Round 18 - Valencia MotoGP

A very warm welcome to Valencia for the final round of the MotoGP

season, that will always be remembered for the passing of Marco

Simoncelli at the Malaysian Grand Prix two weeks ago. It has been an

incredibly tough fortnight for the teams and everybody in the MotoGP

paddock, who have come to Valencia to race. The best tribute to a man

will be fondly remembered as one of the sport's brightest talents and

one of its biggest characters. always knew he was colourful.

hair and the way he walked. He was very funny. Marco Simoncelli was a

great man. Really genuine, he was a Most of the riders, we were a

little bit worried always when he was around because we knew that he

would attack and we always wanted to protect our position. He was a

really big rubber, from when we started to race, until I was eight

years old, many years, I made my career with him. -- big character.

When he decides to overtake you, in any case, he will overtake. This

was a problem because if I brake late, and he cannot stop, we can

crash. The he had a lot of good years ahead of him. Everybody saw

that, he had a lot of talent. Over- zealous at times but it just showed

his character. Here's one that will be missed. We rode a lot in the to

50. Fighting for the World Championship. -- 250. Sometimes he

was a little bit over the limit on the track. Most times you ride with

your heart rather than your head. For this reason, sometimes you have

problems with the other riders. Basically because you never want to

fight with Simoncelli because he was very difficult and he was very

big. I feel sorry because of what happened to him because we are

close as riders, and maybe we could manage that situation. Marco

Simoncelli was really hard to beat, you know? For me, he was a real man.

I was in Italy for and I did not know so much about Italian, I do

not speak Italian, so he looked after me and he was very kind.

was a really good friend to me. I did not expect this situation. It

was really hard. I went to the family on Tuesday, I went to his

house. I never thought I would be in the House of Marco Simoncelli,

to give this report. For I do not know how much support I could give

to his family but that family is really strong. I am quite

privileged to have been on the podium twice this year. He will be

missed quite a lot -- a lot. It is most important never to forget. It

is better for him to remain in my Wonderful tributes from the men who

knew him best as a rider and arrival and I am joined by a man

who knew him very well as a person, Kevin Schwantz, the 1993 legend.

What are your memories? Everything he did, he did as fast and as hard

as he could. Whether it was riding motocross or racing go-karts or

driving around in his BMW. Living life. To the very top. Having as

much fun as he possibly could. He raced every lap like it was the

last. Nothing but great memories. He had the great honour this

morning of taking his bike on the parade lap joined by the other

riders and many from the other groups as well. It was a fitting

tribute. To see all the excitement from the fans as he went around the

cross and it was neat to hear all the other motorcycles behind us

making that noise. It was what he liked, he liked to make noise. It

was a fitting tribute. He was here to the younger guys on the grid.

Absolutely. One of the real characters of the sport, one of the

guys who had an absolutely brilliant future. It is a shame.

But I think everybody has fond memories. Absolutely. We could not

have thought of a better person to be on his bike. Following that up,

there was exactly what his father had requested from the paddock.

There was a noisy tribute to his son. Listen to this... De ENGINES

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds

Actually fitting way to remember a man who thrived on spectacle.

was always plenty of colour and movement with them but he was so

attractive because he was cool, he was a real do it. He did not care.

You can tell from this tributes, he might have ruffled a few feathers

but there is a lot of respect for him, not just as a rider but a

person. Wonderful tributes. Let's not forget what a controversial

character he was. Dani Pedrosa and Lorenzo what a 10 band a few months

ago. It is nice to remember his clever bits. We remember him

everywhere we look. Stephen, it has been emotional? It has been a

terrible few weeks with Dan Wheldon as well. But with Marco Simoncelli,

it was like we lost a member of the family. It has been very fitting,

what has gone on. The fireworks were spectacular. And you feel very

sorry for his family and friends. But we will move on. Loris

Capirossi running the number 58 this week. His final every grand

prix appearance. You saw all the riders signing that, and be well

auction that for Children in Need. But we're here to be the ultimate

should it, which has to do what he loved, to race. And we do that

unfortunately without Marco Simoncelli but also Jorge Lorenzo.

For I must remember, he isn't racing and had the championship

been open, he would have been. He wants to get fit and well and

they're still not sure if he will test this. His second place was

locked up in the championship, he might as well again and see if you

can test on the second day. Colin Edwards was involved in a crash

with Marco Simoncelli. Still at home with a dislocated shoulder. He

is replaced by Josh. A it has been raining for most of the weekend

that he has not done badly. might not have a bad run. He was

fastest in the warm-up. He has hardly ridden the track in the

drive. But he is doing a good job. It has been mixed weather and the

rain is coming down at the moment. But of course, the man who has

dealt best with mixed conditions that better than everybody else is

the man who won the World Championship. It has been a

difficult season. One to remember for the wrong reasons but on the

track, he could not have gone much better? Right from the start? We

started off on a really good fitting and went from strength to

strength. We knew that you are going to be in with a very good

chance of winning the championship from the start. Putting a good

season together is the hardest thing. We can look at some of the

hardest bit. Under the lights in Qatar. Fighting with Dani Pedrosa.

It doesn't matter what any manufacturer does, you have to go

out and beat the other riders. This was the best thing that could have

happened, starting off so well. Things and sour after a couple of

races? For the rest to end like that, it was disappointing. It made

a few headlines. You have some problems with your shoulder? Yes, I

got some abyss for that. Moving on, this was a big moment in the

very good job for me. Jorge Lorenzo had such a good season last year.

Fierce competitor on the track? Definitely, the good thing is he

has been through the hard knocks, he can appreciate every moment he

gets up there. He wants to win as much as everybody else. He is

definitely a very strong competitor, very consistent. I have a very good

relationship with them so that everybody at the top has a lot of

respect for each other. Jorge Lorenzo is the person I have most

respect for. I would say your career would be made on this

because there were times when the bike has not been perfect across

the weekend but you seem to pull something out on a Sunday morning

and that was what happened at Laguna? Yes, all weekend we had

only been a couple of tenths off Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo but

that is too much on the short track and we were not comfortable. I

still had more to push. But it was not going to be pretty, having to

push that many laps that hard. You're pushing that one! My team is

always there for me, they keep working until the last moment.

After that, it is my job to go and do the best I can. That was a great

weekend for us. That shot says it all! Christian grabbed his hand and

pitted on to his heart. It was trying to pop out of his chest!

They're my boys and we are like family. All building up to this

incredible homecoming. And an amazing weekend for you all round?

Everything built up to the season and Anne Forde Shibby Jorge Lorenzo

had the crash and damaged and self. That really opened things up for us,

I was not expecting to be even close to winning the championship

at that race. But to go out and know that we had the championship

in the bag was great. But I wanted to win that race. I was not going

out just to win the championship, I wanted to win that race and if I

did not, the championship was still there. To get everything like that

in one day on my birthday, five in a row and everything, that was

something special. Not too many their feet! We have had some

moments over the years, how did this compare? This was fantastic.

In 2007, he took a while to sink in, we had become world champions

before and we did not get the credit that we deserve for that

championship, but we know that we went out and won races and deserved

the championship and it felt great from the beginning. When you have

experience with a world championship, the second one sinks

in quicker and Juno what has happened, so that was a fantastic

feeling that date. It has been a pleasure to talk to you. Thank you.

We spoke about this in Malaysia, Casey Stoner, a deserving world

champion. Yes, it was Valentino Rossi, he was the best rider on the

best bike, the combination of Honda and Casey Stoner, unbeatable this

year. The records will show Casey Stoner was the most successful guy

in the 800 cc time, and he won most of his races on Ducati. A perfect

time for Casey Stoner, but for Cal Crutchlow, it has been up and down.

Cal Crutchlow is through! Putting a new van Dani Pedrosa at! He does

not look comfortable. -- putting a move on a Dani Pedrosa at! Cal

Crutchlow! Won for the album! has been a tough year, no doubt

about it, it was enjoyable, we have learnt a lot, now coming to the

last race of 2011, hopefully we can go into next season and get some

consistency and more speed. Hopefully we will continue to learn

to ride these MotoGP bikes, because it has not been easy. No, but what

has been the high point and the low point of this season? A high points

were that we showed good speed at the start of the year. We qualified

in the top six in a few places. The low point, probably breaking a

collarbone and not racing in the home Grand Prix. Is it fair to say

about your confidence was rattled after that? No, I really don't

think so, because I came back and I nearly qualified on the front row

and it was dry. There was nothing I could have done better that weekend.

We had an issue with the front tyre, and I was running fourth, so from

my point of view, that was one of my strongest weekends. After that's,

we had a problem in the race when I pulled in because I felt like there

is going to crash. After that, racing was tough, because we went a

lot of circuits that I didn't know and it looks like my confidence had

gone backwards, but really, I stayed the same, and that is one I

felt that the gap from the factory guys to the privateers got bigger,

because there was the test and then everything got different be on that.

Next year, Eddie think things will go? It is good to have a new person

coming over from Hyundai. Yamaha will not change the bike. For him,

it will be the same bike, but the experience of knowing what the

Honda does and what Yamaha does, that will be crucial. We have not

had that transition of somebody coming from a competitor. I am

looking forward to him coming across. What about Bradley? His

contract for 2013, does that put pressure on you for what you do

next year? Definitely. It is difficult for me, because I have

got to essentially, to be at the fast end of it. If there are six

Brits in the 125, what you think of them? What we used even them in the

future? It is tough. We have got some great guys, they are talented,

it is nice they are in the 125, but his is a different kettle of fish

in the Grand Prix. Thank you for talking to us and good luck this

weekend. It would be an interesting and

important year for Cal Crutchlow. The rest of the grid for 2012,

looking a bit sketchy at the moment. Still some seeds left and a few

riders left to fill them. I want to show you Alvaro Bautista, he was

talking to the tax-free before or the seat was taken. He would prefer

to stay at Suzuki and they would prefer rare him to stay there as

well. If they have a second bike, that could be filled by John

Hopkins or Randy de Puniet. They have been talking to Elsie or as

well. There is also the issue of Marco Simoncelli's bike needed to

be filled. They would like to have Alvaro Bautista. But the sponsors

would like an Italian bike, and that is where we might see one of

the Italians. He was previously links to another rider having

tested with them earlier this year. The seat has now gone to Hector

Barbera. They will only run one by tomorrow. That bike will be Hector

Barbera. That will be announced after the race today. Testing is

starting on Tuesday, so there isn't a lot of time for the rest of the

signatures to be put down. We will expect a few announcements today

and tomorrow before the testing starts. We know that's Hiroshi

Aoyama will not be on the grid next year, he is moving to the World

Superbikes. He will appear next year. Let's look at the rest of the

grid. Hiroshi Aoyama is far back, but at the front, Casey Stoner

starting from pole position for the first time this season equalling

us now. It is an emotional weekend for everyone at this weekend. Not

the ideal circumstances for a final appearance in MotoGP, but very

important that you do your best. Yes, last time we lost Marco, we

decided to race to show our respect for market. This is my last race in

MotoGP so I want to do my best. I want to finish in a good way.

looks like the rain might be coming, do you prefer a wet race? I want to

enjoy my last race, but I will try my best and I will try to enjoy my

last MotoGP experience. The good luck here and good luck next year

as well. Thank you. And now, Loris Capriossi, we will try and get a

quick word from him. This is his spare helmet. His many factors are

Dan a lovely tribute to him. He was eight to 50 world champion, A 125

world champion. -- he was a 250 world champion. And riding for

Ducati this year, it was not a great cheer for Loris Capriossi. He

is in demand. Everybody wants to talk to Loris Capriossi today,

including the, so women remove through and be a little bit rude. -

- including the, so we will move in three. A very emotional day, how

will you feeling on your final Grand Prix experience? Not an easy

weekend. We want to have a great day for Marco and have a great race

today. At great career and have a great Dated E. -- had a great day

today. This is a Randy de Puniet's best qualifying, he is fourth here

today, you had been fast in all conditions, given the conditions

today, I guess it gives you confidence for the race? Yes, I am

confident. It will be difficult because the track is not completely

dry. I would do my best. We will see what happens in the race. You

take a good start and that is it, you will have to see. But hopefully

I did do a good race. Thank you. Let's have a word with Ben Spies.

He has got a good record here at Valencia. He came here as a wild

card in 2009. He finished in seventh place. Last year he

finished fourth. He has that is how much on so why do not think he will

talk to us. I was hoping to get the words.... Get a word. A Ben Spies,

battered and bruised after the qualifying round. Just waiting to

have a chat with Gerry Burgess. I do not want to interrupt him. 11

world titles. Let's have a look at Valentino Rossi making his last

preparations. There is 0.4 seconds between Valentino and Ben Spies.

The victory fight looks to be between Dani Pedrosa and Casey

Stoner. The fight for the podium is wide open. When going to go and try

and catch Jerry. Others just saying, the gap to third place with them on

the grid is 0.4 seconds, perhaps a protean talents today? You would

like to think so. It would be nice. Casey Stoner being one seconds

quicker than second place, we know how strong the Honda is. We have

got to get ready for next year. glad to see the back of the 800?

provided the other is better! Testing is on Tuesday. Anything you

for that? Not a lot, Valentino has ridden that. It is far more

interesting than what we will use Iran Tuesday and Wednesday. Thank

you for Torquay to us, good luck. Just to have a look at the front

row, Ben Spies looking for his first podium since Indianapolis

this year. Dani Pedrosa a winner here in 2007 and 2009, and Casey

Stoner, 12 polls for him. The world record set by Mick Doohan. Casey

Stoner has so far has the 15th, that is why he is world champion

and the favourite to win this race today. He would have to say so. He

will need to keep it clean. It is reasonable to think that Dani

Pedrosa will meet him in the first corner, but he is very sharp of the

take-off. Casey Stoner did its lap after lap. I cannot think of any

worse conditions. It is not a wet enough because they will need slick

tyres. It is going to be so awkward seeing how much he'd you have got

in the tyres. They will get colder rather than hotter. You cannot get

a lot of a load on them. The motor to raise was a crash test in

similar conditions. -- the molto two race. I imagine Casey Stoner is

pleased that he is that this championship wrapped up. -- he has

we had no downpour her, we did in the City last night. There was this

drizzle all day long. Psychological rain. Yes, when you're travelling

that fast, it seems like a lot of rain, that drizzle on your adviser.

-- visor. It would be about keeping some heat in the tyres, keeping

away from the kerbs because they are very slippery, the wide curves.

It would be extremely awkward at there. Nobody will want to lead any

silly because you were the first one to find the bad weather

conditions. Ben Spies does not particularly like these conditions.

Just Hayes filling in for a Colin Edwards might enjoy this. This is

the sort of condition that favours the brave but it can also catch you

out. It will keep this interesting for all of us. Loris Capriossi,

looking for the next Apax, what can you say about him? The matter of

races he has done, 29 wins over 22 years. The only good thing about

this race is simply, you're about to see their concentration and

there are raised through the clear helmets. Staring at the track, dry

grubby bits that they can possibly catches many a good ride right. And

the point scores. Done and dusted, but it's all to play for between

both boys from Honda. Dovizioso and Pedrosa. Four points in it. It is

whoever is in front of it. That will sort it out. They have wet

bikes in the pit lane, it rains and a harder, they can change. Ready to

start... And that was a great start from Stoner. Pretty good for

Pedrosa as well. And right at the front, I do believe Ben Spies made

a reasonable start. Oh, no! He has taken down Rossi! That has taken

down a Nicky Hayden! It looked like it started with the blue Suzuki.

They are all out. Will they stop this? 30 laps to go. That wiped out

for riders. What a bad start their having in this conditions, they're

all full. They have carbon brakes on, it would have been a difficult

situation into that corner. Suzuki down and out. Valentino Rossi up

and walking. Nicky Hayden, Down and Out. And Randy de Puniet, the 4th

one. You said in the car this morning, it is just horrible. When

did we last see something like that in turn number one in MotoGP? It

was just horrendous. Casey Stoner is at the front. Making hay while

the sun shines. The battle between Crutchlow Andy Abraham, the rookie

of the year. They will not let sight of each other go. Forget this,

I have done 328 of the starts, I will not fall off now. Number 27,

you can see the slick tyres. Putting down 215 brake horse power.

The yellow flag is being shown. No passing can take place going into

this corner. You have to hold station or otherwise you get the

penalty. He has just overtaken. let's look at this. Give me the

terminal speed? Still 150? And all the way up into 4th gear. Just as

you see the front end of those bikes dipping. It was Alvaro

Bautista. He literally took out Randy de Puniet and all three of

them. It was that skittle effect. Alvaro Bautista. You can see the

front tyre locking up. As he tries to take it in, not enough heat on

the tyres and a just wiped everyone out. Fortunately, everyone is OK

but what a nasty way to end the season. That Marco Simoncelli

helmet is looking on in disgust. That has really shot the fox. Casey

Stoner, disappearing into the distance. And some ugly gaps, there

is a great big void behind Honda. Pedrosa, then Ben Spies. The next

slab of the field is missing. Riding at Ben Spies. You can see

the bikes scrambling for group at the top of turn 13. They have to be

so careful going in. Anti-clockwise circuit, the right hand is whether

tyre tends to be cooler. Dovizioso, straight back past Ben Spies. His

target is in his sight. He needs to beat number 28. Dani Pedrosa that

needs to keep in front of him. Pedrosa! Straight through! That was

gutsy stuff. Can you hold it? He has. Dovizioso in second place. Ben

Spies having a look on the outside. You can see Rhian on the camera.

Who would chance their arm? This left hander. This is very

treacherous. That was a big move from Ben Spies. Not enjoying the

conditions. That was another tricky part of the circuit. Flecking left

and right. The airbag will have gone off. He is asking what

happened and the engineers are telling him. Bautista it took the

whole lot of them out. I do not know if there was any contact but

just having Dovizioso there as well somehow cramped is braking little.

This is the net result. This three- way scrap. Pedrosa isn't done. He

is boxing clever at the moment. Staying in Touch to see what

happens. 30 laps is the journey and we have only had two of them.

one of the longest races. 75 miles long. Dani Pedrosa will make sure

that he is finding out whether group is. Oh! Way too hot. Will

Pedrosa make a move? Up into the left hand. Plenty of slithering and

sliding. Ben Spies thinks, man, I have to do that again! It was very

easy to get onto the white line, he crashed in the first practice there

at the weekend. He looks over his shoulder. Crutchlow, having a look.

Followed by the man chasing for the championship. Carol Abraham. This

is a real scrap, Abraham. Crutchlow. These boys are going to play for

keeps. That is really what they're chasing four. Crutchlow. 13th place.

That was a little bit hot from Dovizioso. He just lost the front

end. Well, his body language says, we touched. It did not look like it

to me. We will get another look. Nobody wants to do that. It is just

getting into the corner and everybody goes for the same spot,

particularly in these conditions. The Kers have to be avoided. What

is the try-line? It is dry because there are hot tyres coving over the

same patch. -- going over. This is the third race of the day. Plenty

of marbles and rolled up bits of black rubber. Riding as fast as you

like. The third gear, corner... Quickly up to third place. Then as

the first to the right, always tricky. Be careful that the right-

hand side. Asymmetric tyres, they're softer on the right-hand

side. But you're never too sure how much rain has come down. I think

Nicky Hayden has put his hand up. He reckons that he touched him.

have a look. It looked like Dovizioso, right there... Valentino

Rossi. You are right. It was the rear of Dovizioso. They were trying

to tap into the corner. The front tyre just clipped the back of the

Honda. And that was the end of it. That was all it needed. From on

board it did not look like it. He cannot believe what is going on.

All the airbags have gone off. They have done the job and poor old

Nicky Hayden. The case for he won his World Championship. It has gone

horribly wrong. Yes. It certainly has. Here is a poignant thought.

Marco Simoncelli, records which are that he finished in front of Rossi

and Hayden. Otherwise, he would have gone past him. Back at the

front, the kids at play. Pedrosa has got you. He is too hot. Another

left-hander. This is the right hander that Dovizioso will remember

very well from yesterday. If I work this out correctly, 20 points for a

second, which is what we are looking at, Dovizioso being fair,

there are four points in it. And there would end on the same points.

Our I always get scared when you do mathematics but I think you are

absolutely right. Dovizioso. It will then go back to race wins.

and you know who that is, Dani Pedrosa. It is tight as you like.

Plenty of honour at stake. Dovizioso has dropped. Three Repsol

Honda bikes and Honda think there is one too many anti- unfortunately

is surplus to requirements so he is off to Yamaha. And he will end on a

high note, coming second in this race. Casey Stoner is a man in

front, he has put in the fastest lap. He has the hardest job because

he is the one fighting the conditions. But it has stopped

raining. We were check the lap times. Dovizioso. He could not

accelerate as hard. Dovizioso comes right back and Dani Pedrosa stays

on the white line. The lap times, down to 1.34. It was down to 1.31.

32 is quite feasible during the race. That is enough drizzle. But I

reckon it has stopped out there. It has completely stopped in the pits.

When you are in these conditions, every lap is a voyage of discovery.

As we ride with Dovizioso. Trying to find a way past. But it is going

to be an issue. He has understandably gone for super soft

tyres. Try to make these things group in these arduous conditions.

You could arguably say we already have six of collapse underway and

that Tak -- track temperature is higher. Cal Crutchlow, still doing

a great job. In front of the Abraham. His duties to that end

with the stress, he is testing during the week. -- this race.

That'll do nicely, thank you, says Dovizioso. No one is faster down

the straight and Pedrosa, he will not be held in the air. I would

keep going when the race has finished. There are four blokes sat

in the garage you will probably come after him! That was a brave

move, down into 14. Nice to squeeze down the inside. You never know if

you're going to do it until it is all done. It is all very exciting

until the end. Stonor, at Dovizioso. Ben Spies hanging in there. Very

much in touch with the guys and second and third. Karl Abraham, Cal

Crutchlow. That is nice to say. Abraham, on Ducati. And this is all

about the rookie of the year. Very important. This could be Cal

Crutchlow's best result of the year. Although arguably we lost a few

riders inter number one. He is running six. I do not think he has

given up on Abraham at the moment. Abraham is of course the world

champion in Supersport. I record your pretty impressed as he watched

Abraham starting the year because we did not think it would amount to

much and he has surprised. I recall you were pretty impressed. He has

done a good job with the MotoGP bike. Can you stay a fat white lie?

It freaks me out every time he does that. -- off that white line.

managing 190 mph. Riding with Ben Spies. Let's watch this. I love

hearing that, one exhaust through the Speaker of the following bike.

Capirossi in 7th. Mixed conditions. Ben Spies, who I did not think

would be relishing these conditions, has got it all together. He is

trying all the time. Pretty stable at the moment. Similar times, 34,

35. It is all about just working out were the group is and where it

isn't. Once you have worked that out, talking about what you're

saying, the track changes, and they run on Dunlop tyres. Some of these

guys will go out on race day and it could be completely different to

how it was in qualifying. Here is Loris Capirossi. I am not falling

off, I am just saying thanks! has entertained us over the past

Casey Stoner, Andrea Dovizioso, Dani Pedrosa. Nicky Hayes and was

first and victim, he will struggle to beat his normal self-. -- Nicky

Hayden. A disappointing way to win the race, make the, what happens?

Andrea Dovizioso came over on them. It is bad to embassies are like

that. Everyone wants to have fun. Those conditions at the difficult.

Heat is being generated in the tyres. It is easy to say now, but

we like to put up a decent fight today and anything can happen. The

first corner, a wet track, it happens. Pretty frustrating at the

same crime. -- same time. It is a let down, not just for me, I took

four guys out of the race. A tough season, he did not end and a

battered. You can see the concentration in their eyes. Quite

extraordinary. The difficulty with slick tyres, look at Ben Spies

breaking! He made up so much ground. Getting back to Nicky Hayden, you

have got to say, we thought Ducati would not have a good show here.

Tricky conditions. I think what is happening, he went on to break too

late. Then there were there difficult temperatures. Carbon

discs need he'd been numb. -- need heat in them. In these conditions,

there is shrouds over the front discs de Keepin the heat. -- to

keep in the heat. And as the flat is unfolding, what his Alvaro

Bautista saying. We have only heard it with sign language so far.

Alvaro, not the way you want to end, what happened? Not the way to end

this season. The first corner, we are ride with too many riders

together. Bat we arrived. Andrea Dovizioso move to the estimate and

touched of May. I could not do anything to save the crash. I hit

the other three riders, that was the bad thing. Bigger thing is,

nobody is injured. These things happen in a race. For sure, that is

not the way you want to finish. After a good qualifying yesterday,

all of the work we did during the year with Suzuki. Next time.

luck. Thank you.. He would like to look at that again. Maybe he moved

a fraction. I think he was getting in habits too hot. -- a bit too hot.

I think Alvaro Bautista is going to break a bit earlier than Andrea

Dovizioso was going to. Their wheels hit and down they went. An

awkward situation. Nobody knows where to stop because you do not

practise from the start lines, they are not allowed to. Cal Crutchlow

is back in front of Karel Abraham, so that is all going on. And there

is this battle for second. They're having a great battle. Andrea

Dovizioso coming down the inside. Ben Spies still in the background

on the hammer at thinking about what happened before. Look at the

focus. They are not looking at the track, they are looking at the next

corner. It is still going on. Ben Spies, a grandstand view! That cost

Andrea Dovizioso a few metres of track. He was trying to defend. Ben

Spies is about to pounce again. This is like square dancing on

Hondas. Squaring the temperature, they will want to have continuity

and consistency in their braking. There is a shovel going on with the

Ducati and Karel Abraham and the Yamaha of Cal Crutchlow. 12 laps

last year between Marco Simoncelli and you're the Lorenzo. Some damp

conditions. Looking like the breaking has been sorted out here

this time. Need to get some heat into the brakes before you need it.

You're trying to focus on lots of things. It is so difficult with a

motorcycle because you have the suspension travel which is really

of fierce here. -- obvious here. Much harder to do on a motorcycle.

They have different sized front desks, so with conditions like this,

if you go with the smaller the disc, and if it tries, then you have got

wife will give birth to his first child in February. Backed down the

almost had that tight enough. There is great trust between these two.

And hate! Yes, but they will not take each other out! They are

competent, saved riders. -- safe. He wants to go out on a high and

beats Dani Pedrosa. He had a sad year and is cholera bone injury

that took him out for so long. -- his collarbone injury. Dani Pedrosa

will be the faster of the two. looks after the tyres will be a big

part of this. It is a pretty big workout. This is the battle of the

Philippines. Abbate pass by Andrea he was just coming here to test a

bygone Tuesday, that was his present. He was asked to earlier to

take out a Grand Prix bride on Friday. -- bike on Friday. The rain

is keeping down the lap times. They are up and down. The rain has been

coming down like this. So awkward the second year. We are half race

distance as Andrea Dovizioso has a couple of three bike length

advantages here. Every town we see rain on the clamour, it is Dani

Pedrosa said that is more cautious and prudent and backs of the bed. -

- whenever we see rain on the fragile and does not want to end up

with any injury over the winter. He knows he has missed a few races

through this season because of his collarbone injury. Andreea divvied

Co so is the hungrier of the two. - one that is encountering the

weather for the first time. -- the guy out in front. Ben Spies needs a

good result. The Amarah have had an atrocious centre this season. --

Yamaha have had an atrocious end to the season. This season, if you

look back, we had some inspired riding and some inspired races, but

in many ways, it has boiled by their lack of Dani Pedrosa that. --

it was spoiled. The disappearance of Lorenzo for the last few races.

Valentino Rossi, not expecting to be beaten. All the usual runners

and riders had been missing, it has not been the championship we have

usually been used to, but next year will be Wide Open. I am looking

forward to the new rules. You can see the lap times because of the

spots of rain. This battle is still going on for rookie of the year and

Loris Capriossi... He seems to be closing them down. The new 1,000

rule, the new rules with the new team bikes coming end, more

interesting British skies, with the British motor sport coming in,

these conditions, there is nothing to say that a new bike will not be

as good as an addendum at Honda, Yamaha or de Cassie for that matter.

-- or Ducati. These MotoGP bikes will atop the top riders. --

attract the top riders. For bikes will be faster. Top speed will be

faster, the lap speed will be faster. They will hold 21 litres

but will move from 800 cc to 1,000 cc. The rev thing will be slower.

The new configuration. It will be harder on the tyres and everything

else. Loris Capriossi, back in seventh position. If we finish as

we are, it will be Andrea Dovizioso it will be with two laps to go, I

suspect. But he has to be careful because there is the am I has

snapping at his heels. And rain falling again on that camera.

Spies, who has been around this pallid... He makes the move! He

gives him racing and and yes, he was a gent. He could not quite make

it stick. Ben Spies sits in 5th place in the championship. Too many

not finish as for him. He was more striking last time. Down in 6th

place. Absolutely right, give him too much room and did not like to

squeeze Dani Pedrosa. He went on to that paid a little bit so what does

prove there is a reasonable amount of group out there. You don't let

Dani Pedrosa off lightly! Straightaway, Dovizioso tries to

cut back. Down the straight, side by side, Dovizioso had the better

line because he was able to get there faster exit. This is a

fantastic bit of play. And there is a lot at stake, third and 4th in

the championship. Particularly for Dovizioso. He would love to take

away that number three position to Tech 3 Yamaha. These guys are in

this order. Dovizioso third, Dani Pedrosa old 4th, Ben Spies and 5th

place. He will not improve on that. But he definitely needs to get onto

the podium. Call me the one race when. I don't think his results

reflect how well he seems to have driven, especially in his first

year? I completely agree. Ben Spies is going to win a lot more races.

At the start of the year, his luck went against them. I know you make

your own luck but sometimes things conspire against you and he is

still here, fighting away. Of course, he would like to be in

front of the two Honda bikes. The 11 laps remaining. The track must

be trying again. It just seems to fluctuate, 34, 35, 34, 35. Abraham,

Crutchlow, still neck-and-neck. Casey Stoner is the most accurate

barometer because he is having a very lonely ride up in front. These

tyres are tripping each other up a little bit. All the same, this time

around. Still Dovizioso, he fends off his team-mate, Ben Spies still

hunting. Abraham, this will be a stonking was all for him. There is

only have other seconds in this. Tony Ellis in eighth place. And

here are the guests. Josh Hayes can go back to America and say, yes,

all and Tino Rossi, I saw him off! -- Valentino Rossi. We know that he

is off to Pramac for the next season. You can see the tyre marks

down the side of Hector Barbera's bike. Some early tangles. Hiroshi

Aoyama. What is your report car? Not good. He was fabulous in 250

but he not to suffer round at Silverstone in the warm-up. He just

has not gelled. Is it still going on here? Yes. After you, no, after

me! Pedrosa was fastest over the hill. I was a chequered flag would

come out! Will somebody please help me! They're not nice conditions. I

quite enjoyed riding in the rain at times. Proper tyres. These

conditions are just horrible and it is worse for Casey Stoner, who

wants to get another when because that is what he likes doing but it

will be awkward out there. Every time you come around, you do not

know what is going to happen because normally it either gets

wetter or a trier. Excuse me! Squeeze me! Strictly Come Dancing

beckons for these boys! Who would be Dani Pedrosa's partner?!

Spies thinking, you guys are nuts. Go wide just so I can get past.

Making the dive up the inside. There is still a long way to go.

Again to 34 confident it. Casey Stoner is. Still, he has extended

that lead. Back up to 10. Enjoy the sound of these rents. It will not

be quite as screaming next year. These Honda bikes, particularly,

sound like ripping iron. They will sound better next year. There will

be the rumble of 1000 cc. And down we go. Counting the laps. This will

go any which way. Cal Crutchlow will want to beat Abraham but if he

stays where he is, it will still be the best result of this season, the

previous best being 7th place. will be the first to say, I just

did a few more finishes. And things will look a lot rosier for me.

is putting in his fastest lap of the race, colour Crutchlow. He will

have Dovizioso as his team-mate. -- Cal Crutchlow. That is a pretty

formidable team-mate. But he does not stay close to Dovizioso, he

will not be there any longer. 1000 cc will help. Dovizioso, surely...

He did not really come across. would have to come across to take

the racing line. I think a taster was just a little bit hot in there.

-- Alvaro Bautista. You could see at the last moment, Alvaro Bautista

had to Rapple -- grapple with the brake. Expensive, as well. Hundreds

of thousands of dollars. We hear that Suzuki are certain to run next

year and start the season without rebuilding. They will be testing

and Tuesday as well so fingers crossed there will be toot Suzuki

bikes on the grid next year, which would be brilliant. It's

uncomfortable for him to go week in, week out without his factory

explaining what they're going to do. We had just had a pass, at last!

Ben Spies, yes, I have finally got these Honda bikes! Dovizioso just

removes his visor. The this will help Dovizioso because that would

seal the job quite nicely. Look at the focus on those eyes. The man

born in Memphis, living in Texas. Down the inside, that was a brave

move. There is a lot of rain on a camera lens. Casey Stoner is back

to 1.37. He had a proper lap last time. Seven seconds, that is more

than he can afford. So, Jorge Lorenzo, sitting there. Feeling

quite smug. I could be out there but I'm pretty OK right here now.

He made the right decision. Spies potentially on the podium. He

has to hang on for six laps. The gap is closing. He has got the

magnet onto Cal Crutchlow. To tenths behind. And Loris Capirossi

is a few seconds down the road. Rating on the commentary booth

window again. 37 lap times have dropped so they are now three

seconds slower. Thank you indeed, Loris Capirossi. You have been a

great entertainer. He has done a pretty good job. And by anybody's

measure, he was the best Ducati team-mate that Stoner had... That

was hot! The same deal. Ben Spies going for the second. Dovizioso

will know that there is a bike behind them. He will it is at the

Yamaha Honda. He will try to be as wide as he possibly can. As soon as

the rain starts to come down, and it is, quite a bit heavier out

there. The lap times have really plummeted. Ben Spies over the top

of the hill. The white line. I am scared to look! Maybe he can get a

better drive out of the exit for the run down the hill. The only

trouble is, I have a feeling he isn't at ease with the braking

going into the bottom. The squirt of that Honda. That was a better

exit by Ben Spies than Dovizioso. These to look like they have really

dropped off Dani Pedrosa, who has decided he does not want to

encounter... Look at the rain! This is horrible. Casey Stoner will not

know what to do. Ben Spies! If they finish like this, at Dovizioso will

still beat Pedrosa in the championship. He will not be

stopping for the rest like. Unless there is an insolent because they

had the choice are coming in. You cannot do that with five laps. You

have to model your way around. Look at the gap. 2.5 seconds. Casey

Stoner is in countering the dodgy weather. Still murdered 43 last

time. He is two seconds ahead of these guys. Two laps to go.

Dovizioso. Ben Spies. Stoner. He has shed eight seconds into laps.

He must have had a moment but it is coming down or it was coming down

fairly heavy anti- has to be the one that takes the place up. You

look like a mug if you fall off whilst leading the race. But even

more after a ten-second lead. Still five laps remaining. They days the

mugs choice! It seems that way. Ben Spies, he has won when this year,

can he take another? -- he has one win. 39.9. Ben Spies has taken

another second. 1.6 seconds behind Casey Stoner. All these bikes

getting warmed up. I would not bother. They are not going to come

in. It isn't a long pit lane. would still lose one quarter of a

lap. Ben Spies, his partner isn't so hot about this. He surprised me.

He always says he does not like tough conditions but he has ridden

an absolute Stoner. Looking at the timing... Cal Crutchlow is back in

front of Abraham. He will be grabbing that Ricky of the year

with both hands, if you can possibly have it. Casey Stoner has

responded. The rain has stopped or it's not as heavy. There was some

horrible spots and that was nasty and horrible on the low-paid. --

yellow paint. He will extend this one more time. Yes, we shall see.

He will also get one more lap with Yamaha pressing right up into your

exhaust pipe. The traction control is working. It was 1.6, it is now

1.3. It has stabilised. Ben Spies, keeper of those white lines. He has

to stop this time. He is at ease with those brakes. This is

something else from Ben Spies to come through like this. Dovizioso

still be in front of the do so because he has four seconds and

fund. That will take the third place in the championship. -- in

front of Dovizioso. The rain is still falling. They and space has

taken another big chunk. That is down to not 0.3 a the second. He

has gone wide! Whoa! On the outside. Ben Spies is in the lead! Boy,

would that be a Christmas bonus for the kids in the Armagh had garage!

After the trying times they have had. We will get another look. That

was extraordinary. Nothing he could do. Ben Spies leading this race.

Could you take the second when during the season? That would be

have to say, very encouraging. I am scratching my head. He didn't

decide to let him go. He is having thoughts now about trying to get it

stopped as well. Teetering, tiptoeing, it's getting wetter not

drier. Two laps left as we go across the line. Ben Spies is in

the lead. Casey Stoner is behind. There was the moment. He must have

tried to lock up on him about point. Did not feel he had the confidence.

Back on the rear wheel, Casey Stoner going for a tenth win if he

can do it. What has he got to lose? Fears that the championship, pretty

much everything. He does not want a broken collarbone. Casey Stoner is

still hungry. He said it all year long, the championship would be

nice but I like winning races. Nevertheless, all his protestations

had been about winning races, that is what he wants to do. Dani

Pedrosa has slowed down so much that Cal Crutchlow is only a few

seconds behind him now. He has decided he is not interested in

these type of conditions. Number 11 is interested in these conditions.

Ben Spies going for his second MotoGP wind. Think of the odds he

would have got on Ben Spies winning today. He had a tumble in Malaysia,

a tumble here this week. We will find out who is serious and by how

much, because we go over the top. A nasty, difficult turn 14. Back down

the hill Lago and we are on the last lap. There is Cal Crutchlow

challenging Dani Pedrosa are and right behind him, Carole Abraham.

We are getting a treat with 12 riders left. Cal Crutchlow needs to

get past Dani Pedrosa. We're on the last lap, number 11, Ben Spies from

Memphis Tennessee, he has had one win this year and is a world

Superbike champion bad going for a second win in these horrible

conditions. It is difficult to lookouts the commentary box window.

It looks very difficult. slipping and sliding around, but I

think he has got out. My not many overtaking spots left. He looks

over his shoulder, keep your head down, Ben Spies. This is

extraordinary. Counting down the corners, not many left. They get

their money's worth out of the real-estate here. It doubles back

again and back again and if you treacherous corners. Everyone says

this track is hideously slippery, so they need to be careful. Just a

couple of more corners remaining as they move over the top of their

help. Been to 14. And Carl Abrahams is out. Cal Crutchlow, a rookie of

the year with a few corners to go. Ben Spies with his head down, can

Casey Stoner gets close enough? Casey Stoner has done it! He has

damaged by 15 hundredths of a second! The drive he got! Cal

Crutchlow comes in fourth position. and a half the second. -- one-tenth

and a half of a second. It is great is the Cal Crutchlow get up there.

Loris Capriossi, understandably upset, crossing the line. Inside

the top 10 for his last race in MotoGP. He had an amazing career.

328 starts, 29 wins over 23 years. I could not a Maj-Gen come I can

only assume how a Ben Spies. -- I could not imagine, I can only

assume how Ben Spies got across there. He won that race, Casey

Stoner won bat raised by 0.015 of a second false start -- won of that

race. I am disappointed for Ben Spies. Casey Stoner had a

marvellous win. I do not understand. He must have missed a gear or

something happened or the traction control cuts in too hard. That

Honda does not accelerate that much more than the Amarah. I cannot

believe it. -- more than the Yamaha. It doesn't seem possible. I do not

know what went on. The electronics cut in. Something slowed it down.

There is no way that the Honda added to accelerate it.

Thank you very much for your great hasn't been said about Marco

Simoncelli. All of the words had been said by the people here today.

They said that he wrote it like he's still let, he got on with it.

Will be in memory for a long time. I feel sorry for Ben Spies, that

was extraordinary, those last 300 metres of arrays that I have ever

seen in my life. Best of a race. had a fair lead NT would not have

thought it possible. Bus and he enormous scoreboard and see how

many race wins that is. Casey Stoner. Cal Crutchlow was three

seconds from the podium. That is fantastic. I cannot wait to hear

what went on. That was astonishing. Well ridden, Cal Crutchlow. A great

finish to a good year. He has that testing and a lot of things going

on, but that will cement his position in this team. Yes, he

adopted when it was difficult, and that we look really good. Bus that

race and his 10th win. His 10th win this season. Plenty more where they

came from, I believe. That is 33 MotoGP wins. Wins for Casey Stoner,

very interesting. Fourth place for Cal Crutchlow is even hotter news!

Yes, great scenes down here, a fantastic race for Cal Crutchlow,

and the rookie of the year, an incredible race. It was a top race.

It would have been more difficult without the crash at the first

corner, but you have days like that. I am pleased. It is nice to end the

year on a high note and we have tried for this all year. It was a

good battle at the end with Karel Abraham, but EVERTON was going to

be a drizzle race or a wet race, then it was close on the last few

laps. -- but if it was going to be. I was at too interested in Rob Key

of the year, I just wanted to keep my position as much as I could.

can smile, you know! I am smiling! But you are in front of me, and you

are ugly! So I am not going to smile at you! A so close to being a

race winner today. Disappointing tour lose out on the photo finish,

but what a way to end the season. am happy, we made a huge surge at

the end. We made a bunch of ground on Casey Stoner, and when we got

ahead it was hard to understand how wet the track was because there was

no one in front of us. It started to rain quite heavily and Casey

Stoner took some risks in the last few corner hours and had more

moderate than me down the front. Thank you. Congratulations. We can

confirm the result. You have to scratch yourself about this. Casey

Stoner wins but by the smallest with Dani Pedrosa in the early

stages, but the third in the championship! Yes, in the end, I

wanted to take more risks and win the race, because there were good

conditions for me. But their position in the championships was

so important, and with the rain coming, it was impossible to see

where was wet and there was bright. To many risks when Danny reduced

the speed. It was OK. I am happy with my strategy because the only

way to beat Dani Pedrosa a year in this track was to make a strategy

because he is faster here and I made a good strategy. I want to say

thank you to the team because it is a really good team and I am sorry

to go away, butts thank you. Thank you. It is a shame to be losing him.

There is no doubt. Cal Crutchlow moved up one in the championship up

to 12, that is useful. Yes, a good way to finish the season for Cal

Crutchlow, editor got rid the season but a big year for him next

year as we said in the programme. The perfect way to end a very, very

difficult season. Casey Stoner, the Welsh champion, press the red

button to join us for more reaction. -- the world's champion. It is

goodbye from every one here in Valencia at the end of the season