Weekend review and results round-up
The late Marco Simoncelli was at the forefront of everyone's minds as MotoGP reconvened for a sombre Valencia finale
But the race delivered a perfect tribute, for in slippery conditions in which Simoncelli would surely have been a major factor, world champion Casey Stoner took "more risks in half a lap than all season" to beat Ben Spies to victory by just 0.015 seconds. The earlier Moto2 race also delivered a poignant result, with Michele Pirro winning for Simoncelli's Gresini team.
The major stories in car racing came from NASCAR, as Kyle Busch got himself suspended from the Texas event for a deliberate collision under caution in the Truck race, and Tony Stewart trimmed Carl Edwards' lead to just three points by winning the main event.
Rob Huff looked set to make similar gains on Yvan Muller in the World Touring Car title chase after qualifying at Tianma, but the race wins went to the other two Chevrolets of Alain Menu and Muller, giving the Frenchman a 20-point cushion heading to the Macau decider.
Two championships were decided this weekend. While newcomers Yelmer Buurman and Francesco Pastorelli took a shock double win in their Corvette, JRM Nissan's Lucas Luhr and Michael Krumm became World GT1 champions on Saturday at San Luis, then got caught up in a massive startline shunt on Sunday.
Cyprus Rally victory allowed Andreas Mikkelsen to come out on top of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge's five-way title shoot-out, as reigning champion Juho Hanninen made a surprise early exit. Bad luck stopped Thierry Neuville fighting Mikkelsen for the win and championship all the way to the finish, but a win in Sunday's non-championship Golden Stage event was a little consolation.
The motorsport action
MotoGP: Stoner pips Spies in ultra-close race
Moto2: Pirro gives Gresini Moto2 victory
125cc: Terol takes title, Vinales wins race
NASCAR: Stewart beats Edwards to Texas victory
WTCC: Menu resists Turkington in race one
WTCC: Muller stretches lead with race two win
World GT1: Luhr and Krumm claim GT1 title
World GT1: Exim's rookie duo win again in GT1
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