On Sunday 8 November, the third Grand Prix of the season for which Motul was the title sponsor, after Assen and Motegi, attracted a large crowd to the Ricardo Tormo circuit, the discipline being as popular as ever! The teams supported technically by Motul were intent on finishing the year with a positive result. This was the case for Monster Yamaha Tech3, with the 5-6 formation finish of Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith while Suzuki celebrated the best Rookie of the Year title secured by Maverick Viñales.
Tech3 team manager, Hervé Poncharal, had a great day in Valencia watching the fine race by his 'troops' and also the stars of the factory Yamaha team fighting for the supreme title... 'Pol and Bradley put up a good fight with the Ducatis, well equipped engine-wise, and the Suzukis, with their excellent bodywork. But our package represents a good compromise.' Tech3 is 4th in the Teams standings and best 'satellite' team. Only two riders scored points 18 times out of 18: Bradley Smith and… Valentino Rossi! The Suzuki riders consolidated their positions at the gateway to the final Top 10, and Viñales merits a special mention as he became best rookie ahead of Loris Baz (Forward Racing), also Open vice-champion.
Motul was present on the track at Valencia: via its teams, on the starting grid with the Motul Grid Girls, at awards time with the Podium Girls and even at the entrance to the circuit! The Motul MC Care Pit Stop concept, tested successfully in Assen, delighted everyone once more. The idea consists in welcoming spectators who park their motorcycle in the circuit motorcycle parking area as if they were arriving in the pit lane for refuelling: in 30 seconds, Motul experts clean their headlight using Motul MC Care line products.
Last, the 'Superfan' contest, organised at end October on Facebook, allowed a Spanish MotoGP enthusiast to enjoy total access for a 100% experience of the Grand Prix, discovering what's behind the scenes. The lady in question handed a trophy on the Moto3 podium among many other privileges. She too was starry-eyed on Sunday evening on leaving the circuit.
Two days after the decisive event, the teams were already back on the Valencia circuit to start preparing for next season when we will see no longer three but four Grand Prix sporting Motul's colours!
Final standings
01/ Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha, 330 pts
02/ Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, 325 pts
03/ Marc Marquez, Honda, 242 pts
06/ Bradley Smith, Yamaha Tech3, 181 pts - MOTUL
09/ Pol Espargaro, Yamaha Tech3, 114 pts - MOTUL
11/ Aleix Espargaro, Suzuki, 105 pts - MOTUL
12/ Maverick Viñales, Suzuki, 97 pts - MOTUL
