( CNN ) -- It took a little longer than most people expected but MotoGP whiz kid Marc Marquez wrapped up a second world title in Japan . The 21-year-old finished runner-up behind compatriot Jorge Lorenzo -- and crucially ahead of the legendary Italian Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa -- to take an unassailable 82-point lead in the championship with three rounds to go . The landmark means Marquez beat Mike Hailwood 's record , set in 1963 , to become the youngest ever rider to win consecutive titles . But perhaps more importantly for his Repsol Honda team , he did it at Motegi . This track is sacred ground for Honda . The Japanese giants designed and built the track ; it is where they test their cars as well as their bikes , and it also houses Honda 's museum . As such , the pressure to perform here is intense . Perhaps because of this , no Honda rider had ever managed to clinch the championship here -- until now . In the end it was an efficient performance from the reigning champion , but there was no sense of inevitability . Rossi blasted into the lead , while a muscular pass from Lorenzo saw Marquez fall back to seventh place on the race 's first corner . The champion fought his way up to fourth on the second lap , but Lorenzo looked to be a man on a mission , first breaking the lap record and then ducking past his Movistar Yamaha teammate Rossi on lap five to take a lead he would maintain to the line . For Marquez the key was to finish ahead of Pedrosa and Rossi , and gradually he settled into the task . Easing past his fellow Spaniard , he then closed the gap on the Italian . After 14 laps he finally caught him , but his first attempted pass saw the wily Rossi immediately bite back to retake second . A lap later though and Marquez took advantage of the Honda 's superior cornering to slip inside the Yamaha 's line . It was all he needed to do , and the remaining eight laps saw him cement his place and cross the line in comfort . The sea of red-clad Marquez fans in Motegi 's packed stands erupted . Marquez had talked before about the burden of expectation as his season unfolded , and he appeared as relieved as he was delighted to finally seal the title . `` Two years in MotoGP , two titles . It 's incredible , '' Marquez told reporters . `` I could n't have imagined it . `` Maybe to people it looked easy because I am always smiling and always happy , but also I feel pressure . '' Lorenzo 's victory , his second in two races , equals five-time world champion Mick Doohan 's record of 54 grand prix victories , moving him up to him up to joint fifth place in the all-time winners list . But his return to form has come too late for him to threaten Marquez for the championship . `` We are happy for Marc that he won the title , '' he said . `` This year he was the best in general , so we want to say congratulations . '' Rossi , enjoying something of an Indian summer to his career back at Yamaha , also congratulated the young champion : `` I have to say that he deserves this championship . He worked well and was the stronger man this year . '' Samurai celebrations . MotoGP is a sport that thrives on spectacle , and Marquez had saved a special treat for his fans at the checkered flag . A man in full samurai costume , flanked by two women in geisha dresses , appeared on the track side gravel through a red smoke of fireworks . The samurai handed Marquez a sword , with which the champion cut the string of a balloon bearing the number one . A geisha then handed him a gold helmet , which he donned to perform his lap of honor . It was a fitting celebration for a truly extraordinary rider . Sibling rivalry ? Since the end of Marquez 's record equaling winning run in Brno the MotoGP championship has seen different winners and tight contests , which will have relieved the Spaniard 's rivals as well as the sport 's administrators . He is still one win short of equallng Mick Doohan 's record of 12 wins in a season , but Doohan himself warns that the period of Marquez domination may have just begun . `` He 's lifted the bar quite substantially this year , '' the Australian told BT Sport . `` Last year he moved it , this year he 's added to that . For someone to take away this dominance -- it 's either Lorenzo or another guy coming through , and at the moment who 's that ? '' It is not an easy question to answer , but contenders are out there . And there may be one very close to home . It was a double celebration for the Marquez family as younger brother Alex snatched victory in the Moto3 class . The junior sibling leads that championship ; the prospect of the brothers fighting for future titles in the premier class is a mouth watering one .
Marc Marquez defends his MotoGP crown with second place in Japan . The 21-year-old Spaniard is the youngest rider to win back-to-back world titles . Marquez is the first Honda driver to win title at home circuit of Motegi . `` I am always smiling and always happy , but also I feel pressure , '' says the Spaniard .