Closing the season with Valencia in our sight!

We’re coming to the end of the season, with only Valencia in our sight!

MotoGP

We already know the World Champion in premier class. Marc Marquez broke uncountable records this year and deserved the title. The Spaniard is only 21 years old but can already give his rivals Goosebumps when they hear the Honda hunting their tracks!

Marquez wins his 2nd World Title in
premier class after driving a dynamic and
excited season!

I think we all agree that this was a fantastic season for Valentino Rossi. With his two wins and many steps on the podium,  the Italian obviously made clear that on skill, talent and style, there is no age limit. He is without any doubt the most constant rider of the group.

Rossi has no age, no limits on his skill,
talent and style. The Doctor was fantastic, just fantastic.
Up to next year!

Dani Pedrosa was the one who broke the Victory Series of his team mate Marquez. Dani had an incredible good season but how more the end came near, bad luck overcame the Spaniard and he crashed a lot. But he was always up for a fight. This Spanish bull can surprise you every season, again and again. Dani, don’t worry: There is always next year, right?

Pedrosa, ruler of Brno, showed us this year he
still fights for that title!

Every time, this man pushes the limits of his bike further and further. The loyal Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo managed to take first place two times and we always found him standing on the podium and make his fans proud. Eager for a victory, he can make the entire stand hold their breath and scream their longs out when he entered a fight. He still haves to liquidate a fight with team mate Valentino Rossi, for second stand in the World Championship!

The Black Mamba was found in every battle. This man
had enough with 7th pace on the grid to win the spectacular
Grand Prix in Aragon!

And then we have THE outsider of the season: Andrea Dovizioso. This is the man of not only the qualifications, but also one of the few men who was able to get very close to the four tenors and fighted for any position of proud. He gave Ducati all the honour it deserves! Maybe not a lot of podiums, but definitely a lot of respect!

With his uncountable paces in first row,
Ducati has a rider to be proud of!

And further…

We also know the World Champ of Moto2. Tito Rabat claimed the title by driving a fantastic and spectacular year. But for Moto3, the Gr  and Prix at Valencia will be the key to that World Title. The fight between leader Alex Marquez and Jack Miller is still going on and it will be very close. Miller lies 11 points behind Marquez.

Rabat was fantastic and he gave us an excited and wonderful
Moto2 season

Since the beginning, this man hunted the title.
Motorcycling is definitely in the blood of a Marquez!

So, will Marc Marquez claim his 13^th and create a new record or will Yamaha take its 5^th win of the season. Will Valencia be a race track perfect for outsiders like Dovizioso and Iannone. And the biggest question of all: 

Who will win the huge Moto3 battle?

#MillerVsMarquez

Fighting for the Title, this man showed so much talent that they
decided that Jack can show his skills in premier class!

The four tenors compete for the win!

Qualifications

GP in Sepang, Malaysia

They went very good for the Repsol Honda team mates Marc Marquez, in pole position, and Dani Pedrosa, 2^nd pace on the grid. It was the Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha) who filled in the first row. The second row started with Stefan Bradl (LRC Honda MotoGP) ,continued with Andrea Dovizioso ( Ducati Team) and ended with Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha). It seemed this was going to be a Honda race.

And not to forget, Andrea Iannone did NOT started today. He turned back home to Italy.

Race Day

Pedrosa crashed while only drove
one lap.

With a temperature of 38 degrees, the riders turned open their gas and drove into the 20 laps during race and it was Pedrosa who took the hole shot! World champion Marquez and Lorenzo had a small touch and so they missed the start a bit. 

But already in the first lap, Pedrosa crashed while taking turn 15. Lorenzo, who came back from behind very quick, took over the leadership.

Rossi holds his second position in
Championship

But his rival and team mate Valentino Rossi was hunting the Spaniard as he wanted to hold his second place in the World Championship. The Italian was able to push his bike over Lorenzo and drove first.

When this was happening, Marquez came back to the front, behind Rossi, after taking his corners really precisely and driving the fastest lap. Lorenzo began to lose ground and the gap grew to more than 3 seconds between him and Marquez, who headed to the front and over took Rossi.

When there were only a few laps left, Marquez had built a sufficient gap to be sure of his place.

He came across the line like a true winner and claimed his 12^th of the season!

Rossi became 2^nd, after driving a fantastic race and he holded his second stand in the Championship. Lorenzo managed to take the 3th step on the podium.

Marquez claimes 12th victory of the season!

Pedrosa, who crashed in the beginning, took a second chance but crashed again and left the track. Also Aleix Espargaro crashed while touching Bautista.

Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso had to deal with mechanical problems.

With his 12 victories, Marc Marquez is now equalling Mick Doohan’s record of most premier class victories in a single season.

More than 80,000 people could enjoy this magnificent and spectacular Grand Prix in Sepang!

The Baby Alien did it again!

The Doctor did it again!

Qualifications

Phillip Island, Australia.

It was Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)  who took his 12^th pole position of the season (1’28.408). The Spaniard was followed by Ducati rider Cal Crutchlow, who surprised friend and enemy with 2^nd pace on the grid. Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP)  completed the first row with 0.008s behind the Ducati. The second best Brit, Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3), managed to take 4^th place and he was followed by Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team), 0.19s behind the Marquez. Aleix Espargaro (NGM Forward Racing) filled in the second row.

The man we missed in the Q2, Valentino Rossi, had to start from 8^th position.

The red lights went out and the gas turned open! The riders stormed to that first corner but it was Lorenzo who took the hole shot and took the lead. World Champion or not, Marquez, as we know, feels the best in the front and took without any problems position number one.

Behind him, it turned out to be a stretched fight between two Yamaha riders Lorenzo and Rossi. They lost sight of Marquez. Behind them, Crutchlow finally managed to lose the brothers Espargaro, Smith and Bradl and headed to the front. There was a crash from Iannone by touching Pedrosa and he damaged the Honda so Pedrosa had no choice but to leave the track.

Marquez crashed while there were still 10 laps to go.

In the meantime, Crutchlow had a four seconds gap behind him and five seconds between him and the still fighting Yamaha’s but it was Valentino Rossi who won the team battle and with Lorenzo breath in his neck, he looked for Marquez.

But Marquez crashed in the straight line of the turn and slided with his belly over the grid. The bike was incapable to move on so Marquez felt out of the race. 

Crutchlow crashed in the last lap,
Lorenzo had mechanical problems.
Both riders did very well!

Rossi had now first position and there was a mechanical problem for Lorenzo, who lost seconds on his rival and team mate. And another crash! Bradl crashed while he tried to overtake Aleix Espargaro and also he damaged the bike of his rival. Espargaro out as well. Crutchlow had over took Lorenzo but he crashed in the final lap so Lorenzo was back in second position! 

Rossi never saw any of that because he won the Grand Prix at Australia and his second victory of the season! He has now the second place in the World Championship! Second man: Jorge Lorenzo. Bradley Smith, who drove a good race, came across the line as third best rider.

Lorenzo admitted that this was his luckiest second place ever (because of his mechanical problems and the many crashes). Smith is very happy with his 3^rd place and thanked his team for always believing in him.

And again we could hear the Italian anthem! The Doctor did it again!

Riders who left the race:

-          Karel Abraham (crashed first lap)

-          Andrea Iannone (crashed while overtaking)

-          Dani Pedrosa (damaged bike by Iannone)

-          Marc Marquez (crashed while driving 1^st place)

-          Parkel

-          Aleix Espargaro (damaged bike by Bradl)

-          Stefan Bradl (same like Iannone)

-          Cal Crutchlow (crashed final lap)

World Championship top five

-          Marc Marquez (World Champion)    312p

-          Valentino Rossi                                255p

-          Jorge Lorenzo                                  247p

-          Dani Pedrosa                                   230p

-      Andrea Dovizioso                            166p

Grand Prix at Motegi, Japan.

The man of the qualifications: Andrea Dovizioso. Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi drove the second best lap time while Dani Pedrosa completed the first row. His team mate Marc Marquez started fourth from the grid. Lorenzo was qualified fifth, right between Marquez and Iannone.

The red light went out and the 24 laps during race had begon. It was Rossi who took the hole shot. There was already a crash from Carl Crutchlow who putted too much power in the turn.
Lorenzo made clear to Rossi that he wouldn't claime a victory without a fight.
In the mean time, with the chance for that second world title in the back of his head, Marquez striked back and over took Iannone. It didn't go eassily, but also Rossi had to give his second position to the Spanish bull. But the gap between Lorenzo and Marquez had grown to more than 1 second.
And than Dani Pedrosa came up, who was finnaly able to let Iannone far behind him.
The stress rised and Marquez knew that he must hold on his second position and stay in front of Rossi to claime his second world title of MotoGP. And he did! Two victories had celebrated in Japan: Lorenzo his wonderful Grand Prix victory, his second in a row and of course... Marc Marquez became MotoGP's youngest rider who putted 2 world titles on his name and four in a row in his career!
Greeted by the Samourai, Marc thanked his fans and went crazy because of the big happiness.
An young, supported, motivated and dynamic talent is what MotoGP needs... and they found someone!

Tricky track in Aragon

Aragon is definitely a race track we won’t forget very easily.

Pedrosa in the qualifications

The qualifications were a disaster for Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. Rossi just made it to the 2^nd row, Lorenzo ended up on the 3^rd. Marc Marquez took his pole position and team mate Dani Pedrosa managed to take second place on the grid. Andrea Iannone was the rider who completed the 1^st row. The man we misted in the front, Andrea Dovizioso, had a crash and was qualified 10^th. There was small hope it would be a dry race.

Rossi crashed. Rider OK.

Crash Marquez and reason of 13th place

The race started with Pedrosa taking the hole shot.  The Spaniard already showed his style in Aragon, earlier in the Warm Up. Iannone came up and took over the leadership but crashed. Eventually in the front, we found Marquez, Lorenzo, Pedrosa and Rossi. Lorenzo was not pleased behind Marquez so he took his chances. As we all know the number 93, it turned out to be a true fight between the two Spanish bulls. When all of this was happening, in the back, Rossi crashed badly when he tried to overtake Pedrosa in the outside of the corner! (rider OK. He was taking to the hospital for a head scan but no problems). Three Spaniards left. Eager to win, Pedrosa challenged Marquez and that was the begin of a fight which turned out to be ended with a crash. Pedrosa was okay and took, as soon as possible, a new bike (who were already set because the white flag warned the teams that the race was transformed into a wet hell). And not much later Marc Marquez, who refused to take a new bike, crashed while taking the turn. Also he was forced to change bikes. And when there were only 5 laps to go, also Dovizioso made contact with the Spanish grid. Lorenzo, who acted very smart by taking a different bike in the first place, already smelled his victory and took it with both hands! The first victory of the season of the Black Mamba! Crutchlow wanted that second place on the podium but it was Aleix Espargaro who crossed the line as second rider. It’s Espargaro his first MotoGP podium place ever. Marquez 13^th and Pedrosa 14^th.

Last second of the race fight between
Crutchlow and A. Espargaro.

the fight between the three Spanish bulls.

The Spanish fans could enjoy an extremely excited and breathtaking race and they will remember this day for a very long time. For the 800^th Grand Prix, this was a really special broadcast!

Action!

The Aragón adventure has started today and riders have explored the race track. For a lot of MotoGP riders, this is a home race and they were numerously encouraged by their local fans. The Ducati of Andrea Dovizioso was evidently in very good condition. Home racers Dani Pedrosa and Marc 

Marquez did 2^nd well on the track and are now discussing which type of tires they will use to show the best of themselves. All eyes are now focused on former winner Valentino who wants to build on the Misano win, two weeks ago. In the FP’s the Yamaha team wasn’t really outstanding, but again, this is just free practice.

Aragón also welcomed Moto3 rider Jack Miller for who was planned to come to MotoGP next season. Miller wants to take the challenge but knows it won’t be easy to keep up with the big guys.

Tomorrow, while the fans are flocking to the stands, these champions will push the limits of their bike and will fight for that Spanish Pole Position and then… Race Day! Remember, Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi are, for now, the only two riders who were able to win from Marc Marquez. Will Honda be on top again or is Yamaha strengthened by the victory of The Doctor? Will Ducati agree with 4^th position or will they  crack the other ones off the track?

Merel Reyntjens

He came, saw and won!

Since FP 1, it became clear it wasn’t a Marquez circuit. Because of the weather conditions he didn’t got the chance to really explore the track. It was Valentino Rossi who had the best training results. And no 11^th pole position for Marquez. It was Lorenzo who drove the best lap. 2^nd Iannone, 3^rd Rossi. The two Honda riders took their place in second row, together with Dovizioso.

Then, Sunday afternoon, 21 riders were waiting behind the white lines… waiting for the red light to go out!

With tight nerves they turned open the gas and it was Lorenzo who took the whole shot again! Closely followed by Rossi, the Spaniard was the first who drove into 28 laps of danger, excitement and honour. 2^nd row or not, Marquez already over took three riders and he started hunting the two Yamaha’s. From the moment Marc saw a chance to take over Rossi, he took it with both his hands but Rossi was prepared and pushed the Yamaha to the front, with the Honda on his heels AND AGAIN, Marquez passed Rossi, but the Italian and his clearly improved bike are a too good team, here in San Marino, the circuit of Marco Simoncelli and home race for Rossi! Lorenzo, who wasn’t fully aware of the fight behind him, was, by Rossi, chased into second place. Marquez must have thought of a new victim and took his chance and (after a small conflict with a reluctant Lorenzo) with success!

But we shouldn’t forget the group riders behind them. After like five laps of searching a gangway, Pedrosa finally discovered one and passed with a little aggression Dovizioso and Iannone.

But to go back to the front of the race. Marquez committed another attempt and putted his bike all on his side and crashed. Not very badly but the problem was to get the Honda back in the race, because he refused to start. He eventually came back on track as 20^th and last rider and drove like a mad after the still attainable points.

Between Rossi and Lorenzo, there was an almost three seconds gap and Pedrosa had to deal, during the whole race, only with the problem called Dovizioso. It looked like The Doctor already smelled his victory after 15 laps. Take a look in the Yamaha box and you can see the excitement and joy on their faces.  There was still a battle going on between Pedrosa and Dovizioso. Dovi was sticked to Dani.

And finally, after 12 races of a victory desire, Valentino Rossi, The Doctor of MotoGP AND Italy, won the race at the Misano World circuit of Marco Simoncelli! Lorenzo finished 2^nd, Pedrosa 3^rd.  Marquez ended up 15^th and managed to win 1 point.

I can still hear the screaming crowd: Vale Vale Vale!

What a weekend!