Marquez: "No one will remember" if Dovizioso gets more wins

Honda's Marquez comes to the final race of the season with a comfortable 21-point advantage, meaning a finish anywhere inside the top 11 would be good enough to seal a fourth premier class crown.

Dovizioso, on the other hand, has to win to have any chance of snatching the title, and if he were to do so he would end up with seven victories this season to Marquez's six.

However, Marquez says he wouldn't mind ending up with fewer wins than the Ducati rider, so long as he comes away with the championship.

"It's obvious, I can only lose this championship and he [Dovizioso] can only win it," said Marquez.

"The one who leads by 21 points is the one who has to manage the advantage and the one who is behind can beat the other one.

"Dovi has to take risks and only has one strategy, which is to win the race and then see. I'm lucky that I am able to depend only on myself, all I have to do is finish the race.

"I have learned over the years that it is much more important to win a championship than a race. If I end the year with six wins and Dovi with seven, it makes no difference to me.

"A month from now, nobody will remember that. But the championship is forever."

Marquez also underlined the need to maintain the same approach in Valencia that has taken him this far, despite the widespread perception that he already has one hand on the championship trophy.

"If could sign to take a 21-point lead into the final race every year, I would, it's a very good advantage," said Marquez.

"But I do not want to tempt fate. Everyone you talk to sees it as being over, but sport and life can be very capricious.

"I don't want to relax or lower the tension even a little bit. You have to carry on as before."

Additional reporting by German Garcia Casanova