It was a stunning start for Pedrosa, who went from the second row to second – but he was even aiming higher:

"My intention was to get to Turn 1 first! I knew the first laps would be a bit difficult on the medium tyre, but once I was past Zarco and Iannone, suddenly Marc appeared."

"But I was comfortable in the first laps. Then Johann passed me, they started to go faster and I was struggling to have a good feeling with the front. I lost some metres."

"I tried to manage it and see if with less petrol the feeling would improve, so I tried to go again and get in touch with them – I could see Marc looking behind so maybe he wasn’t at the maximum. Then maybe he tried to go for the win and the slide…it was amazing to see from behind -  the line, the smoke…but he wasn’t crashing! It was amazing to watch the save live.”

It was a spectacular save for his teammate, and a spectacular win for Pedrosa. With the 25 points taken in the finale, the older Repsol Honda rider ends 2017 in fourth in the standings – just pipping Valentino Rossi to the post. 

“It has been a really tough season, lots of ups and downs,” says Marquez. “I would like all my team, my family, everyone who helps me here because they helped me a lot this season, especially in the first part of the season, which was very hard."

"After Montmelo, I was with my hairdresser and she said ‘what’s going on, what happened’ because she said I was losing my hair! And I said ‘I’m 24, that’s impossible! My dad and grandad still have hair!’ I went to the doctor and he said I had to change my approach to races because of stress."

"I changed my approach, but also the feeling with the bike. We made a big change and we got a better feeling. In Le Mans I told Emilio I wasn’t enjoying riding the bike, then we changed the mentality, and said first we need to find a way to enjoy it on the bike, then the results will come."

"With hundreds of laps on test days, we found the right way. We are all human, but when you have a good team and good people around you it helps a lot. You can go out and be better and better. For me the second half of the season has been perfect.”

The final race wasn’t without one huge moment of stress especially when Marquez almost lost it at Turn 1. And when asked about his crash statistics – with 27 falls this season – the number 93 replied that moment made it 27 and a half, and re-iterated his approach.

“It wasn’t easy, I was pushing every practice,” explains the reigning Champion. “I was all in in every practice. But that’s something we need to change for the future, I try to be realistic and I’m happy we won but there are a few things we need to improve for next year.

I had 27 crashes, but I learned something. And I crashed 27 times but I was close to crashing 50 times. With 27 crashes you can understand a lot! But I want to improve that for the future – with the same level but safer.”

Finally, the rider from Cervera talked about his title rival Andrea Dovizioso.  

“I already said before I’m disappointed he didn’t finish today,” affirms Marquez, “because he was an incredible opponent and incredible person."

"I have a very good relationship with him. And Ducati went to my box to congratulate my team, so full respect, that’s very nice. I learned many things from Andrea, especially mental things."

"The way to approach races and weekends showed me you need to forget the others. Not many people can, and he’s one of, if not the best one at doing that.”

With one man retaining the throne and the other coming a close second, it’s now time to begin thinking about next year – with Marquez explaining how he’ll end 2017 and begin 2018 with a succinct approach:

“Now, for the moment I’m World Champion. We're Champions until December. But from the 1st of January it’s a new year, and I’m a new rider.”

Missing some grip at the rear, the Italian explains he made a mistake and crashed – but is satisfied with 2017 despite just missing out on the crown.

“I’m happy with the season. We’re happy, second in the Championship is a good result. Today we tried until the end, but we didn’t have the rhythm. It was difficult to win the title, but we gave everything trying to take the victory." Commented the Italian "I was over the limit trying to brake later and gain. I couldn’t brake that hard, I went wide and crashed."

It has been a stunning season for Dovizioso despite not taking the crown, with six wins and the Championship fight going down to the wire. He could do no more but push and wait for the cards to fall.

And the Borgo Panigale factory rider says it’s not just about the result: “I was faster at the start but then following Jorge helped me - we ride in a different way and I could learn a few things from him that I was missing here."

"We tried. The important thing is that we were also competitive here in Valencia. I think it would have been difficult even if Marquez had crashed – I don’t think we had the rhythm to win." He added

"Thank you to the team and Ducati. We have to be happy and take the positives from the season”

Now it’s time to refocus on the future already, retaining memories of an incredible 2017 and getting ready for testing

source: motogp.com

That he was - for much of the race. The Frenchman said goodbye to his rookie season in a similar way to how he began it, at the head of the race.

Rookie of the Year, top Independent Team rider and multiple podium finisher, it was an impressive showing for the two-time intermediate class Champion, and he’s satisfied with the close second place in the season finale.

“When Dani passed me on the last lap he did it very well,” explains Zarco. “I could have fought because I was stronger on the brakes but when I tried to catch him I had a moment with the front."

"But second place…the best thing is to be able to believe you can win until the end. And I think that’s enough for this season!”

It is, and now it’s a day of recovery ahead of the first testing for next year on Tuesday.

source: motogp.com