It all comes down to this. It's the season finale for the 2013 MotoGP World Championship at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.
We've been through four continents, 13 race tracks and 18 races. it's going to be an epic fight to the finish. Who will win the championship? Will it be Jorge Lorenzo or Marc Marquez? We are nine minutes away from the start of the season finale. Marc Marquez is ready to possibly become the youngest ever MotoGP world champion. Jorge Lorenzo needs to make up 13 points. We've talked about the scenarios. If Jorge Lorenzo finishes fifth or worse, Marquez is champ.
Marquez crashed in italy and had that tire penalty in Australia. Lorenzo broke is collarbone in Assen where he finished fifth, and reinjured his collarbone in Germany. Since recovering, he's won four of the last six races. Marc Marquez has a lot of respect for his championship competitor. Lorenzo has lead many more laps. But here's what happened in qualifying.
In qualifying, the fans were stacked in the stands. Jorge Lorenzo qualified second after having the engine go down on his primary bike. Marc Marquez set a new record time to start from pole. Dani Pedrosa is third, and he'll be able to ride his own race. Cal Crutchlow and Valentino Rossi (both on Yamaha's like Lorenzo), will have to help him to win the title. Nicky Hayden returns to MotoGP with Honda next year. Aleix Espargaro has clinched the CRT title. Martin Bauer is the wildcard rider. He also raced earlier this year.
30 laps will decide this championship. The bikes are on the warmup lap. We're ready. This will be only the second championship battle in the final race of the year in the last seven or so years. Circuit Ricardo Tormo has existed since 1999. It's a stadium track that has been newly repaved. 30 laps, 74.7 miles will be the distance of the race.
Here we go. At the start, Jorge Lorenzo has a great start and Dani Pedrosa and Bradley Smith already try to pass Marquez. Now, he's coming back through Mick Doohan corner. The Yamaha's didn't beat Marquez to turn one. Valentino Rossi is pushing as they come downhill through turn eight. Valentino Rossi wants by Marc Marquez. They come back through turn 14. Can the Yamaha's unsettle Marquez? Lorenzo knows he needs to win. Dani Pedrosa takes the lead and Alvaro Bautista passes Valentino Rossi as Jorge Lorenzo now takes the lead back.
Dani Pedrosa is determined to help Marquez. Pedrosa is pushing into turn seven. Marquez is watching. When will he make his move? Alvaro Bautista holds off Valentino Rossi. Lorenzo has passed Pedrosa back who ran wide and left the door open. Stefan Bradl sets fast lap. Not sure of the time. The lead has swapped three times. Marc Marquez is trying to help Dani Pedrosa too. Lorenzo wants to slow the pace. But, he has to keep it quick. He's forced to. Lorenzo runs a 1:32.2. 1:32.263 is the new fast lap.
Here comes Pedrosa, and Lorenzo fights back for the lead. The crowd is going nuts. Here comes Marquez, lurking, too. This is a showdown. We wanted to see this. Marquez almost runs into Pedrosa. Valentino Rossi, Bradley Smith, and Cal Crutchlow are all there, too. Lorenzo runs wide into the last corner. Dani Pedrosa wants to pass and Lorenzo brakes late, but holds the advantage.
This is an epic race already. It's hard to overtake at Ricardo Tormo. Dani Pedrosa is in this and so are Alvaro Bautista, and Valentino Rossi. As things stand, Lorenzo has the advantage with only five laps done. Bradley Smith continues to lead Cal Crutchlow. This is amazing! Lorenzo is not going to give up. He's giving people chances to push him, but then, snatching it away.
Pedrosa is trying to pass and does pass Lorenzo. Lorenzo fights back. Marquez and Bautista pass by and Marquez is into the lead! This is crazy! Cal Crutchlow is out. He's crashed. Working lap nine. The dynamic of this race is changing. Marquez leads. Jorge Lorenzo is right behind Marquez. Lorenzo passes into turn two. Marquez has to slow him up, somehow. They come through Angel Nieto corner. Marquez tries to pass but can't quite get there. Alvaro Bautista is trying to help Marquez by rolling out of the throttle in the corners, but he still has Valentino Rossi to contend with.
Rossi passes Bautista. Jorge Lorenzo is going to be investigated for a move by the stewards after this race. Whoa. Marquez is second. If he finishes in the top four, he'll be champion. The plot thickens. We're halfway through the race. Lorenzo and Marquez run 1-2. Marquez would be champ if he finishes second. Lorenzo is taking a tenth or two out of Marquez's lead each lap. Marquez bike is twitchy. But, that's how he rides a motorcycle, and what's comfortable for him.
Lorenzo runs a 1:31.9 and Marquez can match that. Rossi and Bautista are slightly down the order. Marquez could already have one hand on the championship trophy, even before the race ends. Jorge Lorenzo crosses the line. Eleven laps remain. Let's enjoy this championship battle. Honda looks like they're in good shape. Dani Pedrosa is going well, too. Remember that Marquez got a podium in Qatar at the opening race, and won his first race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, back in March.
If Marquez is champ, at age 20, he'll be the youngest ever MotoGP motorcycle champion. The fans will launch fireworks off after the race in celebration, no mattwe what. Jorge Lorenzo runs a 1:31.7. Lorenzo may not win the title. But he still wants to win the race, and show why he's a great racer. The constructor's cup battle is up for grabs, too. But, Honda might win over Yamaha. Repsol Honda has won the teams championship.
Dani Pedrosa brings fast lap down to 1:31.6. Valentino Rossi cannot match Lorenzo's lap times. Lukas Pesek, Yonny Hernandez, and Damien Cudlin, have all crashed. We wonder who will ride for Pramac Ducati next year. Yonny Hernandez will be on a privateer bike and Andrea Ianonne on the factory Ducati for 2014. Marc Marquez just has to race. He can't celebrate yet. Seven laps remain. For Randy de Puniet, his race is over. But, for now, we focus on bike #93. Lorenzo may win. But, the Repsol Honda team won't give a darn, because they're going to win this championship.
The battle for next year will be a great one, too. Dani Pedrosa is still pushing, too. He's right behind his team mate, and he's 3/10ths behind Marquez with five laps left. In the 65 years of MotoGP, Marquez will be the youngest champion and the first rookie champion since Kenny Roberts in 1978. Dani Pedrosa is still going for it. Don't push too hard, Dani. He almost does a tankslapper through turn six. Four laps to go. Jorge Lorenzo will cruise to the win, even though he won't win the title this year.
Marquez has smashed every record. He could get more. Andrea Ianonne has crashed. Game over for the Italian. Let's hope there's no oil or debris down there. Lorenzo has done very well. Dani Pedrosa is second. Three laps to go. Keep going. Keep up the pace. It's close now between Marquez and Pedrosa. He's on pins and needles on this penultimate lap. Marquez has been the best to appear in MotoGP for the first time since Valentino Rossi. Rossi didn't win in his rookie year. Luca Scassa, Michael Laverty, and Bryan Staring, are backmarkers. They're all passed.
In 2.5 miles, Marquez will be champ. Jorge Lorenzo won last year. But, this year, there's a new champion in town. Lorenzo stepped up to the plate. But, Marc Marquez can cruise. He's going to be champ. Emilio Alzamora (former 125cc champion), is in tears. He's so happy. Jorge Lorenzo wins his eighth race of the season. But, Marc Marquez is the NEW WORLD CHAMPION!
#99 Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha
Champion:
#93 Marc Marquez ESP Honda
What a race! What a season! Marquez has six wins and sixteen podiums for this season. He didn't fight it. He rode a championship winning race today. So ends the 2013 MotoGP championship season. We'll see everybody on the 2 Wheelin' blog for more MotoGP next year. For now, so long, everyone.
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