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MotoGP - Valencia: The other close points battle still running is for sixth in the championship.
Last year's Moto2 champion Pol Espargaro holds it right now on 126, but is only seven points ahead of team-mate Bradley Smith and nine clear of his big brother Aleix Espargaro.
Stefan Bradl and Andrea Iannone has a shot at that spot too, but need to win, and that's unlikely.
Last year's Moto2 champion Pol Espargaro holds it right now on 126, but is only seven points ahead of team-mate Bradley Smith and nine clear of his big brother Aleix Espargaro.
Stefan Bradl and Andrea Iannone has a shot at that spot too, but need to win, and that's unlikely.
MotoGP - Valencia: Ducati rounds off its hugely promising 2014 with another front row, courtesy of Andrea Iannone.
That was a great performance, and one of several rapid laps from the Italian.
His Pramac-liveried bike may now be a works Ducati in all but name, but that doesn't take anything away from how well the relatively inexperienced Italian is riding, especially as he is still in pain from the arm injury (sustained in a practice collision with Marquez) that ruled him out of the previous race at Sepang.
Cal Crutchlow, who makes way for Iannone after today, out qualified the other factory Ducati of Andrea Dovizioso in eighth.
That was a great performance, and one of several rapid laps from the Italian.
His Pramac-liveried bike may now be a works Ducati in all but name, but that doesn't take anything away from how well the relatively inexperienced Italian is riding, especially as he is still in pain from the arm injury (sustained in a practice collision with Marquez) that ruled him out of the previous race at Sepang.
Cal Crutchlow, who makes way for Iannone after today, out qualified the other factory Ducati of Andrea Dovizioso in eighth.
MotoGP - Valencia: Marquez was quickest in every session up to qualifying, but then crashed while going for pole. That left him kicking himself and apologising to Honda.
A win for Marquez today would be a record-breaking 13th of the year.
He's been very heavily emotionally-involved in little brother Alex's Moto3 title chase, unsurprisingly. Now that's done and dusted, are we going to see a more relaxed (and even faster) Marc this afternoon?
A win for Marquez today would be a record-breaking 13th of the year.
He's been very heavily emotionally-involved in little brother Alex's Moto3 title chase, unsurprisingly. Now that's done and dusted, are we going to see a more relaxed (and even faster) Marc this afternoon?
MotoGP - Valencia: The big battle remaining in the championship is between Rossi and Lorenzo for second.
Rossi is 12 points clear, so a top-five finish will do for him even if Lorenzo wins, as he has the advantage on countback thanks to his pair of victories this year.
And there was tension between them yesterday - Lorenzo disgruntled about Rossi taking a big tow from him on his best lap. Lorenzo admitted his own ideal lap was spoilt by a mistake at Turn 1.
Rossi is 12 points clear, so a top-five finish will do for him even if Lorenzo wins, as he has the advantage on countback thanks to his pair of victories this year.
And there was tension between them yesterday - Lorenzo disgruntled about Rossi taking a big tow from him on his best lap. Lorenzo admitted his own ideal lap was spoilt by a mistake at Turn 1.
Valentino Rossi
MotoGP - Valencia: Just under half an hour until the MotoGP start at Valencia, and looks who's on pole...
...it's Valentino Rossi, for the first time since Le Mans in May 2010, which was incidentally the race prior to his leg-breaking accident at Mugello.
Leading qualifiers:
1 Valentino Rossi
2 Andrea Iannone
3 Dani Pedrosa
4 Jorge Lorenzo
5 Marc Marquez
6 Pol Espargaro
7 Bradley Smith
8 Cal Crutchlow
9 Andrea Dovizioso
10 Stefan Bradl
Quote
Moto2 - Valencia: Rabat, who is still wearing a Spanish/chequered flag combination as a celebratory cape, suggests it was actually a shortage of fuel that caused that crucial final-corner stutter, rather than a mistake.
Moto2 - Valencia: Rabat cannot believe what he's done, and was hanging his head on the slowing-down lap.
He's picked up a celebratory flag anyway, but it's a rather more muted parade lap than the champion was expecting.
Luthi seemed more puzzled than delighted at first.
And Caterham says goodbye to motorcycle racing with a podium for Zarco.
Result:
1 Luthi
2 Rabat +0.133s
3 Zarco
4 Salom
5 Simeon
6 Aegerter
7 Lowes
8 Schrotter
9 West
10 Baldassarri
Right - MotoGP next!
He's picked up a celebratory flag anyway, but it's a rather more muted parade lap than the champion was expecting.
Luthi seemed more puzzled than delighted at first.
And Caterham says goodbye to motorcycle racing with a podium for Zarco.
Result:
1 Luthi
2 Rabat +0.133s
3 Zarco
4 Salom
5 Simeon
6 Aegerter
7 Lowes
8 Schrotter
9 West
10 Baldassarri
Right - MotoGP next!
Moto2 - Valencia: The replay suggests Rabat tried to do a celebratory wheelie out of the final corner, misjudged it and lost momentum, and Luthi breezed past him!
Checkered flag
Moto2 - Valencia: How did that happen?? Luthi snatches victory from Rabat by 0.133s on the line and Rabat has his head in his hands!
Did Rabat slow too soon?
Did Rabat slow too soon?
Moto2 - Valencia: Rabat is far enough ahead under braking at Turn 1 to stay in front as they begin the last lap.
But Luthi has a surprise in store and takes a dive at Turn 2 instead, only to run much too wide.
Rabat is back through and looking good for an eighth win of 2014.
But Luthi has a surprise in store and takes a dive at Turn 2 instead, only to run much too wide.
Rabat is back through and looking good for an eighth win of 2014.
Moto2 - Valencia: Zarco remains comfortable for third, but things are kicking off in fourth, where Xavier Simeon and Luis Salom have caught and passed Aegerter.
Good end to the season for Salom - he's been totally overshadowed by Pons team-mate Vinales this year after both moved up following their 2013 Moto3 title battle (won by Vinales).
Now Salom's going to be joined for 2015 by Alex Rins, another Moto3 class of 2013 veteran who knows that overshadowed feeling after watching Monlau team-mate Alex Marquez take this year's third-tier crown.
Good end to the season for Salom - he's been totally overshadowed by Pons team-mate Vinales this year after both moved up following their 2013 Moto3 title battle (won by Vinales).
Now Salom's going to be joined for 2015 by Alex Rins, another Moto3 class of 2013 veteran who knows that overshadowed feeling after watching Monlau team-mate Alex Marquez take this year's third-tier crown.
Moto2 - Valencia: Three laps left, and once again Luthi shoots past Turn 1 only to run a bit wide and let Rabat back through.
Luthi had a go on the outside of Turn 2 on the previous lap as well, but couldn't cut in tight enough to try anything on the exit.
Two and a half laps left.
Luthi had a go on the outside of Turn 2 on the previous lap as well, but couldn't cut in tight enough to try anything on the exit.
Two and a half laps left.
Moto2 - Valencia: Meanwhile a contrite Vinales has been down to apologise to Kallio for taking him out.
On the track, Luthi shoots past Rabat once again into Turn 1, runs a bit too wide, and Rabat is back through. Five laps left.
On the track, Luthi shoots past Rabat once again into Turn 1, runs a bit too wide, and Rabat is back through. Five laps left.
Moto2 - Valencia: Rabat continues to frustrate Luthi's every effort. Once again the Swiss rider slips past only for the Moto2 champion to muscle back ahead.
Moto2 - Valencia: Luthi forces a way into the lead down the inside of Turn 1, but Rabat replies with a re-pass into Turn 2.
Moto2 - Valencia: Just past half-distance, and Rabat cannot shake off Luthi, who is just a tenth of a second behind still.
Moto2 - Valencia: Zarco can't keep up with the leaders but has edged away from Aegerter, so it looks like Caterham's brief dalliance with grand prix motorcycle racing is going to end with a podium.
Again that's rather better than its F1 fortunes.
Again that's rather better than its F1 fortunes.
Moto2 - Valencia: Luthi continues to shadow Rabat.
Swiss 28-year-old Luthi is a bit of an intermediate category lifer. He was 125cc champion in 2005 and has been at 250cc/Moto2 level since '07.
He's finished in the top six in every Moto2 championship ever. A decent record that on his current form could probably go on forever.
He did have a sniff of MotoGP when his backer Interwetten was offered an entry in the early CRT era, but it didn't come to fruition so it was back to relentless Moto2 frontrunning.
Swiss 28-year-old Luthi is a bit of an intermediate category lifer. He was 125cc champion in 2005 and has been at 250cc/Moto2 level since '07.
He's finished in the top six in every Moto2 championship ever. A decent record that on his current form could probably go on forever.
He did have a sniff of MotoGP when his backer Interwetten was offered an entry in the early CRT era, but it didn't come to fruition so it was back to relentless Moto2 frontrunning.
Crash
Moto2 - Valencia: Front row starter Franco Morbidelli has crashed out by himself while in the podium battle with Zarco and Aegerter.
Shunt aside, it's not been a bad rookie season at all for Morbidelli, who came straight to Moto2 this year after winning an Italian Superstock title last year.
Shunt aside, it's not been a bad rookie season at all for Morbidelli, who came straight to Moto2 this year after winning an Italian Superstock title last year.
Moto2 - Valencia: Vinales is back into the pits and wisely giving up.
Luthi is very keen that Rabat doesn't end his title-winning season with another victory and is taking a lot of probes at the Marc VDS bike ahead.
Luthi is very keen that Rabat doesn't end his title-winning season with another victory and is taking a lot of probes at the Marc VDS bike ahead.
Moto2 - Valencia: Vinales is trying to rejoin the race, although his bike is looking a bit reluctant.
He only needs 29 retirements ahead to snatch second in the championship...
He wasn't even trying to pass Kallio in that crash, he was making a move on Aegerter and outbraked himself so dramatically he ran into the back of Kallio ahead.
He only needs 29 retirements ahead to snatch second in the championship...
He wasn't even trying to pass Kallio in that crash, he was making a move on Aegerter and outbraked himself so dramatically he ran into the back of Kallio ahead.
Moto2 - Valencia: Back in the race, Rabat is leading with Luthi right on his tail.
Zarco has re-established himself in third, chased by Morbidelli and Dominique Aegerter.
Zarco has re-established himself in third, chased by Morbidelli and Dominique Aegerter.
Crash
Moto2 - Valencia: Replays show Kallio was right to look cross with that. Vinales just stuffed into the back of him while trying a poor move.
That's an unimpressive way for Vinales's brilliant single Moto2 season to end. The 2013 Moto3 world champion is off to MotoGP with Suzuki now, starting with a test tomorrow.
That's an unimpressive way for Vinales's brilliant single Moto2 season to end. The 2013 Moto3 world champion is off to MotoGP with Suzuki now, starting with a test tomorrow.
Crash
Moto2 - Valencia: Those two were fighting for second in the world championship behind Rabat, with Kallio 15 points ahead.
Both are out, with Vinales trundling his Pons bike back into the pits and a furious Kallio stomping away in the gravel.
Both are out, with Vinales trundling his Pons bike back into the pits and a furious Kallio stomping away in the gravel.
Crash
Moto2 - Valencia: Kallio and Vinales have collided in the pack!
Lights out
Moto2 - Valencia: Rabat held the lead at the start without drama, while Tom Luthi moved into second.
Moto2 - Valencia: Moto2 is up next. Champion Tito Rabat has taken a record 11th pole of the season, but only by a narrow margin over Johann Zarco.
Zarco rides for the still-Tony-Fernandes-owned Caterham Moto2 team in what's going to be its last appearance before becoming a Sepang-branded Moto3 squad next year. It's a process that's proving somewhat tidier than Fernandes's exit from Formula 1.
Chance of some action today - Franco Morbidelli completes the front row, while 2015 Suzuki MotoGP signing and current Moto2 form man Maverick Vinales is only eighth, and Rabat's erstwhile title rival Mika Kallio is only ninth for his final start with Marc VDS. He'll make way for Alex Marquez next year.
Zarco rides for the still-Tony-Fernandes-owned Caterham Moto2 team in what's going to be its last appearance before becoming a Sepang-branded Moto3 squad next year. It's a process that's proving somewhat tidier than Fernandes's exit from Formula 1.
Chance of some action today - Franco Morbidelli completes the front row, while 2015 Suzuki MotoGP signing and current Moto2 form man Maverick Vinales is only eighth, and Rabat's erstwhile title rival Mika Kallio is only ninth for his final start with Marc VDS. He'll make way for Alex Marquez next year.
Twitter
Fernando Alonso has just congratulated compatriot Marquez on his Moto3 title in a tweet involving a lot of what we think are applauding hand symbols and muscles.
Trophy
Moto3 - Valencia: It's a grim-faced Miller on the top step of the podium as the Australian national anthem plays.
If anything Marc Marquez looks even more delighted than his little brother as he bounces around underneath the podium.
If anything Marc Marquez looks even more delighted than his little brother as he bounces around underneath the podium.
Moto3 - Valencia: By contrast, Miller's post-race interviews so far have been on the terse side. He's darkly referred to some of the incidents in that race, and the clash with Marquez at Aragon.
Moto3 - Valencia: After a lengthy celebration on track, with both friendly rivals and his fan club, Alex Marquez finally makes it back into parc ferme.
He's now got a celebratory team-mate, a big hat and a golden helmet on, and he leaps into the arms of his crew and big brother Marc.
He's now got a celebratory team-mate, a big hat and a golden helmet on, and he leaps into the arms of his crew and big brother Marc.
Checkered flag
Moto3 - Valencia - result:
1 Miller
2 Vinales
3 Marquez
4 Kent
5 Rins
6 Vazquez
7 Antonelli
8 Oliveira
9 Binder
10 Hanika
And if anyone's still following Fenati's lacklustre end to the season, he was 14th for VR46.
1 Miller
2 Vinales
3 Marquez
4 Kent
5 Rins
6 Vazquez
7 Antonelli
8 Oliveira
9 Binder
10 Hanika
And if anyone's still following Fenati's lacklustre end to the season, he was 14th for VR46.
Trophy
Moto3 - Valencia: That's the first time in grand prix motorcycle racing history that a pair of brothers have been champions in the same year.
Congratulations to the Marquez family.
Congratulations to the Marquez family.
Checkered flag
Moto3 - Valencia: Miller wins but third makes Alex Marquez the Moto3 world champion!
Moto3 - Valencia: A big moment for Kent gives Marquez just enough space to escape.
Moto3 - Valencia: Kent is right on Marquez's tail going into the final corners.
Moto3 - Valencia: Miller is back through on Vinales for the lead. The question now is if Kent can take third away from Marquez and deny him the title.
Moto3 - Valencia: Miller takes the lead as they begin the last lap, but loses it again at Turn 1.
Kent is within three tenths of Marquez for third.
Kent is within three tenths of Marquez for third.
Moto3 - Valencia: Miller is all over Vinales for the lead. Marquez is safe in third for now but Kent is gaining.
Moto3 - Valencia: Miller is furiously gaining on Vinales, getting the lead down to 0.1s.
Marquez has four tenths over Kent in third.
One and a half laps to go.
Marquez has four tenths over Kent in third.
One and a half laps to go.
By: AUTOSPORT staff
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