2011 MotoGP Award Ceremony
Sunday was not only a busy day for the MotoGP riders at the Valencia circuit. Following the 2011 MotoGP season finale, the traditional end-of-the-season awards ceremony occurred at the Auditori Mar Rojo de L’Oceanogràfic in the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciencies.
It was here where 2011 MotoGP Champion Casey Stoner collected his FIM Trophy, the Australian’s Repsol Honda RC212V on stage for the event. The ceremony followed an impressive day of racing for Stoner, who took the pole for Round 18 at Valencia and then the win by 0.015 of a second over Yamaha’s Ben Spies.
But when the season completed, the leathers came off and the suit on for Stoner and the remaining MotoGP riders as they attended the FIM Awards Ceremony, the event broadcast live across the world.
MotoGP says presenters Gavin Emmett and Izaskun Ruiz were joined on stage by President of the Generalitat Valenciana Mr. Alberto Fabra, Mayoress of Valencia Ms. Rita Barberá and Dorna Sports CEO Mr. Carmelo Ezpeleta. FIM President Mr. Vito Ippolito, IRTA President Mr. Hervé Poncharal and FIM CCR Director Mr. Rezsö Bulcsu were also on hand to present awards throughout the course of the evening.
But it wasn’t only Stoner receiving awards; the other class heroes of 2011 also received their awards, including Moto2 Champion Stefan Bradl and 125cc MotoGP Champion Nico Terol, which will be the last-ever 125 title as the class switches to Moto3 for 2012.
MotoGP says the recognition of a series of other notable achievements saw prizes awarded for the Rookie of the Year in each World Championship category, the BMW M Award for best qualifier in the MotoGP class, the Tissot Pole of Poles, Best Grand Prix, the Team and Manufacturer World Championship titles, the Michel Metraux Trophy (Moto2 and 125cc), the Shoya Tomizawa Fair Play Award, and the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.
But the MotoGP grid won’t get much rest; on Tuesday and Wednesday, the riders will be back on the Valencia circuit for the traditional post-season test. But it won’t be 800cc rides any longer; the new 1000cc machines will be tested as the larger-engine capacity goes into effect for 2012.
