Portugal could see Marc Márquez crowned 125cc Champion

After his ninth win of the season in Australia in the previous round 17 year-old Spanish rider Marc Márquez could secure the 2010 125cc World Championship at this weekend's bwin Grande Premio de Portugal.

With a 12-point lead at the top of the standings over Nico Terol and with Pol Espargaró 17 behind Márquez, a good result for the Red Bull Ajo Motorsport rider combined with certain results for his two rivals could hand him the 125cc crown with one round of the season to spare.

These are the scenarios that would see Márquez take the title this weekend:

– If Márquez wins the race and Espargaró does not finish second and Terol finishes no higher than fifth.

– If Márquez is second and Espargaró finishes no higher than fifth and Terol finishes no higher than ninth.

– If Márquez is third and Espargaró finishes no higher than eighth and Terol finishes no higher than thirteenth.

– If Márquez is fourth and Espargaró finishes no higher than eleventh and Terol fails to score any points.

Additionally, Márquez is on course to equal Valentino Rossi's all-time record of 11 wins in a single season in the 125cc class (set in 1997) if he takes victory in the final two rounds in Portugal and Valencia. If Márquez does take the 125cc title this year he would also become the second youngest World Champion in the 62-year history of Grand Prix racing, after the 1990 World Champion and current MotoGP rider Loris Capirossi.