(REUTERS) - Suzuki rider Joan Mir clinched his maiden MotoGP crown and became the Japanese team's first world champion in two decades with a seventh-placed finish at the Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday (Nov 15).

Spaniard Mir began the race with a 37-point lead over his closest challengers and ensured a fourth successive top-10 finish from 12th on the grid to emulate American Kenny Roberts Jr, who won the riders' championship for Suzuki in 2000.