The season draws to a close at the Circuito de la Comunitat Valenciana.
After an exciting and extremely eventful racing season the MotoGP draws to a close this weekend with the Valencia MotoGP finale, held at the Circuito de la Comunitat Valenciana.
Marc Marquez managed to end his spell of four consecutive non-wins after taking the title at the Malaysian MotoGP on the 26th of October. The Spaniard, who has already been crowned 2014 MotoGP champion, finished over two seconds ahead of Valentino Rossi racing on the Sepang circuit, with Jorge Lorenzo completing the podium.
Following his Malaysian victory, Marquez is now a long way ahead with 337 points. Rossi is currently second place overall with 275, closely followed by Lorenzo with 263 points. The close gap between the two riders means that we can expect some fierce competition for second spot this weekend.
Marquez has now secured himself 12 wins this season, equalling the current MotoGP record set by Aussie rider Mick Doohan back in 1997. The Spaniard now aims to smash Doohan’s record in the Valencia MotoGP, and has admitted that his most recent win has “taken off some of the pressure.”
The Malaysian MotoGP was raced in sweltering temperatures, with Marquez commenting that his “strongest opponent [was] the weather.” When asked about this weekend, he said that he “just wants to go out and enjoy the final” now that he’s at least matched Doohan’s record.
This year will be the 16th Valencia MotoGP, which has been held every year since the circuit’s inception back in 1999. Last year, Marquez’s third-place finish in Valencia saw him becoming MotoGP’s youngest world champion; an impressive feat considering it was his MotoGP debut.
The circuit
As well as hosting the MotoGP, Circuito de la Comunitat Valenciana – also known as Circuit Ricardo Tormo or the Circuit de Valencia – regularly serves as a test track for Formula One teams due to the mild winter temperatures.
The circuit boasts several layouts, running anti-clockwise at various lengths. The MotoGP is held on a relatively small 4km track, comprising 5 right-handers, 8 left-handers and a 650m straight. The pit complex features 48 garages.
The grandstands around the circuit can seat up to 150,000 people. Given its size and the layout, spectators are able to see the whole of the circuit, regardless of where they are. There’s always a great buzz surrounding the Valencia MotoGP owing to the fact that it is a regular host of the season finale.
For the very first time in the history of MotoGP Valencia spectators will be allowed to ‘invade’ and celebrate on the track following the race on Sunday, which will make for a very special end to the season.
We’re expecting an exciting finale to what has been a fantastic season. And what will we do with our Sundays when the MotoGP is over? Well, maybe we should defy the wintery chill and get out on our own bikes…
Image: Gines Romero / Shutterstock.com