Here we are in this MotoGP final for a last race in Valencia which was to determine the World Champion of the year. As in 2013, Marc Marquez was playing his crown in a Grand Prix in Ricardo Tormo. But with 21 points ahead of a challenger who had to start ninth while being condemned to victory, the Honda official wore the clothes of the big favorite. Especially since he was in pole position. With, however, two furious people at his side who had nothing to lose and everything to gain...
Before launching into the fray, here are some things to think about…
| #ValenciaGP MotoGP™ | 2016 | 2017 |
| FP1 | 1'31.045 Jorge Lorenzo (See here) | 1'31.045 Andrea Iannone |
| FP2 | 1'30.463 Jorge Lorenzo (See here) | 1'30.640 Jorge Lorenzo |
| FP3 | 1'30.258 Marc Marquez (See here) | 1'30.255 Marc Marquez |
| FP4 | 1'30.906 Marc Marquez (See here) | 1'31.156 Marc Marquez |
| Qualification 1 | 1'30.544 Cal Crutchlow (See here) | 1'30.893 Pol Espargaro |
| Qualification 2 | 1'29.401 Jorge Lorenzo (See here) | 1'29.897 Marc Marquez |
| Warm Up | 1'31.095 Marc Marquez (See here) | 1'31.263 Marc Marquez |
| Course | Lorenzo, Marquez, Iannone (See here) | |
| All time lap record | 1'29.401 Jorge Lorenzo 2016 |
We also recalled that the MotoGP race had always been won by a rider who started from the front row in Valencia… Except in 2014 with a Marc Márquez who started from fifth place. Furthermore, the Valencia Grand Prix has been won nine times by a Spaniard in the premier category: Sete Gibernau (500cc – 2001), Dani Pedrosa (MotoGP – 2007, 2009, 2012), Jorge Lorenzo (MotoGP – 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016), and Marc Marquez (MotoGP – 2014).
Honda was the most successful manufacturer in the MotoGP era with eight 8 victories. Yamaha had won five times, so the last two editions with Jorge Lorenzo and this time counted on John Zarco to enhance his record. Ducati had two successes with Troy bayliss (2006) and Casey Stoner (2008). As for Suzuki, its best result on this circuit was third place in John Hopkins in 2007. Andrea Iannone Was he going to do better on a track heated to 24°?
The choice of tires leaned among the favorites towards a combination of hard front and soft rear, except for Pirro et zarco who favored two softs and the two official Yamahas who preferred a medium front associated with the soft posterior.
Enough to attack hard from a feared first corner for the Frenchman? The start given for 30 laps, we would quickly be fixed... And that's Marquez who took orders in front Pedrosa et zarco. Baptist didn't finish the first round. zarco then shoved Pedrosa to chase after Marquez. Dovizioso was sixth then fifth behind Lorenzo by settling the account of Iannone.
Rock fell at turn 2. And zarco put serious pressure on Marquez. The Frenchman took the lead on the fourth lap without Marquez does not offer the slightest resistance. Lorenzo, on the other hand, resisted Dovizioso for the gain of fourth position… Alex Espargaro fell just like Scott Redding.
The Frenchman hits the front! Zarco leads the #ValenciaGP!! 👊#FinalShowdown pic.twitter.com/yNgTHX07pq
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 12, 2017
After seven rounds, zarco led at full speed ahead Marquez, Pedrosa, Lorenzo, Dovi et Iannone. Miller was seventh in fight with Red. Vinales was… Fourteenth…
In the thirteenth round, Lorenzo was invited to use “Mapping 8”, which should result in a clear path for a Dovizioso insisting behind him. Two laps later, we were at the same point, suggesting a new lack of attention on the part of Por Fuera... To put it politely.
'Suggested Mapping 8'@ lorenzo99 receives a message on his dashboard 📡 #FinalShowdown#ValenciaGP pic.twitter.com/hYSng9grOt
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 12, 2017
Baptist fell for the second time and the positions remained frozen in the lead. Red did the job, finishing sixth. Vinales was thirteenth. With ten laps to go, it was clear that Lorenzo was slower than Dovizioso but he continued to hold him. At the signage, the Ducati message became clearer with an indication ordering him to leave his position to his teammate.
Still no movement between @ lorenzo99 and @AndreaDovizioso 👀
Ducati are making the message clear! #Valenciagp pic.twitter.com/aXkwovikwB
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 12, 2017
A debate closely followed by Marquez who perfectly controlled all these beautiful people by leaving zarco in front. With seven laps to go, he decided to take the lead but shot straight, narrowly avoiding a fall. More than lucky, he joined the track in fifth place.
DRAMA!!! Marquez runs on at turn one after a MASSSSSSIVE save! 😱
He joins in 5th! #FinalShowdown pic.twitter.com/nt4Lsy01UR
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 12, 2017
A moment of madness since Lorenzo also fell at turn 5. Dovizioso followed shortly after, sealing this 2017 championship in favor of the Honda official.
GAME OVER! @AndreaDovizioso is down! 😰
The Championship is all but over! #FinalShowdown! pic.twitter.com/eBUBHQEUkU
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 12, 2017
Up front, victory was decided between zarco et Pedrosa, Marquez pointing third ahead Kidneys et Red. The Frenchman resisted more and more to a Pedrosa who understood that he would have to force his nature to wrest success from the Tech3 pilot. However, he succeeded in his business and scored his second success of the year. Red is fifth, behind an excellent Kidneys...
🏁 #MotoGP RACE@ 26_DaniPedrosa wins from @JohannZarco1!@marcmarquez93 finishes third and his crowned the 2017 #MotoGP World Champion! 🏆#ValenciaGP pic.twitter.com/Od7ILjQOOq
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 12, 2017
#ValenciaGP MotoGP Race: Ranking
Marc Marquez is the 2017 #MotoGP World Champion! #BIG6 🏆 pic.twitter.com/SJHCl7GoLY
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 12, 2017
