In many ways, the 2006 edition of the Valencia Grand Prix (last round of the championship) can be considered as one of the most surprising races of the modern era.
Arriving at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, in Valencia, the championship is on the line. The year was strange to say the least. Valentino Rossi, holder of the world crown since 2001, is in difficulty. The latter had a year plagued by problems, as well as bad luck. Between injuries and technical problems of all kinds, he has never been able to get ahead in the championship, and his checkered statistics testify to this: five victories, five podiums but many retirements and poor performances.
Nicky Hayden, his rival for the title displays good consistency (seven podiums), but “only” two victories. Having difficulty achieving and winning does not bode well against “The Doctor”, a monster in this area.
During the penultimate round in Portugal, everything turned around: Hayden is mowed down at the worst possible moment by his own teammate Dani Pedrosa in a maneuver that remains famous. The first retirement of the season for the American did not come at the right time. Valentino finished a hair (two thousandths) behind Toni Elías, in a finish also inscribed in the pantheon.
Everything is on the line for Valencia. During the last race, the stakes were no longer the same. The pressure is different. It's either we win or we go home. The Italian arrives on Spanish soil with a small lead of eight points.
During qualifying, the mass seems to have been said. Rossi takes pole position, and reminds us that we must not bury it so easily. He only needs a second place finish to win the title, and that seems within reach for the seven-time world champion. Nicky Hayden doesn't reassure anyone: he only starts fifth on the grid even though he needs an XXL performance.
But against all expectations, when the lights went out, Valentino Rossi completely missed the start. He immediately fell to seventh place, failing to clash with Dani Pedrosa. Saturday's efforts were lost. We have to start again. By pushing to the maximum, Rossi commits the irreparable on the fifth lap. The latter loses the front in the second turn, all alone.
A mistake that costs a title. Nicky Hayden only has to ensure to take the world crown, and does not have to finish first. Besides, who was first? Capirossi? Pedrosa? Not even …
It was neither more nor less than Troy Bayliss, then replacing Sete Gibernau. the Australian is one of the virtuosos of our sport. Endowed with extraordinary natural speed, he created a hole in Superbike, establishing himself as one of the strongest men in the category at the start of the 2000s. WSBK world champion in 2001, he decided to take the step towards MotoGP in 2003.
But the “baylisstic” struggles to get the best out of a difficult Ducati Desmosedici GP3. That said, he managed to score three podiums. Switched to Honda, he still struggles just as much with machines that don’t suit him. Between injuries and poor results, he decided to return to Superbike for 2006.
He will be absolutely untouchable this year. Troy completely dominates the WSBK category. Winner of the championship for the second time, he was called up by the Marlboro Ducati MotoGP team for a replacement. Sete Gibernau is reduced from his multiple injuries, and the baylisstic missile responds.
From qualifying, something is wrong. The Australian, who has not driven a Grand Prix machine for a year, qualified second ahead of his teammate Loris Capirossi. He's causing a sensation. Once the race starts, he is unstoppable. In true Bayliss style, he won this Grand Prix hands down, beating “Capirex” by more than a second. The feat is crazy and has not yet been repeated since.
Few sports can offer so many emotions in the same weekend. A winning wildcard driver, and a completely crazy final outcome, seeing the “Kentucky Kid” crowned, in tears and congratulated by Rossi. These legendary images are only offered to us by the greatest circuits, and it is certain that no one will forget these games on the Valencian track.
