Bringing an end to a dramatic season, Repsol Honda's Marc Marquez has been crowned as the 2017 MotoGP World Champion. The 24-year-old took his sixth world title at Valencia as he finished third in the race. Teammate Dani Pedrosa, on the other hand, won the Valencia Grand Prix after an intense battle with Johann Zarco on the last lap. World title contender Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati put up a fantastic display of determination and hard work, before crashing in the closing stages of the race along with Ducati teammate Jorge Lorenzo. The Valencia GP was every bit packed with the action fans were hoping for with Zarco putting up a brilliant show from the Yamaha family.
(Pedrosa passed Zarco on the last lap to tak the win)
Marquez held on to the lead with the start of the Valencia GP, but it was teammate Pedrosa who had a brilliant start and took the second place like a perfect wingman. Pedrosa fended off attacks from competition as Tech 3 Yamaha's Johann Zarco, as well as Ducati's Jorge Lorenzo and Dovizioso, aimed at getting closer to the top spot. The top five riders soon formed a pack and started detaching from the other riders on the track. By Lap 2 though, Zarco was at his aggressive best and soon passed Pedrosa to take the second spot. It wouldn't be until Lap 5 when Zarco would pass Marquez to take the lead in the race, while both Hondas followed suit at P2 and P3.
undefinedGAME OVER! @AndreaDovizioso is down!
— MotoGP (@MotoGP) November 12, 2017
The Championship is all but over! #FinalShowdown! pic.twitter.com/eBUBHQEUkU
Marquez only needed to be in the top spots to deny the crown to Dovizioso and the Spaniard ensured to ride safely with 25 laps to go. Meanwhile, Lorenzo consistently denied his Ducati teammate to climb to P4. This, despite the fact he was given a coded instruction after Lap 13 but the Spaniard didn't pay attention to the same. Lorenzo was even shown a pitboard to move down the order and let Dovizioso pass, but the former world champion did not pay heed to the order.
undefinedDRAMA!!! Marquez runs on at turn one after a MASSSSSSIVE save!
— MotoGP (@MotoGP) November 12, 2017
He rejoins in 5th! #FinalShowdown pic.twitter.com/nt4Lsy01UR
At the top, Marquez was now charging at Zarco to take back P1 and even did so by Lap 20. However, Zarco was not letting go on what would be his first ever MotoGP win in his rookie season. The Frenchman was soon back to the top, only to be overtaken by Marquez two laps later. It seemed Marquez blew his championship title on Lap 23 though as the Spaniard overshot his entry on Turn 1 and ran wide slowing his pace dramatically. Marquez was pushed to fifth as a result, behind Zarco, Pedrosa, Lorenzo and Dovizioso.
With Lorenzo still leading between the two Ducatis, the rider crashed at Turn 4 on Lap 24 after holding up Dovizioso for most of the race. The move did push Dovizioso to P4, but not before the championship contender ran wide on Turn 8 in the same lap ending his run after an incredible season.
Marquez comfortably took the third spot with the world title now confirmed, while Zarco and Pedrosa battled for the top spot. It wasn't until the last lap when Pedrosa passed the Frenchman to secure his second win of the season. Zarco certainly wowed fans world over with some incredible riding not only at Valencia but through the season as well, while also putting Yamaha's factory riders behind.
