Jorge Martin claimed his first MotoGP title with a third-place finish at the season-ending race in Barcelona, which was won by his nearest challenger Francesco Bagnaia.
Italian Bagnaia started the day 19 points behind Martin, but victory at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was not enough to overhaul the Spaniard.
The 26-year-old needed to finish no lower than ninth to become the champion if Ducati’s Bagnaia won the race from pole position.
Two-time defending champion Bagnaia had won the Malaysian Grand Prix earlier this month to take the title battle to the final weekend, before a sprint win on Saturday cut his rival’s lead further.
Martin, who will join Aprilia for next season, had challenged the 27-year-old Italian for the title in 2023, but crashed out early in the season-ending Valencia GP.
The season finale was scheduled to be held in Valencia on 15 November but was moved because of the deadly floods in the area.
