The second half of the 2016 MotoGP season

Yours truly never really had the time or energy, to blog all the remaining events of the 2016 MotoGP season.  With 2017 action having begun already in Qatar, last weekend, the focus will be on the season ahead.  But, before that, for those who are curious, let's revisit who won races in the second half of MotoGP 2016 in all three divisions, as well as congratulating those riders, who went on to win championships. We pick up the action, basically, still at Silverstone in England.

Maverick Vinales and Suzuki won at Silverstone.  Then, from there the teams went to San Marino and the Misano Adriatico circuit.  Dani Pedrosa won that race, for Honda.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_San_Marino_and_Rimini%27s_Coast_motorcycle_Grand_Prix

#26 Dani Pedrosa     ESP.     Honda

Lorenzo Baldassari was the Moto2 winner, followed on the podium by Alex Rins and Takaaki Nakagami.

#7 Lorenzo Baldassari     ITA.     Kalex

In Moto3 action at Misano, Brad Binder and KTM (Red Bull KTM Ajo), scored another win.

#41 Brad Binder      RSA.      KTM

Next, in Aragon, Spain, it was Marc Marquez's weekend.  He swept pole, fastest lap, and the race win in the MotoGP feature race of the weekend.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Aragon_motorcycle_Grand_Prix

#93 Marc Marquez     ESP.     Honda

The Yamaha's of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi were also on the podium.  Sam Lowes was the winner in Moto2 competition at Misano.

#22 Sam Lowes      GBR.       Kalex

Alex Marquez and Franco Morbidelli finished on the podium as well.  Miguel Oliveira withdrew from the race after being hit by another rider in Friday practice, causing a broken collarbone. 

In Moto3 at Aragon, Jorge Navarro beat Brad Binder and Enea Bastianini in the 20 lap race.

#9 Jorge Navarro     ESP.     Honda

Moving away from Europe, the MotoGP riders and teams would next tackle races in Asia, beginning in Japan at Twin Ring Motegi, in Motegi, Japan.  This is the home turf of Honda.  Could they win at home and keep Yamaha at bay?  The answer to that question, was yes.  Marc Marquez set fastest lap of the race, and went on to victory.

#93 Marc Marquez     ESP.     Honda

Marc Marquez beat the Ducati of Andrea Dovizioso, and the Suzuki of Maverick Vinales.  Both of the Yamaha's of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi, would retire, in Japan, and this struck a blow to their championship hopes for both the riders' and manufacturers' cups. 

In the Moto2 race at Motegi, Tom Luthi won the 23 lap race, ahead of Johann Zarco and Franco Morbidelli. 

#12 Tom Luthi    SUI.   Kalex

The Moto3 race in Japan saw Enea Bastianini victorious over Brad Binder, hoping for a championship, and also, Nicolo Bulega.  Japan's Hiroki Ono was disqualified from the Moto3 event.

#33 Enea Bastianini    ITA.    Honda

...And then, there were three.  Down Under, in Australia, at the great Phillip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia, was MotoGP's next challenge.  Marc Marquez had the pole, but for the second time this year, after also winning in the Czech Republic at Brno, Honda's Cal Crutchlow was the winner in Australia!

#35 Cal Crutchlow   GBR.   Honda

In Moto2 and Moto3, there were two repeat winners.  Tom Luthi took the checkers first in Moto2.

#12 Tom Luthi    SUI.   Kalex

Brad Binder was triumphant in Moto3. 

#41 Brad Binder   RSA.  KTM

After Australia, just two races remained in the championship.  Who would be crowned in all three classes?  We'll find out shortly.

Malaysia, and the Sepang circuit, would see the penultimate event of 2016.  Hot, steamy, tropical conditions usually greet the riders in Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city. 

Ducati wins again in Malaysia!  Andrea Dovizioso, much like Andrea Iannone did earlier in the year in Austria, sweeps pole, fastest race lap, and the race victory!  Dovizioso held off a charge from both of the Yamaha's of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi who finished second and third.

#04 Andrea Dovizioso    ITA.     Ducati

Moto2 action in Malaysia saw Johann Zarco victorious over Franco Morbidelli and Jonas Folger.
Sam Lowes and Axel Pons would both crash in this race. 

#5 Johann Zarco    FRA.    Kalex

Francesco Bagnaia of Italy aboard the Mahindra bike takes the Moto3 win in Malaysia, followed by Jakub Kornfeil and Bo Bendsneyder. 

#21 Francesco Bagnaia    ITA.    Mahindra

Two riders, Japan's Hiroki Ono and Italy's Fabio Spiranelli didn't start the Moto3 race in Malaysia.

Rossi and Lorenzo are drifting farther away from Marc Marquez in the championship with one race remaining, at Autodromo Ricardo Tormo, the curtain closer on the 2016 MotoGP season.

KTM would debut their new 2017 MotoGP bike, at Valencia.  Unfortunately, veteran Finnish rider Mika Kallio, would retire the new bike with electrical issues.  Jorge Lorenzo, wins the battle, winning the Valencia race.

#99 Jorge Lorenzo     ESP.     Yamaha

But in his final race as a Yamaha rider, he loses the war, to Marc Marquez, who wins his second MotoGP World Championship!

Champion: #93 Marc Marquez    ESP.    Honda

To the victor belong the spoils in the Moto2 finale.  Johann Zarco wins the Valencia race, ahead of Tom Luthi and Franco Morbidelli, and wins the Moto2 world championship!

#5 Johann Zarco   FRA.  Kalex

Ditto in Moto3.  Brad Binder wins the race, ahead of Joan Mir and Andrea Migno (all riders on KTM motorcycles), and wins the championship!

#41 Brad Binder   RSA.   KTM

So, that's a wrap on MotoGP 2016.  2017 has already begun.  Stay tuned for race reports from the opener in Qatar, coming soon.