THE most tense MotoGP title in history has finished with Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) taking vistory and the premier-class title in the last race at Valencia, Spain.
“A lot of pressure, the back tyre was destroyed. Sliding around so much, I just tried to keep my concentration. I am very proud”, said Lorenzo after the race.
Lorenzo had trailed Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) for the entire season, only pulling ahead when Rossi could do no better than fourth in the final race of the season after starting from the back of the grid.
Rossi started the race with a seven point lead in the championship but was forced to start from the back of the grid due to being penalised after an incident with Marc Marquez at the previous round.
Starting from pole, Lorenzo actually led the final race of the season from start to finish, but in the dying laps of a very long championship he had to hold off Marquez, who had shadowed him all race, and Dani Pedrosa, who had bridged a big gap to briefly grab second before Marquez faught back.
For Lorenzo, finishing first or second – with Rossi in a lonely fourth – would have been good enough to take the title. However, finishing third would have seen the crown go to Rossi – as would any of the top three failing to finish.
Rossi had charged through the pack but the top three had gotten away at the front by the time he was at the pointy end of the field.
Australians Anthony West, Jack Miller and Broc Parkes finished second last, last and Parkes did not finish.
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