News 10 Nov 2014

Marquez ends season in style with record 13th victory

World champion scores most victories in a single season.

Source: MotoGP.

Source: MotoGP.

The MotoGP race at Valencia saw Marc Marquez score a record 13th premier class win of the season, ahead of Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa. The result sees Rossi clinch the runner-up spot in the championship.

Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) set a new record for most victories in a single campaign in the top class, having equaled Mick Doohan’s total of 12 wins in 1997 last time out in Sepang.

The race saw light rain fall, with Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Iannone electing to move onto bikes set up for the wet on lap 20, a decision which would prove costly for both.

Crossing the line in second place Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) notched up the 13th rostrum result of a remarkable season for him too and the Italian also clinches second in this year’s championship. Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) was third in the Valencia contest, registering his 10th podium result of 2014.

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) beat Cal Crutchlow (Ducati Team) to the line for fourth place by just 0.068s in their final race together as teammates.

Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech3) was sixth in the race to confirm sixth in the championship in an excellent rookie season. Aleix Espargaro (NGM Forward Racing) crossed the line 0.284s behind his brother in seventh, giving him seventh place overall in the standings.

Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda MotoGP), wild card Michele Pirro (Ducati Team) and Scott Redding (GO&FUN Honda Gresini) completed the top 10.

On lap 11 Marquez had taken the initiative and took the lead from pole man Rossi and early race leader Iannone (Pramac Racing). At the half way stage Iannone made a mistake and ran through the gravel trap dropping back from the front group, having set the early pace.

On lap 20 Lorenzo and Iannone took the decision to swap bikes as light rain fell. Lorenzo then pulled into the pits on lap 26 having worn down wet tyres on a track which remained relatively dry, whilst Iannone ended up 22nd.

Yonny Hernandez (Energy T.I. Pramac Racing) was forced to retire during the early stages with a technical problem. Suzuki’s MotoGP return also ended with Randy De Puniet (Team Suzuki MotoGP) in the pits.

Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) suffered a small crash, but was able to remount and recover to 14th.

Paul Bird Motorsports’ Broc Parkes completed his MotoGP career at Valencia following one season, finishing 20th and concluding the season in 23rd.

2014 MotoGP World Championship
Round 18 – Valencia, Spain

MotoGP race results:
1. Marc MARQUEZ
2. Valentino ROSSI +3.516s
3. Dani PEDROSA +14.040s
4. Andrea DOVIZIOSO +16.705s
5. Cal CRUTCHLOW +16.773s
6. Pol ESPARGARO +37.884s
7. Aleix ESPARGARO +38.168s
8. Stefan BRADL +41.803s
9. Michele PIRRO +45.710s
10. Scott REDDING +51.191s
11. Hector BARBERA +56.512s
12. Danilo PETRUCCI +57.000s
13. Nicky HAYDEN +57.262s
14. Bradley SMITH +57.517s
15. Hiroshi AOYAMA +58.775s
16. Alvaro BAUTISTA +58.864s
17. Karel ABRAHAM +1m02.389s
18. Alex DE ANGELIS +1m15.795s
19. Michael LAVERTY +1m26.309s
20. Broc PARKES (AUS) +1m37.212s

MotoGP championship standings:
1. Marc MARQUEZ 362
2. Valentino ROSSI 295
3. Jorge LORENZO 263
4. Dani PEDROSA 246
5. Andrea DOVIZIOSO 187
6. Pol ESPARGARO 136
7. Aleix ESPARGARO 126
8. Bradley SMITH 121
9. Stefan BRADL 117
10. Andrea IANNONE 102
11. Alvaro BAUTISTA 89
12. Scott REDDING 81
13. Cal CRUTCHLOW 74
14. Hiroshi AOYAMA 68
15. Yonny HERNANDEZ 53
16. Nicky HAYDEN 47
17. Karel ABRAHAM 33
18. Hector BARBERA 26
19. Michele PIRRO 18
20. Danilo PETRUCCI 17
23. Broc PARKES (AUS) 9

Click here for detailed results

Recent