For only the third time in over twenty years, the premier class of the MotoGP World Championship was decided in the final race of the season. The last time it happened was in 2006, when Valentino Rossi threw away the championship with a simple crash that put Nicky Hayden’s name on the side of the most coveted trophy in motorcycle racing. The stakes were stacked almost identically today in Valencia, with rookie sensation Marc Marquez needing only a handful of points to move out of the reach of arch-rival and defending champion Jorge Lorenzo.
The pre-race build up had been a battle of wits and words, with the pressure on Lorenzo to win, and Marquez not to crash, and when the lights went out we were treated to an enthralling contest.
In the opening laps it was the #99 Yamaha of Lorenzo that led the way, while Marquez got an average start to slot into third behind Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa. With nothing left to lose as far as the championship was concerned, it was a completely different Pedrosa on display in front of the home Spanish crowds, as he and Lorenzo traded aggressive blows for lap after lap in the opening stages.
Every time Pedrosa made it through, Lorenzo threw caution to the wind and slammed it back up the inside of the Honda – knowing he had to win if he were to have any hope of clinching the title. Ultimately the two came together and both almost ran off the track – Lorenzo was able to slot back into the lead group while Pedrosa was dropped further back leaving Marquez in the lead.
From that point on, the pace of Lorenzo clearly showed he had been holding in the pack up battling with Pedrosa in an attempt to force Marquez back into the clutches of the chasing pair of Valentino Rossi and Alvaro Bautista. With Marquez leading, it was clear his tactic hadn’t worked, so the Majorcan put the hammer down and was quickly at the front of the field and streaking to a comfortable victory.
Marquez, clearly riding within himself although as ever putting on an exhibition in rear-wheel sliding at incredible speeds, allowed his resurgent team-mate through into second, leaving the final podium of the season filled with the same faces we have been familiar with all year. Lorenzo had done all he could, but Marquez had done enough and is now the youngest ever MotoGP world champion.
MotoGP Valencia Race Result
1. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 46m 10.302s
2. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 46m 14.236s
3. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 46m 17.659s
4. Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 46m 20.881s
5. Alvaro Bautista ESP Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RC213V) 46m 25.267s
6. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V) 46m 34.701s
7. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 46m 39.345s
8. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Team (GP13) 46m 50.195s
9. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP13) 47m 3.498s
10. Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Test Team (GP13) 47m 13.285s
11. Aleix Espargaro ESP Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT) 47m 14.499s
12. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT) 47m 17.128s
13. Claudio Corti ITA NGM Forward Racing (FTR-Kawasaki CRT) 47m 21.783s
14. Danilo Petrucci ITA Came IodaRacing Project (Suter-BMW CRT) 47m 23.945s
15. Colin Edwards USA NGM Forward Racing (FTR-Kawasaki CRT) 47m 34.551s
16. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT) 47m 43.312s
17. Michael Laverty GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT) 1 lap
18. Luca Scassa ITA Cardion AB Motoracing (ART CRT) 1 lap
19. Bryan Staring AUS Go&Fun Honda Gresini (FTR-Honda CRT) 1 lap
20. Martin Bauer AUT Remus Racing Team (S&B Suter-BMW CRT) 1 lap
Andrea Iannone ITA Energy T.I. Pramac Racing (GP13) DNF
Randy De Puniet FRA Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT) DNF
Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) DNF
Yonny Hernandez COL Ignite Pramac Racing (GP13) DNF
Lukas Pesek CZE Came IodaRacing Project (Suter-BMW CRT) DNF
Damian Cudlin AUS Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART CRT) DNF
