MotoGP title decider, Phoenix NASCAR, Valais ERC
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MotoGP - Valencia: In CRT news, promising qualifier Petrucci has dropped behind Espargaro and Pirro early on.
MotoGP - Valencia: Lorenzo sets a new fastest lap - but Pedrosa outbrakes him into Turn 4. Lorenzo's having none of it, and muscles his way back through at Turn 5.
MotoGP - Valencia: You could probably stretch this to being a train of eight bikes for the lead. Behind the front three, Bautista and Rossi run nose-to-tail, as do Smith, Crutchlow and Bradl - not at all far behind.
MotoGP - Valencia: Pedrosa has another storming run down the main straight and dives by into Turn 1, but overcooks it and Lorenzo slips through.
Marquez cannot follow his title rival past his team-mate, but knows third at the moment will give him the championship.
Marquez cannot follow his title rival past his team-mate, but knows third at the moment will give him the championship.
MotoGP - Valencia: The lead trio has become a quintet thanks to that back-and-forth. Bautista is ahead of Rossi, with Bradley Smith having a great run early on in sixth - and hanging on to this lead group.
MotoGP - Valencia: End of the first lap and it's three for the lead - with Pedrosa ahead of Lorenzo as they head into Turn 1.
But Lorenzo dives back by at Turn 2!
But Lorenzo dives back by at Turn 2!
Lights out
MotoGP - Valencia: Good start from Lorenzo and he leads into Turn 1. Pedrosa files into second with Marquez down to third.
MotoGP - Valencia: The grandstands are absolutely packed. It's been a stellar morning of entertainment, with that final corner Moto3 title decider and an eventful Moto2 race.
Onto the grid the riders come. No more waiting.
Onto the grid the riders come. No more waiting.
MotoGP - Valencia: So, this is it. Marquez vs Lorenzo. The championship leader starts on pole, Lorenzo right alongside.
The bikes leave the grid for the formation lap.
The bikes leave the grid for the formation lap.
MotoGP - Valencia: It's a packed grid at Valencia. Barely any room to breathe! It's being vacated though, because the start is almost upon us...
MotoGP - Valencia: This is how the standings look, and what Lorenzo must do to overhaul Marquezt:
MotoGP standings after 17 of 18 rounds:
1 Marc Marquez 318 points
2 Jorge Lorenzo 305 points
With 25 points available for win, if Lorenzo is victorious he needs Marquez to finish fifth or lower to retain his title.
If Lorenzo finishes second, Marquez has to finish eighth or higher to clinch the crown. Barring any huge disaster for either rider, those are the main permutations to keep in mind.
MotoGP standings after 17 of 18 rounds:
1 Marc Marquez 318 points
2 Jorge Lorenzo 305 points
With 25 points available for win, if Lorenzo is victorious he needs Marquez to finish fifth or lower to retain his title.
If Lorenzo finishes second, Marquez has to finish eighth or higher to clinch the crown. Barring any huge disaster for either rider, those are the main permutations to keep in mind.
MotoGP - Valencia: Here are the major talking points on the way to this showdown.
Lorenzo won the season opener in Qatar but Marquez caught the eye with a big battle with Valentino Rossi on the Italian's Yamaha return, though had to "settle" for third on his grand prix debut.
It didn't take long for Marquez to get on the top step of the podium - actually, it took until the next race. A stunning weekend at Austin made the Honda rookie a record-breaking race winner.
From there, it developed into a Marquez vs Lorenzo fight. But it was the next race in Jerez that the rivalry was amplified - a last-corner collision (caused by a Marquez lunge) stoked the flames.
Despite the efforts of Pedrosa to add a third party to the title fight, Lorenzo's injury-defying heroics and Marquez's four wins on the spin made it clear that these two were a class apart.
Back-to-back wins in Australia and Japan led to Lorenzo arriving in Valencia this weekend firmly in the hunt. So, what does he need to do?
MotoGP - Valencia: 20 minutes to go, and this is context in which we find the title showdown.
Marquez insisted he was not nervous about Lorenzo's run of form - which the champion says gave him the advantage - and Honda's rookie was adamant he would draw inspiration from his sensational recovery ride to the Moto2 title 12 months ago.
Championship leader Marquez then put his money where his mouth is by topping first practice, edging team-mate Dani Pedrosa in second practice, setting a record-breaking pace in third practice, again leading the way in fourth practice - and then blitzed qualifying (and his own new track record in the process):
Marquez flies to pole for decider
MotoGP - Valencia: Thank you to the supporting cast for teasing us with title showdown fever, but now it is almost time to welcome the big players to the stage.
It is MotoGP's first final-race showdown since 2006 - when Nicky Hayden (pictured) triumphed in dramatic fashion over Valentino Rossi.
Will Marc Marquez be able to emulate the Honda rider's title victory? Or will reigning champion Jorge Lorenzo gain revenge for Yamaha?
Moto2 - Valencia: Well, after Espargaro's early crash, entertainment certainly came late in the Moto2 race. But no matter. We have something seriously tantalising to prepare for now.
Moto2 - Valencia: Espargaro, despite his victory bid-ending shunt, is out on track celebrating his title in front of his home fans.
Back in Parc Ferme, Terol, Torres and Zarco lap up the plaudits. Redding, who finished 15th, clinches second in the world championship. Top effort.
Back in Parc Ferme, Terol, Torres and Zarco lap up the plaudits. Redding, who finished 15th, clinches second in the world championship. Top effort.
Moto2 - Valencia - results: Third goes to Zarco! One-thousandth of a second, according to the stewards. Epic.
1 Terol; 2 Torres; 3 Zarco; 4 Corsi; 5 Rabat; 6 de Angelis; 7 Luthi; 8 West; 9 Pasini; 10 Aegerter.
1 Terol; 2 Torres; 3 Zarco; 4 Corsi; 5 Rabat; 6 de Angelis; 7 Luthi; 8 West; 9 Pasini; 10 Aegerter.
Checkered flag
Moto2 - Valencia: So Terol wins from Torres...but who got third? It's a photo finish, literally, because the timing sheet can't separate them. Remarkable from Corsi and Zarco.
Just as the race got a touch quiet.
Just as the race got a touch quiet.
Moto2 - Valencia: Last corner! Side-by-side they emerge, it's a drag to the line...and it's a dead heat!
Moto2 - Valencia: Corsi defends from Zarco in the first half of the final lap...last corner?
Moto2 - Valencia: Scratch that! Corsi's struggles have him a sitting duck for Zarco, who actually pulled clear of Rabat in the conclusion to this race.
Moto2 - Valencia: Torres nicking second from Corsi has taken the drama out of this race. There are still battles happening - Rabat closing on Zarco for fourth, Luthi and West scrapping for seventh - but it's petered out a touch.
Moto2 - Valencia: Having shadowed Corsi for several laps, finally Torres nips by to take second place. It was inevitable.
Moto2 - Valencia: The fight for second is well and truly on. Torres has caught Corsi, a huge 0.8s quicker was the Spaniard on that last lap.
Moto2 - Valencia: But before we get too caught up in more title-deciding excitement, there's a Moto2 race going on.
Terol has dropped Corsi, who is being caught by Torres in the fight for second...
Terol has dropped Corsi, who is being caught by Torres in the fight for second...
Twitter
MotoGP - Valencia: What do those in the Formula 1 world do on their weekend off? Revel in two-wheeled brilliance, that's what.
Here's ex-F1 driver-turned-Le Mans racer (and Sky TV pundit) @KarunChandhok keeping neutral:
"Time for a quick 1 hour run in Hyde Park before the #MotoGP finale !! Come on @marcmarquez93 - give the debut season a fairy tale ending..."
Marussia driver @MaxChilton is also eagerly awaiting the showdown, tweeting yesterday: "Can't wait for the #MotoGP finale tomorrow! These boys take the word racing to another level! #Respect"
Here's ex-F1 driver-turned-Le Mans racer (and Sky TV pundit) @KarunChandhok keeping neutral:
"Time for a quick 1 hour run in Hyde Park before the #MotoGP finale !! Come on @marcmarquez93 - give the debut season a fairy tale ending..."
Marussia driver @MaxChilton is also eagerly awaiting the showdown, tweeting yesterday: "Can't wait for the #MotoGP finale tomorrow! These boys take the word racing to another level! #Respect"
Moto2 - Valencia: Huge scrap for 10th going on, with Redding in the thick of it still.
Out front, Terol still leads Corsi with Torres on the move in third with the fastest lap of the race.
Out front, Terol still leads Corsi with Torres on the move in third with the fastest lap of the race.
Moto2 - Valencia: Terol leads Corsi by less than half a second. Three seconds back, the train has become shorter - 10 bikes now fight over what is now a podium spot. Torres leads it thus far.
Crash
Moto2 - Valencia: There will be no repeat of Marquez's last-to-first charge of 12 months ago.
Iturrioz shunts, and though he rejoins - he's 31st.
Iturrioz shunts, and though he rejoins - he's 31st.
Crash
Moto2 - Valencia: Espargaro hasn't learned! He shunts, low-siding at what looks like Turn 8...he's in the gravel, that's an unforced, and rather foolish, mistake from the champion.
He rejoins now, but Terol leads.
He rejoins now, but Terol leads.
Moto2 - Valencia: Careful, Pol. The leader has a big wobble, but survives - and he'll want to keep those to a minimum if he is to avoid a repeat of his warm-up shunt.
Espargaro leads by 1.6s. Torres leads the mega scrap for fourth, Redding has slipped to 14th but should hold second in the standings.
Espargaro leads by 1.6s. Torres leads the mega scrap for fourth, Redding has slipped to 14th but should hold second in the standings.
Moto2 - Valencia: Redding, battling his wrist injury and the myriad procedures he's had to aid his recovery, is fighting well - he's up 12th now and right in the thick of this 14-bike train.
Moto2 - Valencia: Espargaro is scarpering into the distance, and behind Corsi and Terol are duking it out over second.
They hold a bit of a lead over an absolutely astonishing train of bikes battling for fourth. There are 14 riders immediately involved, with another 14 or so in a train of some sorts a fraction behind.
They hold a bit of a lead over an absolutely astonishing train of bikes battling for fourth. There are 14 riders immediately involved, with another 14 or so in a train of some sorts a fraction behind.
Lights out
Moto2 - Valencia: Lights on, lights out, away we go. Lead MotoGP CRT rider Aleix Espargaro watches younger brother Pol storm into the lead. Stunning start, and he heads the pack into Turn 1.
Moto2 - Valencia: Espargaro was dominant in qualifying but did shunt in warm-up this morning. So, in the nicest possible way, there is hope for his rivals yet.
The riders are off on the formation lap. Any chance of a repeat of Marc Marquez's last-to-first stunner from 2012?
Ezequiel Iturrioz, it's up to you...
Moto2 - Valencia: From Vinales' title triumph to Vinales' 2014 stomping ground.
Unfortunately, there will be no repeat of last-corner title drama in Moto2, but there might well be last-corner drama in general.
Champion Pol Espargaro was quickest in qualifying, but there was nothing between the gaggle of riders behind. The riders are on the grid, and the race will start in about 10 minutes.
Unfortunately, there will be no repeat of last-corner title drama in Moto2, but there might well be last-corner drama in general.
Champion Pol Espargaro was quickest in qualifying, but there was nothing between the gaggle of riders behind. The riders are on the grid, and the race will start in about 10 minutes.
Breaking news
Moto3 - Valencia: Miss the decider? Well, you missed an absolute corker.
Or maybe you just want to check it actually happened. Either way, we have you covered.
Read the report for the thrilling Moto3 conclusion right here:
Vinales wins title at final corner
Moto3 - Valencia: The Spanish national anthem rings out for Vinales, and now the champagne sprays. A deserved title for Vinales - any of the riders in with a shout would have deserved it to be fair - and redemption after his 2012 nightmare.
Moto3 - Valencia: Scenes of celebration at the podium ceremony. Out come the riders - and a huge cheer for Vinales.
Checkered flag
Moto3 - Valencia - results: 1 Vinales (champion); 2 Folger; 3 Rins; 4 Marquez; 5 Vazquez; 6 Masbou; 7 Vinales; 8 Carrasco (superb ride from the young lady); 9 Oettl; 10 Oliveira.
Salom came home 14th.
Salom came home 14th.
By: Dan Cross, Matt Beer, Scott Mitchell
Published:
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