Dani Pedrosa today put a gloss on his second 250 title, his third consecutive world title, by taking a dominant victory in front of his appreciative home fans.
The Movsitar rider took his eighth win of the 2005 season, bringing an end to another chapter in his career in the best possible style, and the only way he know how.
Yet again he stepped up a gear in the race to pull away from the rest of the field, this time on lap 13 when he passed Lorenzo to take the lead. He then produced four blazingly fast laps to smash the lap record at Cheste - which Shinya Nakano had held since 2000 - and pull well clear of the Mallorcan rider.
Pedrosa’s team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama finished the season with a hard-fought sixth place. The Japanese rider knew from the beginning of the weekend that his Honda was lacking speed and, although he battled hard to take third place in the championship, he had to settle for fourth overall, nine points behind Dovizioso.
DANI PEDROSA (1st): “Today’s was not an easy race. It was difficult because the rear-end of the bike was moving a lot and slipping. I got away well and the pace was quicker last year, although I had to be more conservative on the final few laps. I am very satisfied withy today and the season in general. We have got great results and I won one more race than last year, although we got fewer podiums. What’s also important is that we helped Honda win the team championship today. I want to dedicate my victory to everyone at the team, all the mechanics and all the fans as well who were so supportive. A chapter has now come to0 an end and we are starting anew one. Next year will be very different and very difficult and we will have to approach races in a new way.”
HIROSHI AOYAMA (6th): “What can I say?! I could not have done any more today. The bike worked well all weekend but we lacked a little bit of speed today, unlike the warm-up and qualifying. From the eighth lap the rear tyre began to slide a bit and the bike was moving. It was the last race of the season and I did not want to fall, but finish in the best way possible.”
GP OF VALENCIA
1. D.Pedrosa(Spa/Hon)43’33”395
2. J.Lorenzo (Spa/Hon) a 3”448
3. C. Stoner (Aus/Aprilia) a 14”372
4. A.De Angelis (SM/Apr) a 17”771
5. H.Barberá (Spa/Hon) a 26”233
6. H. Aoyama (Jap/Hon) a 31”244
250cc CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Dani Pedrosa 309 points
2. Casey Stoner 254 points
3. Andrea Dovizioso 189 points
4. Hiroshi Aoyama 180 points
5. Jorge Lorenzo 167 points
6. Sebastián Porto 152 points