Dani Pedrosa pipped Johann Zarco to victory in a dramatic Valencia Grand Prix, as Marc Marquez secured his fourth MotoGP crown after a late crash for rival Andrea Dovizioso.
Marquez held a 21–point advantage over Dovizioso in the title race, and only needed to finish inside the top 11 if the Ducati rider were to win the race.
Despite a wheelie off the line, Marquez took the holeshot into the first turn ahead of team–mate Pedrosa, while Dovizioso found his way through to sixth having started ninth.
Marquez lost his rear gunner when the soft front and rear-fitted Zarco muscled his Tech3 Yamaha through on the Spaniard into Turn 4 on lap two. Not willing to engage the Frenchman unnecessarily, Marquez offered no defence at Turn 6 on the fourth lap.
Zarco held a half–second lead for much of the race, but was unable to drop the chasing Marquez. Behind, Ducati issued the order ‘suggested mapping eight’ – also used in Malaysia – to Lorenzo to allow Dovizioso through.
However, the Spaniard did not adhere to the message issued on lap 13, and did not relinquish fourth spot until he crashed out with six laps remaining – bringing to an end his first winless season in the top class.
Dovizioso was thrown a glimmer of hope when Marquez ran off track at Turn 1 in the closing stages after suffering a massive front–end slide, dropping him behind the Italian.
Twitter: DRAMA!!! Marquez runs on at turn one after a MASSSSSSIVE save!
He rejoins in 5th! #FinalShowdown https://t.co/nt4Lsy01UR (@MotoGP)
But it proved immaterial in the end, as a crash on the same lap as Lorenzo saw Dovizioso‘s hopes of a maiden premier class title vanish. This promoted Marquez back up to third, where he stayed for the last laps to become the youngest ever four–time MotoGP champion by 37 points.
Twitter: GAME OVER! @AndreaDovizioso is down!
The Championship is all but over! #FinalShowdown! https://t.co/eBUBHQEUkU (@MotoGP)
The battle for the lead raged until the last lap, with Pedrosa hounding Zarco. The Honda rider used the slight grip advantage he had over the Frenchman to scythe past into Turn 1 on the last lap and pull away by 0.337 seconds to win for the second time in 2017.
Suzuki’s Alex Rins took a career–best fourth to end his rookie campaign, the Spaniard just 0.250s ahead of Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi – who slips behind Pedrosa by two points into fifth in the standings. Suzuki’s team–mate Andrea Iannone was a further seven tenths adrift in sixth.
Jack Miller took top satellite Honda honours in seventh ahead of LCR’s Cal Crutchlow, while Ducati wildcard Michele Pirro led home Tito Rabat to complete the top 10.
Bradley Smith was the sole remaining KTM after Mika Kallio and Pol Espargaro crashed out, while Maverick Vinales ended his first year in Yamaha colours a lowly 12th. Danilo Petrucci, Karel Abraham and Hector Barbera took the remaining points.
Sam Lowes‘ final MotoGP race came to a sour end with a crash, the Briton joining Aprilia team–mate Aleix Espargaro on the sidelines. Alvaro Bautista was a double crasher.
