Lorenzo wins season-ending Valencia GP, secures MotoGP title

Judging by the on-board camera footage taken from Marc Marquez’s Honda, the former world champion was far from pleased after todays race. Rossi’s outlook will improve if Lorenzo falls down the grid order: if Lorenzo is third, Rossi can be sixth. By lap three he was ninth. Rossi weaved through the field to get up to fourth place with 18 laps to go but was never able to catch the leading trio. His only chance was if something happened to the riders ahead of him.

For a while, that help appeared to be on its way.

The Majorcan feels his third championship in motorcycling’s elite class holds extra significance, pointing out that he has also been crowned champion when competing against Casey Stoner – a feather he says is missing from Marquez’s cap. He can also guarantee the title by finishing directly behind the Spaniard regardless of their positions.

The newly crowned champion said he became aware of the two Hondas in the closing stages.

“It’s such a relaxing and enjoyable moment. We’ve been very strong and I hope that we can continue that this winter and next year”.

“I know that I have to start last but it doesn’t change the attitude”.

Rossi argued that Honda was either in cohorts with Lorenzo or should find Marquez’s performance unacceptable.

Spanish media have compared Rossi’s actions to those of Italian defender Mauro Tassotti who elbowed Spain’s Luis Enrique in the face in an infamous incident in the quarter-finals of the 1994 soccer World Cup.

“My dream was to fight for the championship in a clean way”, added Rossi. Until then, we’re going to grab a few popcorn and enjoy the inevitable back-and-forthing between fans of Rossi, Lorenzo and Marquez.

He might not be as popular a figure as Valentino Rossi, but nobody can deny that after a hard-fought season the Spaniard deserved to win this championship.

The Italian claimed the race had vindicated his previous statements about Marquez. LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow was forced to start from the back of the grid after experiencing issues with his bike before the race started.

With Marquez and Pedrosa completing the podium, Rossi crossed the line 19 seconds behind Lorenzo in fourth, and despite a simply astounding ride, Rossi will have to wait to lift that elusive tenth title.

Marquez, meanwhile, insisted he had given his all.

“For the first 20 laps it was really tricky to follow him but I was only one second behind him”.

I was crying during the whole lap of honour for the emotion of how hard this title was to win.