Valencia, Spain: MotoGP Post-Race Report
Valencia is complete and the riders are celebrating after a busy 2016 season of competitive racing. Movistar Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo was victorious after sky rocketing to the front of the pack and riding his Yamaha with absolute precision and passion. It was the perfect send off and gift that he could have achieved in saying goodbye to the blue bike and manufacturer that has watched him grow into an incredible Champion over nine years. Lorenzo was very emotional as he crossed the finish line and celebrated with the team he called home for such a long time throughout his career. It was a picture perfect race by the Spanish Spartan who maintained focus and composure even when pushed at the last minute by Marc Marquez directly behind him in second position. If there had been two more laps in the race, Marc would have been sniffing at the back of the Yamaha for a battle like no other. It was lucky for Jorge that he managed race pace and the tyres to the best of his ability and finished on the top step. What a way to say adios!
In our opinion ride of the day goes to Andrea Iannone who battled lap after lap with Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez to finish third. Andrea literally put everything on the line and pushed through the pain of his injuries to secure a podium spot and to go out with a smile as he departs from the Ducati manufacturer. Iannone’s MotoGP seat is being taken over by Jorge Lorenzo, who is aiming to do what Valentino Rossi couldn’t. Andrea will cross the seas and join the light blue manufacturer of Suzuki! We are confident that if he can crack the Ducati, he should be fine at Suzuki and allow himself to perform at a very high level. The Suzuki bike was originally built for Maverick Vinales so there is a lot of work to be done to change the set up although Iannone’s attitude to adjusting is stellar and on track. Iannone really made sure that Valentino Rossi was pushed to the edge of the track and this literally took place as the Doctor was seen riding over the ripple strips towards the end of the race. Any rider that has the ability to focus on the result and not the pain is an asset as it takes courage to keep racing at speed with risk.
If there was anyone milking and making the most of the celebrations it was the legendary Marc Marquez who finished in second after a poor start. Marc had an issue with his clutch at the start and this forced him to ride a recovery race. He did exactly that and put in lap times that were super quick even when his bike was sliding out! It was the first time Marquez has been able to celebrate winning the World Championship in true style. He went ballistic with burnouts, cheering and getting up closer and personal with his fan club. It was a beautiful sight and another reminder on how strong this young Champion is on and off the track.
Unfortunately, it was a tough ride for Valentino Rossi who finished fourth and off the podium. Rossi was not the happiest Doctor in the surgery today at all as he worked hard to stay with the front-runners and hold them off. Iannone made the move that got the job done and put Vale behind him. If there is anything that Rossi learned it is consistency and making less mistakes. 2016 was a season where he made more mistakes than usual and this was very costly in his dream for a tenth title. 2017 will be an eye-opening season and Rossi may just have another tight battle with numerous riders. On Tuesday and Wednesday we will see testing get underway with new bikes and riders debuting. The challenges are real and the expectations high as the riders test themselves mentally and physically. As the testing sessions conclude we will have another report for you. In the meantime, enjoy the adventures of the 2016 season in review.
