World champion Marc Marquez (Honda) won his 12th race of the year at the final event on the 2019 calendar, the Valencia MotoGP. Marquez passed early leader Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) and then managed his gap the remainder of the race to take the win ahead of Quartararo in second and Jack Miller (Ducati) in third.
Jorge Lorenzo (Honda) ended his professional racing career with an unremarkable 13th place. Together with Marquez’ incredible year, Honda was able to secure the Manufacturers championship, Team championship and Individual Rider championship.
Johann Zarco (Honda) suffered an ankle injury when he was hit by another rider’s bike sliding through the gravel pit after Zarco’s own crash. Zarco’s future remains in doubt (he is unsigned for next year), but the coveted spot at Repsol Honda vacated by Lorenzo’s retirement now appears likely to go to the younger brother of Marc Marquez, Moto2 World champion Alex Marquez.
Take a look at the official MotoGP site for additional details and points, but here are full race results.
Here is a press release from Honda that summarizes the incredible year, and the new records achieved by Marquez:
Jorge Lorenzo ended an incredible 18-year Grand Prix career with an emotional Valencia race, helping the Repsol Honda Team to clinch the Triple Crown alongside another dominating Marquez win.
For the third year in succession the Repsol Honda Team celebrate the end of a MotoGP season with the Triple Crown after winning the Riders, Teams and Constructors Championships. The accomplishment completes an incredible year full of records and achievements as Honda celebrates their 60th anniversary of racing.
Marquez made quick work of the riders ahead of him as the lights went out on the final race of 2019, moving into second place on the third lap. With just Fabio Quartararo ahead of him, Marquez methodically cut the gap from almost a second to just two tenths in five laps. Striking at Turn 11, Marquez only needed one chance to move to the front and quickly amassed an insurmountable lead.
A 12th victory signs off Marquez’s 2019 season in perfect style and matches the number of wins he achieved in his dominating 2014 season. Earning 420 points across the 19 races of 2019, Marquez becomes the first rider in history to score more than 400 points in a single season. With his 95th premier class podium, he draws level with Mick Doohan as the second most prolific Honda podium finisher in the premier class.
After 297 Grand Prix starts, Jorge Lorenzo’s marked the end of his legendary MotoGP World Championship career with his best finish since returning from injury. The five-time World Champion bid a fond farewell to Grand Prix racing with a 13th place finish in front of an adoring Spanish crowd. With 68 wins, 152 podiums and 69 poles, Lorenzo bows out with some the most impressive stats to his name in Grand Prix history.
This is the Repsol Honda Team’s ninth Triple Crown since the MotoGP class began in 2002, cementing them the most dominant team and constructor in the premier class. For the first time in the four-stroke era, the team has managed to take three Triple Crowns in a row.
Riders will be back out on track on Tuesday, November 19 at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo for the first test of 2020 before moving to Jerez a few days later.
Marc Marquez
1st
“A perfect end to a perfect season with the victory! I put a little extra pressure on myself with the gold helmet, so I needed to be extra smart! We did exactly what we wanted to do and won the Team Championship, taking the Triple Crown in this amazing season. Always the Riders Championship is the first objective, but I was happy to help win the Team Championship, not just for them but also for Jorge who has been a great champion, a hard rival and a great teammate. It will be difficult to improve on this year because we rode in a perfect way.”
Jorge Lorenzo
13th
“Today was a special day. On the grid I had a very different feeling to all my other races and certainly in the opening laps I was more cautious than other races because the conditions were very difficult and I wanted to finish my last race. I focused mostly on myself in the race and I am pleased to end with some points certainly. It is great to help the Repsol Honda Team win the Teams Championship after an unbelievable season from Marc. I want to say thank you to all of Honda as they have treated me with the utmost respect and professionalism. I wish them all the best for the future.”
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There’s a mind blowing thought … Marc and Alex … holy poo poo on a stick.
Heck of a season for Marquez. Total domination. 18 races, 17 podiums (either 1st or 2nd). The most points in a season by a WC. Winning the team title virtually by himself. Even in the last race coming from 6th to 1st in what 8 laps. His drive and will to win is tremendous.And what happened to Dovi the last half of the season. Shown up by Miller. Like to be a fly on the wall in the Ducati meeting room.
Can’t wait until next season, but particularly 2021 when it’s going to be musical chairs for the riders and manufacturers.
Marquez’s abilities are pretty astonishing, especially considering that no one else can seem to make any headway on that bike. It is kind of interesting how Pedrosa, Crutchlow, and then Lorenzo all say the bike needs to be easier to ride – easier to turn, more feel at the front, more feel at the rear, better baking stability, less physical. And then you have Marc who says easy to ride isn’t a priority. Just give him something that can go faster around the track. He’ll MAKE it turn, stop, and shoot. (Brad Binder, interestingly, seems to be the same kind of rider as Marquez. I really wish he weren’t going to KTM.)
The Ducati brass doesn’t seem to care much for Miller for some reason. Though he has earned a shot at the factory (IMO) if Petrucci proves to have poor first half of the season next year, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Ducati goes with someone else.
Yamaha is in the most interesting predicament. Fabio is going to someone’s factory team in 2021. I’m sure he wants to stay with Yamaha, and I’m sure Yamaha wants him to stay on their bike. But what if Rossi doesn’t retire? Do they let Vinales, their best rider, go while keeping Rossi for the VR brand value while hoping Fabio can take care of the winning part of the racing equation? Then with Vinales as a free agent, Ducati and/or Suzuki will surely make a play for him.
Yep, next year is going to be fun. I sure hope Yamaha finally takes their power deficit seriously over the winter. Marc needs some competition.
Yammy needs VR on their SBK!! It would really highlight that series too. It won’t happen, but VR tieing up a factory seat beyond 2020 that forces FQ elsewhere would be gross error.
VR was not only the face of Yamaha, but the face of MotoGP for many years. Baring injury, MM will be the GOAT. Wow! how quickly VR will fade.
Marc is putting on a clinic, on every level, from his seemingly miraculous saves to his consistency over the season to his several-year dominance. It’s quite a spectacle.
Ride of the day has to belong to Brad Binder. Really looking forward to watching him in MotoGP.
I think Binder is an amazing talent. I personally hate to see him thrown into the KTM MotoGP project chasm. We may never get to see him potential realized.