Stoner completes 2011 MotoGP season with thrilling win
Ahead of the day's races, all riders, team members and MotoGP officials gathered on the Valencia start-finish straight to pay tribute to Simoncelli. A huge banner with the 24-year-old Italian's image was unveiled, followed by a fireworks display and parade lap from all MotoGP, Moto2 and 125cc riders, led by Kevin Schwantz on Simoncelli's #58 Gresini Honda.
With the MotoGP title already wrapped up, and Jorge Lorenzo unable to race following surgery on his partially amputated finger, there may have been little interest in the actual race, but a dogfight between two of the Repsol Honda riders, and a last corner lunge to victory by 2011 champion, Casey Stoner, made the season finale at Valencia one of the best races of the year.
Starting from pole, Stoner bolted early, taking a lead he was to hold for most of the race. In the rush for the first corner on the first lap, Alvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki), Pramac Racing's Randy de Puniet and Ducati Team riders, Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi were all involved in a crash, ending the race for all four and bringing a disappointing end to the season for each. Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso managed to avoid the incident, and settled into a long battle for the minor placings with Yamaha's Ben Spies. Dovizioso was particularly determined to finish ahead of Pedrosa, in order to secure third overall in the championship.
With the drizzle that had been falling on the track since the race start getting heavier, but not enough to warrant a change of bikes or a red flag, the leaders tiptoed around the track in the closing stages. Stoner was slowly reeled in by Spies and Dovizioso, and following a mistake from the Australian, Spies passed for the lead with three laps remaining. It looked like the Texan would hold that lead to the chequered flag, but a last corner lunge from Stoner saw him record his tenth victory of the season, finishing a mere 0.015 seconds ahead of Spies. Dovizioso claimed the final podium spot and with it third place in the final Championship standings. Out of respect for the deceased Simoncelli, the three podium placegetters forewent the traditional champagne spray in a subdued post-race presentation.
Another intriguing, race-long battle was that for the Rookie of the Year award between Karel Abraham (Cardion AB Motoracing) and Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3). Like the race win, this dice also went down to the very last lap, with the Czech rider poised to take the honour until he fell, handing Crutchlow the Rookie title and also fourth place in the race. Abraham was able to rejoin the race to finish in eighth, ahead of Loris Capirossi (Pramac Racing), who concluded the final race of his career with a ninth place having carried Marco Simoncelli's number 58 in honour of the late Italian rider.
Fifth place went to Pedrosa, with Lorenzo's replacement Katsuyuki Nakasuga (Yamaha Factory Racing) claiming sixth ahead of Colin Edwards' substitute on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team, Josh Hayes. Toni Elías (LCR Honda) completed the top ten, with Héctor Barberá (Mapfre Aspar) and Hiroshi Aoyama (San Carlo Honda Gresini) the final race riders to complete the race.
2011 MotoGP World Championship
GP Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana - Rd 18 of 18
1. Casey STONER - Repsol Honda 48'18.645
2. Ben SPIES - Yamaha Factory Racing +0.015
3. Andrea DOVIZIOSO - Repsol Honda +5.936
4. Cal CRUTCHLOW - Monster Yamaha Tech 3 +8.718
5. Dani PEDROSA - Repsol Honda +9.321
6. Katsuyuki NAKASUGA - Yamaha Factory Racing +23.818
7. Josh HAYES - Monster Energy Yamaha Tech 3 +33.118
8. Karel ABRAHAM - Cardion AB Motoracing +37.952
9. Loris CAPIROSSI - Pramac Racing Team +48.953
10. Toni ELIAS - LCR Honda MotoGP +52.501
Final championship standings
1. Casey STONER - 350
2. Jorge LORENZO - 260
3. Andrea DOVIZIOSO - 228
4. Dani PEDROSA - 219
5. Ben SPIES - 176
6. Marco SIMONCELLI - 139
6. Valentino ROSSI - 139
8. Nicky HAYDEN - 132
9. Colin EDWARDS - 109
10. Hiroshi AOYAMA - 98
Images: motogp.com
