Marc Marღquez has become the youngest ever MotoGP world champion and the first rookie to take the title since 'King' Kenny Roberts in 1978.

The Repsol Honda star, who has set a ౠnew rookie record of six wins, claimed the premier-class crown by four points with third place in Sunday's tense Valencia showdown against defending🐷 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 his nerve in the face of a brutal, but tactically perfect, att🃏empt 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 retaliating whenever Marquez's team-mate Dani Ped👍rosa took the lead.

But no matter how slow Lorenzo went𝓀, 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 ahead of the Gresini Honda rider.

To make matters worse for Lorenzo, Tech 3 Yamaha's C༺al Crutchlow crashed out as the halfway mark approached.

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

That pass wil🌸l be in🎃vestigated by Race Direction after the race.

Lorenzo soon retook the lead from Marquez, who refused to get stu💞ck into a fight.

Lorenzo then seemed to switch tacti🔯cs and raise the pace, but Marquez ignored the bait and stayed a safe distance from the Yamaha s🍸tar who went on to win his eighth race of the year.

Marquez a♔llowed Pedrosa through into second place with five laps to go, crossing the line with both hands in the air before celebrating with his fan club.

Lorenzo gave Marquez a hug and shook hands in🌌 parc fer𒀰me.

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

Despite predictions that his all-action style would result in numerous DNFs, Marquez has finished off the podium just 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 err𓆏or at Phillip Island.

Instead it was experienced countrymen 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 coꦛurageous 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 t🀅he rear of his RCV, severing a traction control sensor.

Marquez received a penalty point for the i🌃ncident, 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 riding style, while others feel Marquez caℱn't be criticised for 'near💙' incidents: You are either break the rules - and are punished - or you don't.

Marq🦋uez won the 125cc titl🤡e 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 potential to do the same. Marquez is signe🥃d with Repsol Honda until at least the end of next season.

Full race report to follow...