The last Grand Prix of the season, on 11 November, at the Spanish circuit in Valencia, was by no means a long peaceful river! To begin with, the start took place on a track drying after rain, which meant that riders who had chosen to leave with dry tyres enjoyed a certain advantage. The race also saw a dramatic turn of events, in the 17th lap, with the violent fall, fortunately harmless for him, of title holder Jorge Lorenzo. The win then went to a sovereign Pedrosa — for the seventh time of the season as against six times for Lorenzo — ahead of Nagasuka (the Motul rider in the Japanese Superbike Championship!) who, replacing Ben Spies, confirmed his talent on a factory Yamaha. The podium was completed by Casey Stoner who was retiring from MotoGP tracks.
Meanwhile, at Yamaha Tech3, partnered technically by Motul, things started well for Cal Crutchlow who, having left with slicks, rapidly took 2nd before falling seven laps from the arrival. Dovizioso had a race with mixed fortunes: after being forced to stop to fit slicks, he stalled and lost ten seconds but then moved rapidly forward finishing 6th this last Grand Prix with Tech3. He nevertheless clinched a solid 4th place in the championship, making Tech3 the best private team of the season. Next year, it will again enter Cal Crutchlow, who has gained precious experience this year and who will be joined by Bradley Smith, also a British rider, who finished this year 9th in the Moto2 Championship.
The 2012 season had a wonderful curtain fall at the prize handing ceremony on Sunday evening at the Valencia Oceanographic. We'll now have to wait till 8 April to attend the first event of the 2013 season, in Qatar.
Standings
01// Jorge Lorenzo - Yamaha - 350 pts
02// Dani Pedrosa - Honda - 332 pts
03// Casey Stoner - Honda - 254 pts
04// Andrea Dovizioso - Yamaha Tech3 - 218 pts - Motul
07// Cal Crutchlow - Yamaha Tech3 - 151 pts - Motul
Photo credits: Stan Perec
