The answer is yes, as both set a 1m45.6s time. Crutchlow and Rins half a second slower than them. Five to go.

08:33 Dovizioso sets the fastest lap with a 1m45.746s, Marquez a tenth slower. Have they just started to push?

08:32 Crutchlow has lost a bit of ground, the Briton now has to turn his attention to Rins behind him. Marquez all over Dovizioso.

08:30 Eight laps remaining. If Marquez finishes ahead of Dovizioso in this top three, he is the champion.

08:28 A crash for Iannone at Turn 4. He needs a bit of help to limp away from the accident.

08:27 A few corners later, Marquez runs on the grass on the exit of the last corner, and Dovizioso retakes first place at Turn 1. That was not far from a disaster for Marquez!

08:25 Marquez passes Dovizioso at Turn 9!

08:24 Order (Top 15): 1 Dovizioso; 2 Marquez; 3 Crutchlow; 4 Iannone; 5 Rins; 6 Rossi; 7 Zarco; 8 Bautista; 9 Pedrosa; 10 Vinales; 11 Petrucci; 12 Smith; 13 Syahrin; 14 Morbidelli; 15 P. Espargaro.

08:23 Now leading the second group, Iannone is starting to catch up with the top three and Rins is even faster behind him. Rossi can't go with them.

08:22 Suzuki duo Iannone and Rins pass Rossi, looks like no podium for Yamaha in this race.

08:20 Two Ducatis crash in quick succession, Miller falls from seventh place at Turn 9 and Abraham is also off.

08:16 Rossi is losing touch with the top four but he is still looking better than his teammate Vinales, who just lost 10th to Bautista.

08:15 Aleix Espargaro retires in the pits, presumably a mechanical problem.

08:13 Marquez is back ahead of Crutchlow and goes three tenths faster than Dovizioso in the process.

08:11 Order (Top 15): 1 Dovizioso; 2 Crutchlow; 3 Marquez; 4 Rossi; 5 Miller; 6 Rins; 7 Iannone; 8 Zarco; 9 Pedrosa; 10 Vinales; 11 Bautista; 12 Petrucci; 13 Smith; 14 P. Espargaro; 15 Morbidelli.

08:10 A brave move by Crutchlow on fellow Honda rider Marquez at Turn 9 as Rossi overtakes Miller for fourth.

08:07 Fastest lap from Rossi, a 1m46.052s.

08:07 Crucially, Crutchlow stole third from Miller. The Briton claimed he had the pace to win, let's see if he can back that statement up.

08:05 Rossi is fighting with Rins for that fifth place, which already allowed the top four of Dovizioso, Marquez, Miller and Crutchlow to pull away a little bit.

08:03 Nightmare starts for both Zarco and Vinales as they are only seventh and 10th. Rossi on the other hand is up to fifth.

08:02 Make that second, as he passes Miller already before the end of the opening lap.

08:02 Dovizioso keeps the lead off the line, Zarco and Miller almost touch right after they start. Marquez up to third already.

08:00 Green flag!

07:59 Formation lap underway. Everyone on the first three rows except Miller will start the race with a medium rear tyre.