Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo had to work his way back to the front but still managed to take a comforting ninth victory in 2010 in the season finale run at Valencia (Spain) this weekend.

Pole sitter Casey Stoner, in his last ever outing for Ducati, kept a renuous lead ahead of a warring pack made up of fast-starting Dani Pedrosa (Honda), Nicky Hayden (Ducati), Marco Simoncelli (Gresini Honda) and the two works Yamahas.

Hayden was second when he fell on lap 3, while the two leading Yamaha riders were still rooting around in 7th (Lorenzo) and 9th (Rossi) before starting their usual march through the ranks on lap 10, having preserved their tires up to that point.

With seven laps to go and having passed Rossi, MotoGP champion-elect Lorenzo outbraked race leader Casey Stoner into Turn 2, grabbing a lead that would grow to 4.5 seconds by the end.

Stoner kept Rossi behind him, as both riders finished their last race before moving on to a different manufacturer, with the first tests scheduled for the coming two days after the race. Stoner on the rocket-quick Honda and working with a pro-Pedrosa team, and Rossi aboard a difficult-to-ride Ducati! Watch for Stoner to adapt to the Honda and Rossi to adapt the Ducati to his smooth style, as both will again do to the fore in 2011.

Also watch Nicky Hayden profit from Rossi’s development and return to the front of the pack, and Ben Spies, the quickest learner on the grid, take on Lorenzo on the second Yamaha factory bike.

2011 will be good watching!


MotoGP Valencia - Results

Pos Rider Team Time/Gap
1. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 46m44.622s
2. Casey Stoner Ducati + 4.576s
3. Valentino Rossi Yamaha + 8.998s
4. Ben Spies Yamaha + 17.643s
5. Andrea Dovizioso Honda + 19.160s
6. Marco Simoncelli Honda + 20.674s
7. Dani Pedrosa Honda + 26.797s
8. Hector Barbera Ducati + 29.288s
9. Alvaro Bautista Suzuki + 29.451s
10. Randy de Puniet Honda + 29.860s
11. Aleix Espargaro Ducati + 31.761s
12. Colin Edwards Yamaha + 33.604s
13. Marco Melandri Honda + 36.622s
14. Hiroshi Aoyama Honda + 38.968s
15. Carlos Checa Ducati + 56.169s

Retirements:

Loris Capirossi Suzuki 13 laps
Nicky Hayden Ducati 2 laps

MotoGP 2010 Final Standings
Pos. Rider Team Points

1. Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha 383 Champion
2. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda 245
3. Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha 233
4. Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro 225
5. Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda 206
6. Ben Spies Monster Yamaha Tech 3 176
7. Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro 163
8. Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda Gresini 125
9. Randy de Puniet LCR Honda 116
10. Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3 103



MotoGP Finale Valence - Résultats

Pos Pilote Équipe Temps/Écart
1. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 46m 44.622s
2. Casey Stoner Ducati + 4.576s
3. Valentino Rossi Yamaha + 8.998s
4. Ben Spies Yamaha + 17.643s
5. Andrea Dovizioso Honda + 19.160s
6. Marco Simoncelli Honda + 20.674s
7. Dani Pedrosa Honda + 26.797s
8. Hector Barbera Ducati + 29.288s
9. Alvaro Bautista Suzuki + 29.451s
10. Randy de Puniet LCR Honda + 29.860s
11. Aleix Espargaro Ducati + 31.761s
12. Colin Edwards Yamaha + 33.604s
13. Marco Melandri Honda + 36.622s
14. Hiroshi Aoyama Honda + 38.968s
15. Carlos Checa Ducati + 56.169s

Abandons:

Loris Capirossi Suzuki 13 tours
Nicky Hayden Ducati 2 tours


MotoGP Classement Final 2010
Pos. Pilote Équipe Points

1. Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha 383 - Champion
2. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda 245
3. Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha 233
4. Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro 225
5. Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 206
6. Ben Spies Monster Yamaha Tech 3 176
7. Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro 163
8. Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda Gresini 125
9. Randy de Puniet LCR Honda 116
10. Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3 103