MotoGP title decider, Phoenix NASCAR, Valais ERC
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MotoGP - Valencia: Wheelspins for Lorenzo in Parc Ferme, and he embraces the Yamaha team. It was a brave ride, and - overall - a sterling campaign from the outgoing champion.
MotoGP - Valencia: Helmet off, we get a glimpse of the raw emotion on Marquez's face. It's sheer delight. "Marquez! Marquez!" is the chant from the stands, and it looks like he might burst into tears at any moment.
MotoGP - Valencia: Marquez is standing on the tyre all and waving at the crowd - which is a sea of #93 flags. These scenes are incredible.
Marquez launches his gloves into the stands. He is a very, very, very popular champion.
Marquez launches his gloves into the stands. He is a very, very, very popular champion.
MotoGP - Valencia: Marquez waves to the crowd, one finger in the air. Lorenzo, meanwhile, has picked up the Spanish flag and declares part of the Valencia circuit "Lorenzo Land".
Tradition. We love it.
Tradition. We love it.
MotoGP - Valencia: Onto the runoff Marquez goes, and he is swamped by marshals. Whooping and cheering in the pits, the crowd and on the track. Fully deserved, too.
MotoGP - Valencia: When Lorenzo and Pedrosa kicked off in front of him, Marquez kept his head. A remarkable achievement from the Honda rookie, who ends his maiden year in grand prix bike racing's premier class as champion.
Sensational.
Sensational.
Trophy
MotoGP - Valencia: MARC MARQUEZ IS THE 2013 MOTOGP CHAMPION!
Checkered flag
MotoGP - Valencia: Eight wins for Lorenzo in 2013, a superb ride. But, ultimately, it's not enough for the title...
MotoGP - Valencia: Final lap for Lorenzo, who rode hard when he needed and bolted when he realised it was out of his control.
MotoGP - Valencia: Lorenzo is still the quickest of the leaders and his advantage is three and a half seconds and growing.
Two laps to go!
Two laps to go!
Crash
MotoGP - Valencia: Disaster for Iannone, who low-sides into the gravel. Very disappointing for the Pramac man who was splitting the factory Ducatis.
MotoGP - Valencia: Marquez has a four second gap over fourth-placed Rossi. If positions stay as they are Marc Marquez - the rookie - will be world champion.
MotoGP - Valencia: Two riders not settling for position just yet are CRT leaders Aleix Espargaro and Hector Barbera. They are squabbling over 12th and 13th, and swapped positions on the last lap.
MotoGP - Valencia: A change of position! For second place. Pedrosa passes Marquez, and with five laps to go, Marquez looks like he just wants to stroke this home.
MotoGP - Valencia: The early charges of Bautista and Rossi have certainly faded in the last few laps. Rossi circulates fourth, and has a couple of seconds in hand over the Gresini Honda rider now.
MotoGP - Valencia: Crutchlow looks very unhappy watching the race unfold in the Tech 3 garage. He said the emotion would set in after the race - but he wouldn't have thought so quickly.
MotoGP - Valencia: Lorenzo has just set a new circuit record - 1m31.701s - a full second better than the previous race best, set by Pedrosa in 2007. Impressive.
MotoGP - Valencia: 10 laps to go, Lorenzo leads. Marquez holds second and doesn't look overly keen to surrender that place to Pedrosa.
MotoGP - Valencia: Looks like Lorenzo has decided what happens, happens, in the title fight. He's going for the win here - and is well on course to claim it.
Ditto Marquez for the title. But, there are still 10 and a half laps to go, so after jinxing riders in Moto2/3 earlier today...we'll keep quiet for a little while.
Ditto Marquez for the title. But, there are still 10 and a half laps to go, so after jinxing riders in Moto2/3 earlier today...we'll keep quiet for a little while.
MotoGP - Valencia: Pramac (satellite) Ducati rider Iannone leads the factory machine of Dovizioso. That's actually not surprising, after the year the Ducati boys have had.
MotoGP - Valencia: After that stellar start, Smith has slipped to seventh - carrying Tech 3's hopes after Crutchlow's early shunt.
Hayden, pictured below celebrating that amazing 2006 triumph, is having a solid final ride for Ducati. It's not been successful, that partnership, but as Hayden put it: "we've become friends".
Hayden, pictured below celebrating that amazing 2006 triumph, is having a solid final ride for Ducati. It's not been successful, that partnership, but as Hayden put it: "we've become friends".
MotoGP - Valencia: If Lorenzo is trying to bait Marquez into a fight, the rookie isn't biting. But he is falling into Pedrosa's hands.
Then again, Pedrosa has broken the tow to Rossi and Bautista. So Marquez isn't in any immediate danger.
Then again, Pedrosa has broken the tow to Rossi and Bautista. So Marquez isn't in any immediate danger.
MotoGP - Valencia: Lorenzo, whose pitboard read "slow down" last time around, has bolted. He's put a second between himself and Marquez.
Looks like Lorenzo's adopting his own tactics for this one.
Looks like Lorenzo's adopting his own tactics for this one.
MotoGP - Valencia: Of course, the last thing Honda needs now is Pedrosa to catch Marquez, replicate his 2006 error and wipe out his team-mate who is fighting for the title...
...then again, that ended quite well for Honda. Right?
MotoGP - Valencia: Pedrosa dives past Rossi and into third. Will he close the one-second gap to Marquez?
MotoGP - Valencia: Fastest lap of the race for Marquez in second. He's all over Lorenzo, with Rossi having to deal with Pedrosa now.
MotoGP - Valencia: The Lorenzo/Pedrosa clash is to be investigated. Hopefully, that will not decide either the race or the title.
MotoGP - Valencia: Rossi nicks third from Bautista into Turn 1, and Pedrosa slices by for fourth at Turn 2.
MotoGP - Valencia: No, Marquez does fight back! Brave, brave tactic. Lorenzo holds onto the lead but now Bautista and Rossi are right with the leaders again - as is the recovering Pedrosa.
MotoGP - Valencia: Lorenzo attacks into Turn 1 but thinks better of it - then makes it stick into Turn 2. Marquez, sensibly, refrains from fighting back.
Bautista holds third ahead of Rossi.
Bautista holds third ahead of Rossi.
MotoGP - Valencia: It's all kicked off in the last few corners. So, Marquez leads, Lorenzo is in second and harrying the championship leader for all his worth.
What a dramatic finale this is turning into.
What a dramatic finale this is turning into.
Crash
MotoGP - Valencia: Oh, disaster for Crutchlow. He's down, out, and his final Tech 3 race ends in the gravel.
MotoGP - Valencia: Lorenzo is swamped by Hondas! Pedrosa gets by into Turn 1, then lunges back at Turn 2!
They make contact, Pedrosa's off the track and Marquez leads!
They make contact, Pedrosa's off the track and Marquez leads!
MotoGP - Valencia: Surely Honda should counter the obvious "backing up" tactics of Lorenzo, get Marquez ahead of Pedrosa and let Pedrosa deal with the lurking Bautista and Rossi rather than the championship leader...
Still Lorenzo leads. Still the lead quintet circulates with little between each bike. Still Pedrosa attacks.
Still Lorenzo leads. Still the lead quintet circulates with little between each bike. Still Pedrosa attacks.
MotoGP - Valencia: That's not all! Pedrosa lunges at the final corner, Lorenzo cuts back underneath - they touch - and Lorenzo leads over the line!
Marquez watches on in third.
Marquez watches on in third.
MotoGP - Valencia: RCL curse? Pedrosa dives past Lorenzo at Turn 8 but then a stonking move from Lorenzo retakes the place at Turn 11! Last of the late brakers.
MotoGP - Valencia: A points permutation reminder: If Bautista and Rossi can get ahead of Marquez, Lorenzo will be champion if he wins.
MotoGP - Valencia: Pedrosa and Lorenzo are at it again! They are swapping places almost by the lap, in the same places, with the same result.
After the latest scrap, Lorenzo continues to lead.
After the latest scrap, Lorenzo continues to lead.
MotoGP - Valencia: It's definitely, definitely a five-bike battle for the lead. Bautista is doing a superb job in fourth - but now has to defend from Rossi who is attacking hard.
MotoGP - Valencia: Lorenzo makes a bit of a mess of the final corner but hangs on into Turn 1. 26 laps to go and the Hondas are all over the lead Yamaha.
By: Dan Cross, Matt Beer, Scott Mitchell
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