SEPANG, Oct 30 — As the MotoGP world keeps its radar fixed on Marc Marquez, Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso stole the Malaysian Grand Prix laurels yesterday to keep his own hopes alive for the first world championship.

“I won and it’s a perfect week but I’m not entirely happy as we can see our points gap from the whole championship is still wide,” said the Italian who denied Marquez his fourth MotoGP title with a race to spare.

Dovizioso won his sixth race this season to close the gap to championship leader Marquez to 21 points with only the Valencia Grand Prix in Italy on next month.

In the penultimate GP on a wet Sepang Circuit, Marquez had to settle for fourth spot but remain in a position to win his fourth crown in five seasons.

If yesterday’s twist gets stranger, the only way he can lose the championship is if Dovizioso wins in Valencia and Marquez finishes outside the top 11.

Marquez’s championship advantage was 21 points, meaning an 11th-place finish at Valencia will be enough for the Honda rider to seal the crown even if Dovizioso wins.

Reigning champion Marquez is perched on 282 points and with 25 at stake in Spain, should lift the crown with a regulation ride.

In the Moto2 race, Kalex rider Franco Morbidelli sealed the championship before the race was even run after the Italian’s nearest challenger Thomas Luthi withdrew with a broken foot during qualifying. Morbidelli finished third, with KTM’s Miguel Oliveira taking the win.

Joan Mir stayed on course to win the Moto3 title.

Results

1 Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Ducati 44:51.497

2 Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Ducati 44:52.240

3 Johann Zarco (Fra) Yamaha 45:01.235

4 Marc Marquez (Spa) Honda 45:09.260

5 Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Honda 45:20.641

6 Danilo Petrucci (Ita) Ducati 45:21.877

7 Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 45:22.266

8 Jack Miller (Aus) Honda 45:26.735

9 Maverick Vinales (Spa) Yamaha 45:29.550

10 Pol Espargaro (Spa) KTM 45:31.344

11 Alvaro Bautista (Spa) Ducati 45:34.056

12 Bradley Smith (Bri) KTM 45:36.099

13 Scott Redding (Bri) Ducati 45:40.193

14 Hector Barbera (Spa) Ducati 45:41.555

15 Cal Crutchlow (Bri) Honda 45:42.202

Standings

1. Marc Marquez (Spa) Honda 282

2. Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Ducati 261

3. Maverick Vinales (Spa) Yamaha 226

4. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 197

5. Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Honda 185

6. Johann Zarco (Fra) Yamaha 154

7. Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Ducati 137

8. Danilo Petrucci (Ita) Ducati 121

9. Cal Crutchlow (Bri) Honda 104

10. Jonas Folger (Ger) Yamaha 84

11. Alvaro Bautista (Spa) Ducati 75

12. Jack Miller (Aus) Honda 73

13. Scott Redding (Bri) Ducati 62

15. Andrea Iannone (Ita) Suzuki 60