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Marc Marquez is hoisted aloft after claiming the MotoGP title, finishing four points ahead of defending champion Jorge Lorenzo. JOSE JORDAN/AFP/Getty Images
The 20-year-old Spaniard is the youngest rider to win motorcycling's top division, and the first rookie since American Kenny Roberts did it in 1978. JOSE JORDAN/AFP/Getty Images
He finished third in the final race at Valencia, where Lorenzo did all he could to win a third world title by claiming his third successive race victory. JOSE JORDAN/AFP/Getty Images
Only four riders won races in the 18 stops on the calendar this year -- Lorenzo (eight), Marquez (six), Dani Pedrosa (three) and Valentino Rossi (one). TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images
Marquez finished on the podium 16 times, with one disqualification in Australia in October that kept the title race alive and a DNF after crashing at June's Italian Grand Prix. motogp.com
As well as ending the reign of Yamaha rider Lorenzo, Marquez also overshadowed his Honda Repsol teamate Pedrosa -- who is still waiting for his first title after eight seasons in MotoGP. RADEK MICA/AFP/Getty Images
Seven-time world champion Rossi was a distant fourth in the standings in his return to Yamaha after two seasons with Ducati. motogp.com
The popularity of Marquez is forcing Lorenzo to soften his often spiky persona, says Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team boss Herve Poncharal. motogp.com
Marquez has taken advantage of new tire technology to adopt an elbows-to-the-ground style that other riders have begun to follow, says former Superbikes champion James Toseland. SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images
