Valencia MotoGP 2013 | Season Finale Results

2013 Valencia MotoGP Results

Spoiler Alert: 2013 MotoGP results from the season finale at Valencia listed below

For most, the art of patience and discipline is learned well after the age of 20. But for the select few, this art is learned earlier in life.

One king of MotoGP mastered this art at a young age – Valentino Rossi. The nine-time World Champion began winning at 18, and has since achieved nine world titles, including a string of five straight premier-class titles.

Rossi is undoubtedly a master in the modern age of MotoGP, but there’s a new generation of riders on the prowl. And this generation has a new king – the 20-year-old Marc Marquez.

Due his patience and discipline throughout 2013 season, the young and talented Spaniard Marquez earned the MotoGP title. He broke many records along the way, including becoming the youngest rider to ever win a MotoGP title, ousting Freddie Spencer’s record from 1983.

Marquez achieved the title feat following a third-place finish at Valencia MotoGP, the finale of 18 rounds. This was the first time the title went down to the wire since Nicky Hayden broke Rossi’s five-year title streak in 2006.

Marquez entered Valencia with a 13-point lead over his season-long rival, the reigning MotoGP Champion Jorge Lorenzo. Marquez only needed a fourth-place or better to earn the 2013 MotoGP title, regardless of Lorenzo’s finishing position.

He could have fought for a win, but kept the art of discipline in scope. Lorenzo did everything he possibly could to retain the title, and took the win – his third straight. Joining Lorenzo on the podium was Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa and Marquez, making for another all-Spanish podium.

When the 30-lap finale began, Lorenzo capitalized on his second-place starting position, and got to turn one first. Following Lorenzo were Pedrosa, the pole-man Marquez, Rossi and GO&FUN Honda Gresini’s Alvaro Bautista. The next 10 laps would be some of the most aggressive riding witnessed all season.

Cold Bridgestones on the newly-paved, 2.489-mile Valencia circuit containing 14 corners, Marquez went wide on turn two, but quickly got it back together, remaining in third.

The duel between Lorenzo and Pedrosa began ascending on the second lap, when Pedrosa took the lead after turn one. But Lorenzo forced Pedrsoa wide into turn two, and regained the lead. Behind, Rossi got passed by Bautista, who began chasing down Marquez. This likely whacked some nerves in the Repsol Honda pits, considering Bautista’s past of taking riders out.

Heading into lap three, Pedrosa’s Honda RC213 once again got the best of Lorenzo’s YZR-M1 on the front straight. But Lorenzo’s corner speed was equally impressive, the Yamaha seeming to run any line with complete precision. By the end of lap three, Lorenzo, Pedrosa and Marquez were opening up a gap on the second group of Bautista and Rossi.

With 27 laps to go, Pedrosa passed Lorenzo at turn four, but Lorenzo battled right back. Behind, Marquez was in a comfortable third, though he almost ran into the back of his teammate a few times.

Up front, Pedrosa was riding very aggressively, causing Lorenzo to ride as aggressively to keep in front. Lorenzo was constantly baking the carbon brakes, running the YZR-M1 deep into the corners, keeping the Repsol Hondas at bay.

With 21 to go, Lorenzo and Pedrosa touched heading into turn two. This made Pedrosa wide, and he slipped back to fifth. Lorenzo was also forced off his line, and this allowed Marquez into the lead. Unfortunately, on the same lap Cal Crutchlow crashed out, ending his year with the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha squad with a DNF before heading to the Ducati Team.

Lorenzo didn’t waste any time, though, and retook the lead from Marquez on the next lap. Marquez fought back, but again stuck to the art of discipline, and began riding a consistent pace. Behind, Bautista seemed to be holding off, allowing the battle between the title rivals to continue up front. But his slower pace allowed Rossi and Bautista to pass.

With 15 to go, Lorenzo opened up a gap on Marquez, and began his impeccable smooth style, not veering off his line for a centimeter. Behind, Marquez took a breather, and began to capitalize on patience.

With two-thirds of the race complete, Lorenzo had opened up 1.5 second gap on Marquez. The two-time MotoGP Champion wasn’t about to slow down, and set  a new fastest lap of the race with a 1:31.701.

Pedrosa was on a charge, also, the man in third posting a 131.628 for yet another new fastest lap. With five to go, Marquez signaled Pedrosa through, and slipped back to third. He continued his steady and conservative pace, not wanting to sacrifice his title hopes.

And it all worked. Marquez would finish in a lonely third, over seven seconds behind Lorenzo, allowing him to take the 2013 MotoGP Championship. He became the first rider to earn a title in his rookie year since the American Kenny Roberts back in 1978.

Marquez broke record after record in 2013 MotoGP, taking 16 podiums, including six wins, and nine poles. He only screwed up twice – a crash at Mugello, and a black flag for not pitting early enough at Phillip Island for a mandatory tire change. Regardless of these two DNFs, his podium record kept him on top in points. Marquez now has a title in all three divisions – the former 125cc class (2010, Derbi), Moto2 (2012, Suter) and MotoGP.

Due to Marquez and his teammate Pedrosa’s performances throughout the 18-round series that had riders race almost 1100 miles in 13 countries, Honda also earned the 2013 Constructor’s (manufacturer’s) title.

Behind the podium finishers at Valencia, Rossi took fourth, followed by Bautista. Rounding out the top 10 were LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl, Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Bradley Smith, Ducati Team’s Nicky Hayden, Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso, and Ducati Teast Team rider Michele Pirro. The top CRT finisher was once again Power Electronics Apsar’s Aleix Espargaro, who clinched top CRT honors at Phillip Island.

Stay clicked to UltimateMotorCycling.com for further 2013 MotoGP coverage.

2013 Valencia MotoGP Results:

2013 MotoGP Championship Final Point Standings:

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