Event of the Day: Valencian Community MotoGP
Our event of the day
is the Valencian Community Motorcycle Grand Prix at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia. Since the introduction of the four-stroke MotoGP class in 2002, its champion has been decided three times in the final race of the year – Nicky Hayden, Marc Márquez and Jorge Lorenzo were victorious in 2006, 2013 and 2015, respectively. After another thrilling season, Márquez of the Repsol Honda Team has the opportunity to clinch his fourth title in the MotoGP class as he is 21 points ahead of Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso in the overall standings. Therefore, the Spaniard needs to finish within the top 11 racers to retain the crown, while the Italian must record his first win in Valencia and hope that Márquez doesn’t finish better than 12th. After Saturday’s qualifying where Márquez took pole position with a 1:29:897 lap in front of Johann Zarco and Andrea Iannone, while Dovizioso finished all the way back in 9th, it seems like a mission impossible for the Italian, but it is the MotoGP finale and with the pressure and title at stake, anything can happen. Both Márquez and Dovizioso have been excellent this season and dominated the championship with six race victories each.
Before the start of the campaign, Dovizioso had only two victories in his MotoGP class career, but surprised everybody and now has the chance to deliver Ducati their first title since Casey Stoner’s triumph in 2007. Three-time world champion and Ducati teammate, Jorge Lorenzo has crossed the line first at Circuit Ricardo Tormo on four occasions, including the races from the past two seasons. Whatever happens today, it should be a thrilling final chapter of the season.
Honourable mentions
around the globe go to the Rugby League World Cup 2017 match between England and France at the Perth Rectangular Stadium. The teams fight for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals next weekend. At the O2 Arena in London, the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals begin with the best singles players and double teams of men’s tennis set to close out the ATP World Tour season. It’s the fourth and final day of the CommBank Women’s Ashes 2017 at the North Sydney Oval, where England Women trail by 128 runs with 10 wickets remaining. The Brazilian Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the Formula one season, takes place in Interlagos, and while Lewis Hamilton has sealed the title, the focus is on a battle between Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas for second place in the championship. Sessions five and six of the Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup are scheduled at the HSBC UK National Cycling Centre in Manchester. Two more participants for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia will be known after second leg games between Switzerland and Northern Ireland at St. Jakob-Park in Basel and Greece and Croatia at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus. The winner of tennis’ Fed Cup is to be decided at the Chizhovka Arena in Minsk - it’s the second day of the final between Belarus and USA. In the NBA, the Boston Celtics host the Toronto Raptors at the TD Garden in Boston in a big game in the Eastern Conference. In the NFL, the New Orleans Saints face the Buffalo Bills at the New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. In NHL action, the Los Angeles Kings take on the San Jose Sharks in a Californian derby at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Fixture
Photos by MotoGP