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| | | MotoGP Valencia : Dani wins the last race |  Written: 05/11/2007 : 14:45. Read 8340 times (6/day). | Dani Pedrosa has won the last race of the season 2007 on his Honda.
The spaniard was followed by Casey Stoner and John Hopkins. This grand prix was not so spectacular, compared to the others yesterday (125cc and 250cc).
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Pedrosa who made the pole position has had to follow Casey Stoner duriong the first few laps, then he could take the lead.
After that the spaniard managed to keep the leadership and made a small (but enough) gap toward the end of the race.
Dani Pedrosa made the best operation of the week-end by taking the runner up position at the championship after the retirement of Valentino Rossi.
Dani Pedrosa:
"I'm very happy with this result. I really wanted to win this race very much and so actually achieving it feels fantastic. The race was very tough and I had to push at the maximum from start to finish. In the early laps I was struggling a little with grip from the front tyre but then in the second half of the race is was very good. The pace today was really fast and Casey was chasing hard so there was no moment to relax or back off. Towards the end of the race I was sliding in some of the left-handers but I was still able to push hard. I must say thanks to the team because they have worked very hard for me this weekend and all year and the bike was perfect today. Also I must thank Michelin too because the tyres were very good today. I didn't know until I arrived in the parc ferme that I had second in the world championship and this was nice surprise. I didn’t expect this because there was only a very, very slim chance of doing this coming into this weekend. After quite a difficult season second place is better than third and gives the Repsol Honda Team some reward for sticking with it and never giving up this year. It will give us even more motivation for winter testing because we must now take another step forward so that we can arrive at the first race of 2008 with the best possible package. I think the crowd has enjoyed this weekend and I'm very proud to have given my fans a great result at my home circuit – it’s a great feeling!"
The second rider to have crossed the line is the world champion Casey Stoner.
Obviously contender for the victory, it was impossible for him to stay on the wheel of Dani Pedrosa. His Ducati was very efficient but for sure less than the Honda for this race, Pedrosa could pass Stoner in the small straight line...
Casey Stoner :
"I expected the pace to be low 33s, but I didn't expect it to be so fast for so long. Everything seemed good, then Dani came past and pulled a bit of an advantage straight away and I wasn't able to claw it back. I could pretty much hold it, then he'd eke out a tenth or two, then I'd get some of it back, then he'd take out a little more. He rode a faultless race, so he deserved the win. I'm happy for him because I now know what it's like to win your home GP - it's a very good feeling, especially in this class. We were pushing hard and I had a couple of front-end slides but the bike was feeling good. Then with five laps to go I lost some grip, so I eased off a bit because we were quite a distance in front of the rest. I'm happy with the way I rode, I got the best out of the bike, so I'm reasonably happy. It's been a fantastic year, we can't say anything bad about it, my worst result was the race where we won the championship so the title made up for that! I think next year everyone will come out a little tougher, a little stronger, so I'm going to make sure I do everything I can to come out on top again."
Third on the podium, the future green rider (for Kawasaki) John Hopkins.
For his last race with Suzuki, the US rider made a strong race, stuck in the third position, alone, after he could pass Hayden.
The kind rider has not forgot to thank his crew for the five years he spent with them.
John Hopkins:
“I have just got to thank everyone at Suzuki - that is my first and foremost task. To every member at Suzuki I want to pass on my ultimate thanks to them, Suzuki has given me my life in MotoGP and established my career and I just cannot show enough gratitude to them.
“Today the tyres and the bike worked awesome and I just went for it from the beginning! I got a good start and then got around Nicky Hayden, but from there it was a pretty lonely race. I just had to push myself against the clock and make sure I pulled away from the riders behind me. I succeeded in that but it was very emotional on the last few laps with that comfort and I had to concentrate real hard to keep focused! It’s a great result because my Mum, sister, fiancée and her family are all here today so it was an unbelievable feeling when I crossed the line – it was a great way to end the year. I would have liked to have put the bike on the top step for Rizla Suzuki and especially all my crew, but that’s for Dani and the home fans today!
“I just want to say thanks once again, it’s been a fantastic five years and I’ve had a top time, now I just want to take it all in tonight and have a good time with the boys!”
The wood medal of the fourth position is for Marco Melandri.
The future Ducati rider finished the race ahead the one he will replace in the Borgo Panigale team.
The italian made a good race and had a nice fight with Hayden and Capirossi before he could secure his fourth position.
Marco Melandri, Gresini Honda: 4th
"I knew that it a would be a tough race, but today was much harder than in practice. I made a good start to gain five places but I lacked feeling in the front end and the bike was moving around a lot. I fought with Hayden for fourth and was looking for Hopkins, but it wasn't possible on this occasion. It’s disappointing because I wanted a podium and I've missed out on fourth place in championship by two points to John. I wanted a better result but thanks to Fausto and the team for all their hard work."
To end the Top five, Loris Capirossi. The italian rider ends one of his worst season of his career, on the world champion bike.
Now on the departure for the Suzuki Team, Capirossi has never founbd the notice of the Desmosedici, a bike he has developped...
During five years, Loris Capirossi was the number one rider of the Ducati in MotoGP.
Bringing the first podium of the contemporary history of the manufacturer in 2003 in Japan, for the first race of Ducati. 
Loris Capirossi will stay in the heart of Tfosi Ducatisti, as Ducati will stay in the heart of Capirossi:
"I felt emotional when I came into the pits after my last race for Ducati. Saying goodbye is always very difficult. We've had a lot of good times together and although this year has been difficult, I've won a race and scored three more podiums. I wish to thank all my team, all the Ducati people and all the Ducati fans who have supported me. I think we worked very well this weekend and today the bike was working not so bad. I had some difficulties with the tyres because my style, which uses a lot of lean angle, works the tyres very hard. I made a decent race, not bad and not good. I had a good duel with Nicky [Hayden] but that lost me contact with Marco [Melandri]. Anyway, this season is over and now it's time to think of the future."
The big disappointed of this race, because there always one, is Valentino Rossi.
Of course really disappointed to not been able to defend his chance normaly after his crash and injurie during the qualifying practice (three broken bones in the right hand).
But most of all disappointed due to his retirement.
We first think it was due to the pain, but it seems that his bike had a mechanical failure after he came out of track.
Not very lucky this season, Valentino Rossi lorst the runner up position at the championship due to his Yamaha.
He was 14th on a great pace (the Clinica Mobile doctors have some really good drugs...) but he soon saw that his bike was less and less good.
After a small mistake who make him loose all the advantage of his start of race, Rossi came in pits.
The Doctor made a really angry interview to italian television, obviously unhappy to lose the runner up position on a mechanical problem of his Yamaha.
The 2007 season is now done for him with his worst reasult in championship since 1996.
Next season with Bridgestone tyres, Valentino Rossi will be the biggest challenger for the title, and also the most motivated.
Valentino Rossi :
“I have no words. For sure, after today, I can say that it’s not just a matter of misfortune. I did everything I could in order to be on the grid today, because I wanted to try and confirm my second place in the championship, which I think I deserved. I was riding very fast, even though my bike was not perfect. When I got into 14th place, I told myself that my task was done, but I was feeling quite good and I wanted to try to pass some more riders. Unfortunately however I felt that I had a problem with my bike and I was forced to come in. Now we are checking the data to understand what happened, because at the moment it’s not so clear. I will need 20 days to fix my hand and then I will be back in Jerez to start my winter testing programme. I’d like to thank Claudio Costa and Marco Montanari, as well as everyone at the Clinica Mobile, because they made a great effort with my hand to enable me to race today.” (interview from Yamaha)
The 2007 season is over. Casey Stoner was the best rider this year but this 2008 season is already predicted as a great one.
Stoner was insatiable of victory this season and a the long winter break will certainly shape his teeth...
Dani Pedrosa is runner up, so there is just one more step (big step) to cross before the supreme title. He will do all he could to do it, and Honda too, the manufacturer is now bored to be smashed by other makers... Next season the HRC will bring a new RCV...
At last, Valentino Rossi has already the knife out to fight after the humiliating season he made.
He bets on Bridgestone tyre to be the best in 2008 but the tyre war is not over and Michelin said that 2008 will be another story...
MotoGP Valencia :
1- 26 D.PEDROSA HONDA 46'43.533
2- 27 C.STONER DUCATI 46'48.980 +5.447
3- 21 J.HOPKINS SUZUKI 47'03.937 +20.404
4- 33 M.MELANDRI HONDA 47'08.360 +24.827
5- 65 L.CAPIROSSI DUCATI 47'09.337 +25.804
6- 71 C.VERMEULEN SUZUKI 47'09.395 +25.862
7- 4 A.BARROS DUCATI 47'13.003 +29.470
8- 1 N.HAYDEN HONDA 47'13.866 +30.333
9- 14 R.DE PUNIET KAWASAKI 47'14.428 +30.895
10- 24 T.ELIAS HONDA 47'14.563 +31.030
11- 50 S.GUINTOLI YAMAHA 47'22.296 +38.763
12- 7 C.CHECA HONDA 47'26.039 +42.506
13- 5 C.EDWARDS YAMAHA 47'30.105 +46.572
14- 56 S.NAKANO HONDA 47'33.753 +50.220
15- 6 M.TAMADA YAMAHA 47'40.412 +56.879
16- 13 A.WEST KAWASAKI 47'58.902 +1'15.369
MotoGP Final world championship standings :
1- C.STONER DUCATI 367
2- D.PEDROSA HONDA 242
3- V.ROSSI YAMAHA 241
4- J.HOPKINS SUZUKI 189
5- M.MELANDRI HONDA 187
6- C.VERMEULEN SUZUKI 179
7- L.CAPIROSSI DUCATI 166
8- N.HAYDEN HONDA 127
9- C.EDWARDS YAMAHA 124
10- A.BARROS DUCATI 115
11- R.DE PUNIET KAWASAKI 108
12- T.ELIAS HONDA 104
13- C.CHECA HONDA 65
14- A.HOFMANN DUCATI 65
15- A.WEST KAWASAKI 59
16- S.GUINTOLI YAMAHA 50
17- S.NAKANO HONDA 47
18- M.TAMADA YAMAHA 38
19- K.ROBERTS KR212V 10
20- M.FABRIZIO HONDA 6
21- R.Lee HAYDEN KAWASAKI 6
22- F.NIETO KAWASAKI 5
23- K.ROBERTS JR KR212V 4
24- O.JACQUE KAWASAKI 4
25- N.AOKI SUZUKI 3
26- S.ITO DUCATI 1
Article : Aurélien Filippi
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