MotoGP bids farewell to Lorenzo, Marquez wins Valencia GP

There was a familiar winning feeling for Marc Marquez as won the Valencia Grand Prix but Jorge Lorenzo's final MotoGP race ended with a whimper.

This was Marc Marquez's 12th win of the season from 19 races.

Marc Marquez rounded out a memorable season with a dominant victory at the Valencia Grand Prix as fellow home favourite Jorge Lorenzo's final race ended with a disappointing 13th-place finish.

Having already sealed a sixth MotoGP world championship, Marquez's 12th win from 19 races in the last round of the season also ensured the teams' trophy for Repsol Honda.

Fabio Quartararo started on pole but after being passed by Marquez was unable to keep pace with the brilliant champion and crossed the line second ahead of Jack Miller.

Marquez's team-mate and three-time MotoGP champion Lorenzo announced his retirement earlier in the week and the 32-year-old, having qualified 16th, was unable to make significant headway on a cold and windy day in Spain.

Quartararo quickly regained the lead out of the second corner having seen Miller make a flying start off the line, as Marquez began slowly.

The world champion wasted little time slaloming his way back through the pack, though, and by the end of the end of lap two was second and in pursuit of Quartararo.

It must have felt like deja vu for the Frenchman, who has been denied a win in his rookie season on a couple of occasions by Marquez, and there was an air of inevitability when the brilliant Spaniard stole ahead.

The party is already well underway! @marcmarquez93 and @HRC_MotoGP proved the ultimate dream team in 2019!#ValenciaGPpic.twitter.com/vF9eTGQxBv

— MotoGP™(@MotoGP) November 17, 2019

 

With 20 laps to go, Marquez sent his Repsol Honda down the inside from way back at Turn 11 and quickly set about opening up an unassailable gap.

Further down the pack, Johann Zarco was taken away from the side of the track on a stretcher after a hugely unfortunate incident.

Danilo Petrucci, Zarco and Iker Lecuona all came off their bikes independently at Turn 6, but the latter's bike wiped out an unaware Zarco leaving him clearly winded, with television images later showing the Frenchman back in the garage with no apparent major damage.

The rest of the race passed by without major incident as Marquez coasted to an astonishing 18th top-two finish of another memorable campaign, surpassing 400 points in the process.

Five-time world champion

Legend

Best wishes from everyone at F1 to @lorenzo99 ahead of your farewell race

And good luck to everyone for the 2019 @MotoGP finale#ThankYouJorgepic.twitter.com/zk1xMFwHP6

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 17, 2019

 

TOP 10

1. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda)
2. Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha) +1.026s
3. Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) +2.409s
4. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) + 3.326s
5. Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) + 3.508s
6. Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha) + 8.829s
7. Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar) +10.622s
8. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) +22.992s
9. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) +32.704s
10. Pol Espargaro (KTM) +32.973.

TITLE STANDINGS

Riders

1. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) 420
2. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) 269 (-151)
3. Maverick Vinales (Yamaha) 211 (-209)
4. Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) 205 (-215)
5. Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha) 192 (-228)

Teams

1. Repsol Honda 458
2. Ducati 445 (-13)
3. Monster Energy Yamaha 385 (-73)
4. Petronas Yamaha 307 (-151)
5. Suzuki Ecstar 301 (-157)