Monday 9th November 2015

MotoGP Valencia: PH2

The MotoGP championship is settled but the arguments continue...

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While all eyes at Valencia were on the MotoGP title battle between Rossi and Lorenzo, can we first take a moment to celebrate the first British GP champion since Barry Sheene in 1977. Take a bow Danny Kent, you made us wait for it but congratulations. Finishing ninth while your main rival took the win isn't the best way to take your first world championship, but at the end of the day all that matters is securing that number one plate. Ok, back to the main event...

Danny Kent the first British World Champion since 1977

Social media spats, campaigns, court cases, and that was even before first practice kicked off at Valencia! Is it a sad end to a cracking season, or an extra bit of spice? Whatever your take on the Malaysia incident, the fact was that Lorenzo's stunning lap put him at the front of the Valencia grid while Rossi's moment of madness ensured he was right at the back. Lorenzo certainly had the speed to win, so Rossi's main hope (ironically) was the two Hondas. If Pedrosa and Marquez could kick Lorenzo back into third, Rossi had a chance at the title. A slim one, but still a chance.

Lights out and within a few corners Rossi had made up 10 places, within two laps he was in 12th and third time across the line in he was in the top ten. Which was the good news for Rossi fans, the bad news was that Lorenzo was leading the pair of Hondas. And now Rossi was mixing it with the satellite bikes...

You have to hand it to Rossi, not only was he riding like a demon, he also had the 'Rossi factor' working for him and quite a few riders seemed unwilling to put up too much of a fight when he attempted a pass. But Lorenzo was still in the lead and only Marc looked able to go with him - which wasn't enough for Rossi. Would tyres decide this championship?

Or would Dani wake up?
18 laps left and Rossi had done all he could, securing fourth spot and putting clear air between him and Dovi. But with Dani 11 seconds ahead of him, he needed a miracle in the shape of the Honda pair's front tyres going or them both overtaking Lorenzo to take the title.

The last 10 laps were shaping up to be a subdued affair with Marc tailing Lorenzo and Dani looking out of the picture. Or was he? Had Dani conserved his tyres as he was now lapping faster than the leading pair...

Well, by now I'm sure Twitter is full of hate for Marc. The chance was there, Dani gave it everything in the last few laps to bridge the gap but Marc didn't attempt an overtake on Lorenzo all race. Did he shadow Lorenzo rather than go for the win? Rossi certainly thinks so but only one person knows for sure and you have to hand it to Lorenzo as he rode an inch perfect race. The fairytale end to the 2015 season didn't happen for Rossi fans, but Lorenzo's army will be partying hard in Spain. Will Marc be invited to the gig...

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Results

MotoGP
1st: Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP)
2nd: Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)
3rd: Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team)

Moto2:
1st: Rabat (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS)
2nd: Rins (Paginas Amarillas HP 40)
3rd: Luthi (Derendinger Racing Interwetten)

Moto3:
1st: Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo)
2nd: Navarro (Estrella Galicia 0,0)
3rd: Kornfeil (Sepang International Circuit)

Brit watch:

Cal Crutchlow (MotoGP) - 9
Bradley Smith (MotoGP) - 6
Scott Redding (MotoGP) - 15
Eugene Laverty (MotoGP) - DNF
Sam Lowes (Moto2) - 5
John McPhee (Moto3) - 7
Danny Kent (Moto3) - 9

Previous rounds:
MotoGP USA
MotoGP Qatar
MotoGP Argentina
MotoGP Jerez
MotoGP France
MotoGP Italy
MotoGP Spain
MotoGP Assen
MotoGP Germany
MotoGP Indianapolis
MotoGP Czech Republic
MotoGP Silverstone
MotoGP Misano
MotoGP Aragon
MotoGP Japan
MotoGP Australia
MotoGP Malaysia

[MrKipling43]

I'm really enjoying the absolute nonsense comparing the battle at Sepang between Rossi and Marquez and the way he shadowed Lorenzo at Valencia as if the two are even vaguely similar in terms of the tactics a rider would use!

If you're in a battle for third, of course you need to get past as soon as you can so you can start trying to catch up to the guy in second. If you're in second, why would you try to pass the guy in first and get involved in a scrap for three, five, or 15 laps? You wait until the last minute.

The funny thing about this is that Rossi is the one who's been going on and on about how with Marquez you need to snap back straight away. He's obviously realised this is the approach people will take to racing him and, as he demonstrated in Philip Island, by being patient and making his move as late as possible, has adjusted his racing tactics accordingly by making a move as late as he possibly can. That approach was rather knackered by Dani Pedrosa's charge and overtake attempt at the end of the race, which gave Lorenzo the few bike lengths he needed.

I'm a Rossi and Marquez fan - I find Lorenzo a bit dull to watch (because he never looks like he's always about to flick it or tuck it like Marquez and when he's in his groove he's so damn fast it makes races boring) so selfishly I'm not a huge fan, but he deserved the title. Most wins, poles, fastest laps etc, Rossi was only ever good enough for fourth in Valencia and if Marquez hadn't have overtaken Lorenzo in Australia to take the win Rossi would have had to beat Jorge in Spain and that simply was never going to happen.

Pedrosa for champ 2016!

[MrKipling43]

Yeah, exactly.

And Dorna know which side their bread's buttered on. The ideal situation for them would be for Rossi to win everything, all the time. If it was rigged, it would be rigged in his favour.

I am a huge Rossi fan - I was desperate for him to win the title this year - but the blinkers so many of his fan wear are hilariously ridiculous.

Marquez escorting him to the line. Honestly, what a load of claptrap.

If he was so keen for Lorenzo to win, why didn't he hand him the Aussie GP too? Seriously, I really want to hear the crazy explanations...