Press release: Bradley Smith and Julián Simón were again involved in a final-lap battle for victory at the last Grand Prix of the year in Valencia, with the 125cc 2009 World Champion Simón coming out on top of the Englishman for the third successive race.
Taking their contest to the very last corner of the race, Simón managed to hold off Smith for another thrilling finish, as he eventually crossed the line just 0.220s ahead of the talented young Briton. World Championship runner-up Smith rode another fine race and held the lead for several laps, as he rounded off a great season with his sixth consecutive podium.
Meanwhile, having qualified in ninth place, Gloucestershire’s Scott Redding saw his afternoon end in disappointment as he crashed with his Blusens Aprilia team-mate Esteve Rabat on the sixth lap.
Danny Webb missed the race due to a foot injury sustained on Saturday, but there was good news from the Kent rider on Friday as he announced his signature with the successful Jack & Jones sponsored WRB team in the 125cc class for the next two years.
In the 250cc class there was drama as Hiroshi Aoyama nearly threw away the title when he ran off track with seven laps to go, but an eventual seventh place finish and a later crash for his rival Marco Simoncelli secured him the title. Local rider Hector Barbera won the race ahead of Alvaro Bautista and Raffaele de Rosa.
In the MotoGP class Dani Pedrosa ended the season on a high, as he enjoyed a start-to-finish win and Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo completed the podium. The drama started before the race had even commenced, as pole position holder Casey Stoner’s high-side crash on the warm-up lap meant he was unable to take his place on the grid. That allowed Pedrosa to lead the grid from second position on the front row, and after taking the hole shot he did not look back, sealing third spot in the overall standings in the process.
Race Results1. Dani PEDROSA SPA HONDA 46'47.553
2. Valentino ROSSI ITA YAMAHA 46'50.183
3. Jorge LORENZO SPA YAMAHA 46'50.466
4. Colin EDWARDS USA YAMAHA 47'20.068
5. Nicky HAYDEN USA DUCATI 47'22.138
6. Toni ELIAS SPA HONDA 47'22.441
2009 Championship Results1. ROSSI Valentino 306 points
2. LORENZO Jorge 261
3. PEDROSA Dani 234
4. STONER Casey 220
5. EDWARDS Colin 161
6. DOVIZIOSO Andrea 160
