Marc Marqಌuez has become the youngest ever MotoGP world champion and the first rookie to take the title since 'Kin🃏g' Kenny Roberts in 1978.

The Repsol Honda star, who has set a new rookie record of six wins, claimed the premier-class crown by four points with third place in Sunday's tense Valencia showdown against defendinꦐg double champion Jorge Lorenzo.

Marquez came into the event having seen a 43-point lead slashed 🎃to just 13 in the space of two races but held hi꧙s nerve in the face of a brutal, but tactically perfect, attempt by Lorenzo to hold up the field.

Lorenzo - who needed Marquez to finish outside of the top four - slowed the pace to form an eight rider lead group, savagely reꦦtaliating when𝓀ever Marquez's team-mate Dani Pedrosa took the lead.

But no mattℱer how slow Lorenzo went, the support he needed from his fellow Yamaha riders never arrived. Team-mate Valentino Rossi struggled to pass Alvaro Bautista for fourth and couldn't keep pace with the leading trio when he finally moved ah🥀ead of the Gresini Honda rider.

To make matters worse for Lorenzo, Techꦬ 3 Yamaha's Cal Crutchlow crashed out as the halfway mark approached.

Lorenzo and Pedrosa made contact on several occasions, most notably when Lorenzo ๊pushed Pedrosa wide during a re-pass at turn two - putting Marquez into the lead, with Pedrosa re-joining back in fifth.

That pass w🦩ill be investigated by Race Direction after the race.

L🧜orenzo soon retook the lead from Marquez, who refused to get stuck into a f🥂ight.

Lorenzo then seemed to switch tactics and raise the pace, but Marquez ignored the bait and stayed a safe distance fro✅m the Yamahꦰa star who went on to win his eighth race of the year.

Marquez allowed Pedrosa through into second place with five laps to go, crossing the line with ♌both hands in the air beℱfore celebrating with his fan club.

Lorenzo gave Marquez a hug an🎀d shook hands in parc ferme.

20-year-old Marquez takes the youngest champion rec💦ord from Freddie Spencer, who was 21 when he claimed the 1983 title.

Desꦉpite predictions that his all-action style would result in numerous DNFs, Marquez has finished off the podium just𓃲 twice in the 18 races - falling from second place late in the Mugello race, then being disqualified (while battling for victory) due to a pit stop error at Phillip Island.

Instead it was experienced cou𝓰ntrymen Lorenzo and Pedrosa whose title hopes🅰 were undone by accidents and injuries. Yamaha's Lorenzo broke his collarbone at Assen, where he returned to claim a courageous fifth on race day, then re-damaged it next time in Germany.

Pedrosa also fractured a collarbone at the Sachsenring, and was launched out of the Aragon race when Marquez brushed the rear of his RCV, severing a tractᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚion control sensor.

Marquez received a penalty point forꦏ the incident, adding to the two he had received at Silverstone for ignoring yellow flags in a warm-up fall, bringing him to the brink of a back of the grid start.

Some of Marquez's chief rivals have been openly critical of his on-edge 𓆉riding style, while others feel Marquez can't be criticised for 'near' incidents: You are either break the rules - and are punished - or you don't.

Marquez won th𒅌e 125cc title in 2010 and Moto2 championship in 2012.

Roberts went on to win three premier-class titles in a row and few doubt that Marquez has the poten♒tial to do the same. Marquez is signed w🥃ith Repsol Honda until at least the end of next season.

Full race report to follow...