Photo: motogp.com
Jorge Lorenzo is the new MotoGP world champion, after he rode a picture-perfect race in Valencia yesterday. Setting off from a pole position that obliterated the former records, Lorenzo stuck closely to his classic recipe: get in front before the last turn and disappear into the distance.
However, he didn't exactly disappear, as Marc Marquez was the one rider that matched his pace through the final lap. The two ran a rather solitary race at the front, but Dan Pedrosa was able to catch up with them in the final laps as his overcooked tires cooled down.
Pedrosa even made a move to get in front of his teammate, but could not make it last. Still his pace was amazing at the end of the race and showed that he could have overtaken both Marquez and Lorenzo if he had several extra laps.
Rossi started from the last row, having accumulated four penalty points, and was joined there by Cal Crutchlow, who had engine issues right before the start. Still, The Doctor darted ahead as the lights went out and managed to pass one third of the riders in front of him.
With Lorenzo in the leading position, Rossi had the monumental task of becoming second to win the 2015 title. The Italian gradually worked his way up the track and finally ended in the fourth position. Unfortunately for him, this was not enough to claw his tenth world title.
The top ten was completed by Pol Espargaro, Bradley Smith, Andrea Dovizioso, Aleix Espargaro, Cal Crutchlow and Danilo Petrucci. With all the cameras pointing towards either Rossi or Pedrosa, as he charged on Marquez, the rest of the riders were sort of left in the shadow. Notably, Ducati's test rider Michele Pirro finished 12th at Valencia, while Scott Redding managed to earn the final point that was up for grabs.
After the race, Rossi declared that he still regarded Marquez' role at Valencia as that of "bodyguard" for Jorge Lorenzo. The fans of both JL99 and VR46 expressed their beliefs, with their own arguments, and frankly, the truth seems to be somewhere at the (fuzzy) middle of this affair.
Rossi's words were not exactly kind talking about the last part of the season."We build this season from the first race, and at the end it was anyway a great season. I was always competitive and never make any mistakes. I think that after Motegi I have the potential to win the championship but unfortunately from the race in Phillip Island something changed and in these last three races we saw something that we never saw before in our sport.
"I think that the situation was already bad, but today was embarrassing for everybody because it was unbelievable, the behaviour of Marquez is something very bad for everything, especially for the sport. It is something that nobody expects, because a Honda rider that made a Yamaha rider win and give the maximum just to push out his teammate is something that nobody expect and I think it is very, very bad news. Anyway, it is like this, we have to accept.
"I am happy because now everybody see what I said in Australia and I don’t understand the behaviour of Marquez but sincerely for me it is very difficult to say something to him because I hope that he will understand what he did in these last three races in the future of his career.
"For sure the Hondas were faster. We know that in the second part of the race Honda have a better potential but Marquez just protect Lorenzo like he did in Phillip Island and also Sepang. At the end I think that also Lorenzo have to not be very happy, as it is not a Championship that was won on track. But anyway is memories," the nine-time champion said.
On the other hand, Marquez took a somehow defensive stance saying that he rode to the absolute limit but just wasn't able to attack Lorenzo decisively.
As to how come MM93 was able to battle with Pedrosa, who was unquestionably faster than both Spaniards at the top, and did not make any serious moves on Lorenzo, this is a matter that is already fiercely debated.
MotoGP action returns tomorrow (Tuesday) with the first official test of the 2016 season, with some of the riders meeting their new machines and teams for the first time.
Pedrosa even made a move to get in front of his teammate, but could not make it last. Still his pace was amazing at the end of the race and showed that he could have overtaken both Marquez and Lorenzo if he had several extra laps.
Rossi started from the last row, having accumulated four penalty points, and was joined there by Cal Crutchlow, who had engine issues right before the start. Still, The Doctor darted ahead as the lights went out and managed to pass one third of the riders in front of him.
With Lorenzo in the leading position, Rossi had the monumental task of becoming second to win the 2015 title. The Italian gradually worked his way up the track and finally ended in the fourth position. Unfortunately for him, this was not enough to claw his tenth world title.
The top ten was completed by Pol Espargaro, Bradley Smith, Andrea Dovizioso, Aleix Espargaro, Cal Crutchlow and Danilo Petrucci. With all the cameras pointing towards either Rossi or Pedrosa, as he charged on Marquez, the rest of the riders were sort of left in the shadow. Notably, Ducati's test rider Michele Pirro finished 12th at Valencia, while Scott Redding managed to earn the final point that was up for grabs.
Rossi did not take part in the FIM gala, allegations still targeting Marquez for foul play
Valentino Rossi did not appear at the FIM gala last night, even though he was the runner-up in the 2015 MotoGP championship. His award was picked up by Yamaha's official Massimo Meregalli, but no official explanations were offered at the time of writing.After the race, Rossi declared that he still regarded Marquez' role at Valencia as that of "bodyguard" for Jorge Lorenzo. The fans of both JL99 and VR46 expressed their beliefs, with their own arguments, and frankly, the truth seems to be somewhere at the (fuzzy) middle of this affair.
Rossi's words were not exactly kind talking about the last part of the season."We build this season from the first race, and at the end it was anyway a great season. I was always competitive and never make any mistakes. I think that after Motegi I have the potential to win the championship but unfortunately from the race in Phillip Island something changed and in these last three races we saw something that we never saw before in our sport.
"I think that the situation was already bad, but today was embarrassing for everybody because it was unbelievable, the behaviour of Marquez is something very bad for everything, especially for the sport. It is something that nobody expects, because a Honda rider that made a Yamaha rider win and give the maximum just to push out his teammate is something that nobody expect and I think it is very, very bad news. Anyway, it is like this, we have to accept.
"I am happy because now everybody see what I said in Australia and I don’t understand the behaviour of Marquez but sincerely for me it is very difficult to say something to him because I hope that he will understand what he did in these last three races in the future of his career.
"For sure the Hondas were faster. We know that in the second part of the race Honda have a better potential but Marquez just protect Lorenzo like he did in Phillip Island and also Sepang. At the end I think that also Lorenzo have to not be very happy, as it is not a Championship that was won on track. But anyway is memories," the nine-time champion said.
On the other hand, Marquez took a somehow defensive stance saying that he rode to the absolute limit but just wasn't able to attack Lorenzo decisively.
As to how come MM93 was able to battle with Pedrosa, who was unquestionably faster than both Spaniards at the top, and did not make any serious moves on Lorenzo, this is a matter that is already fiercely debated.
MotoGP action returns tomorrow (Tuesday) with the first official test of the 2016 season, with some of the riders meeting their new machines and teams for the first time.
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