MOTEGI, Japan -- Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso edged championship leader Marc Marquez to win the MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan on Sunday.
Dovizioso moved ahead of Marquez on the final lap and clocked a time of 47 minutes, 14.236 seconds at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit to beat the Repsol Honda rider by 0.249 seconds. Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci was third, 10.557 seconds off the pace.
With three races left, Marquez leads Dovizioso by 11 points in the overall season standings.
"I knew that anything could happen," Dovizioso said. "It was so exciting to be in this race, to fight with Marc always is, and it was important for the championship.