Two down, one to go: Honda claim 2019 Constructor crown

Thanks to Marc Marquez’ (Repsol Honda Team) 10th victory of the season, Honda have been crowned 2019 Constructors Champions for the fourth consecutive year.

It was made even sweeter by the fact that it was clinched in their backyard at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, having already wrapped up the Riders title in Thailand a couple of weeks prior. Only compatriots Yamaha have beaten the Japanese giants since 2009, with both Yamaha and Ducati topping Honda in 2008. However, Honda have dominated in the last nine campaigns, claiming top manufacturer honours in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and now in 2019, only missing out to Yamaha in 2015 when now-Honda rider Jorge Lorenzo claimed the MotoGP™ crown.

Their lead over nearest rivals Ducati is now an unassailable 86 points with three rounds remaining, but their 2019 aspirations haven’t quite finished yet. The illusive MotoGP™ triple crown is – unbelievably – still up for grabs. Repsol Honda Team are just 17 points behind Ducati Team in the Team standings, largely down to Marquez’ simply sensational season, with three races to contest. Lorenzo’s tricky campaign has seen him collect 23 points, with Marquez claiming 91.4% of Repsol Honda’s points (350) as test rider Stefan Bradl gave the team a helping hand while stepping in for Lorenzo earlier in the year. Lorenzo is a five-time World Champion and you can’t rule the Spaniard out of returning to point-scoring form, so no one would put it past Honda to put the final piece of the 2019 jigsaw in place come the end of the season.

Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci now have work to do if they are to stop Honda dominating 2019’s proceedings. Roll on Phillip Island for what is set to be another classic in Australia.