Victory in Valencia

Thoughts by Kate Adams

And with that, the 2023 season comes to an end. What a season it was! We witnessed a fierce competition that persisted until the last race, and we were treated to a season unlike any other. Contracts were broken, and we experienced a sensationally spicy silly season that surpassed expectations. The championship battle unfolded dramatically, concluding in the very last race.

@RNF Racing Official

This weekend at Valencia was always going to be an emotional one for some garages. GasGas bids farewell to Pol Espargaro as a full-time rider, making way for the up-and-coming Moto2 World Champion Pedro Acosta.

Few dry eyes could be found in the Repsol Honda garage as eight-time world champion Marc Marquez parted ways with the team after an 11-year partnership. Marquez delivered a sensational ride on Saturday, resulting in an emotional podium where the Spaniard teared up during interviews and photos. Sunday brought further emotional moments as he lined up for his final Grand Prix with the team. Unfortunately, the final Grand Prix saw him being taken out by another rider—far from the ending he would have wanted for the team.

@BoxRepsol

The main story of the weekend centered around the championship fight between two Ducati riders: Prima Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin and Lenovo Factory Ducati's Pecco Bagnaia.

Although Pecco Bagnaia entered the weekend as the firm favorite, Jorge Martin secured another Sprint success with daring overtakes on Saturday, claiming the top podium spot. In contrast, championship rival Pecco Bagnaia faced Sprint struggles after choosing the wrong tire, ultimately crossing the line in P5. These results heightened the tension, narrowing the point gap to just 14 points heading into the Sunday Grand Prix Race.

The Sunday race witnessed misfortunes for several riders. Factory KTM rider Jack Miller crashed out of the lead, and teammate Brad Binder ran wide, dropping from first to sixth—a notable incident among the many. Alex Rins, Marco Bezzecchi, Enea Bastianini, and Augusto Fernandez were also among the fallers.

@Michelin

However, the most significant misfortune befell two riders already mentioned here, Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez. Following an early mistake that forced Jorge Martin to fight through the field, the championship hopeful came in hot, clipped the back of Marquez's Honda, and sent them both into the gravel trap.

With Martin out of the running, Pecco Bagnaia crossed the line in first place, securing his third world championship from the top step of the podium. After a season of highs and lows for both championship rivals, both Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia can be proud of the performances they displayed in this season's battle. They head into the winter (or summer for those of us down under) knowing that they gave their all in this season's fight.

@Michelin

However, the weekend's drama didn't stop there. While the podium was initially Pecco Bagnaia, Fabio Di Giannantonio, and Johann Zarco, a late 3-second tire pressure penalty saw Fabio Di Giannantonio demoted from the podium to P4, with Brad Binder taking the final spot. Next season, tire pressures threaten to play a significant role in the narrative, with the penalty changing from seconds demoting a rider, to an instant disqualification.