(Photo by special AE contributor Whit Bazemore)
Spaniard Marc Marquez (No. 93 Repsol Honda Team) finished off the 2019 MotoGP season in style by winning the final race at Valencia. That makes it an incredible twelve victories for Marquez this season. "It's been a perfect season," Marquez said. "It will be difficult to repeat." Twenty-year-old Fabio Quartararo (No. 20 Petronas SRT Yamaha) finished second after starting from the pole. The young French rookie sensation finished fifth in the overall standings. "Who imagined that at the end of the season we'd have six pole positions, seven podiums? I can't ask for more, really," Quartaroro said. The work never stops for MotoGP, as testing for next season begins Tuesday. (It was announced that Marc's younger brother, Alex Marquez, would join him on the Repsol Honda Team in 2020.) "Now it's time to enjoy it - Tuesday starts 2020 season - but anyway amazing to finish in this way," added Marquez. Jack Miller (No. 43 Pramac Racing Ducati) finished third in Valencia. (Thanks to BBC Sport.) (11/20)
(Photo by special AE contributor Whit Bazemore)
Marquez tasted the champagne twelve times in the 2019 MotoGP season, an incredible run. (11/20)
(Photo by special AE contributor Whit Bazemore)
Spain's three-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo (No. 99 Repsol Honda Team), 32, finished thirteenth in his final race before retiring. He was bathed in rapturous applause after the race. The above photo was taken in Austin in 2017. (11/20)
Spaniard Marc Marquez (No. 93 Repsol Honda Team) finished off the 2019 MotoGP season in style by winning the final race at Valencia. That makes it an incredible twelve victories for Marquez this season. "It's been a perfect season," Marquez said. "It will be difficult to repeat." Twenty-year-old Fabio Quartararo (No. 20 Petronas SRT Yamaha) finished second after starting from the pole. The young French rookie sensation finished fifth in the overall standings. "Who imagined that at the end of the season we'd have six pole positions, seven podiums? I can't ask for more, really," Quartaroro said. The work never stops for MotoGP, as testing for next season begins Tuesday. (It was announced that Marc's younger brother, Alex Marquez, would join him on the Repsol Honda Team in 2020.) "Now it's time to enjoy it - Tuesday starts 2020 season - but anyway amazing to finish in this way," added Marquez. Jack Miller (No. 43 Pramac Racing Ducati) finished third in Valencia. (Thanks to BBC Sport.) (11/20)
(Photo by special AE contributor Whit Bazemore)Marquez tasted the champagne twelve times in the 2019 MotoGP season, an incredible run. (11/20)
(Photo by special AE contributor Whit Bazemore)Spain's three-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo (No. 99 Repsol Honda Team), 32, finished thirteenth in his final race before retiring. He was bathed in rapturous applause after the race. The above photo was taken in Austin in 2017. (11/20)
(Getty Images)
Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing M&Ms Toyota) won his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Busch outran fellow finalists Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota), Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford) and Martin Truex Jr. (No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) to win the season-ending Ford EcoBoost 400 on the strength of a creative pit strategy and a car that came to life under the lights. Hamlin was making his first Championship 4 appearance since 2014, while Harvick and Truex were making return trips to the finale. “We have a great race team and a great owner,” an emotional Busch said after climbing from his car. “Everybody always says you never give up and we’re no different. Sometimes we may not be the best, sometimes we may not have the right track position. Today we had a really good car and I could race around and move around. “There’s always your doubters, there’s always your haters,” Busch said smiling. “You know what? This one’s for the Rowdy Nation. You guys are the best. Thank you so much.” Busch had claimed the series’ regular-season championship in September, building a stockpile of playoff points that guided him to his fifth straight appearance in the Championship 4 field. The 34-year-old driver also won the title in NASCAR’s premier series in 2015, the second year of the elimination format. A four-win regular season marked his fifth straight year with multiple victories in NASCAR’s top series, but Busch entered the Miami race without a win since early June. That skid, plus a dominant Round of 8 from all three of his title competitors, put “Rowdy” and the No. 18 team flying under the radar for championship weekend. Busch also scored four Xfinity Series wins and five victories in the Gander Outdoors Truck Series, totals that helped him surpass 200 career wins in NASCAR national series competition in March. The year was not without tragedy, though. Joe Gibbs’ son J.D., co-founder of Joe Gibbs Racing, died in January after complications after a long battle with a degenerative neurological disease. “It’s been a difficult time,” Busch said. “To be able to reward them with a championship, I don’t know how much it means to them, but it’s the best I can do. I know JD was looking down on us all season long.” Busch becomes the 16th driver with more than one premier series championship. Seven-time champ Jimmie Johnson is the only other active driver with multiple titles on his resume. Busch also is the first repeat champion in the elimination-style postseason. (Thanks to NASCAR Media, as always.) (11/20)
(Trans Am Series)
Chris Dyson (No. 20 Plaid Ford Mustang) won the the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli TA finale at the Daytona International Speedway on Saturday to close out the 2019 season with a title-deciding thriller. Dyson needed everything to go his way to overcome the points advantage of Ernie Francis, Jr. (No. 98 Frameless Shower Doors Ford Mustang). While Dyson claimed pole position in qualifying, led every lap of the 29-lap race and clocked the fastest time of the session on his way to his third win of the season, it wasn’t enough to derail Francis Jr.’s drive to a sixth career Trans Am title. Despite coming up shy of his championship goal, the second-year TA driver was ecstatic after the race to keep the winning Dyson name alive at Daytona. “I won here a few times the first part of my racing career and I am feeling fantastic after that win,” Dyson said. “It’s so great to be back at Daytona winning here, there’s nothing quite like it. It’s been a very dramatic season for us, a lot of ups and downs. We came here and we’ve done exactly what we needed to do. We came up a bit short on the title race but it was a real joy and privilege to race out there today.” Targeting the lead right from the drop of the green flag, Francis Jr., shadowed Dyson throughout the race. On the final lap, the 21-year-old South Floridian sliced a tire, which allowed Dyson to extend his margin of victory as Francis Jr. nursed his wounded Ford Mustang to a second-place finish. Adam Andretti drove from the back of the pack to finish third in the No. 17 Engineered Components Co./AnchorBolt Chevrolet Camaro, prevailing in a spirited battle to end Tomy Drissi’s bid for a fourth-consecutive podium finish in the No. 8 Lucas Oil/Axalta Chevrolet Camaro. The fight for the podium also earned Andretti the Cool Shirt Cool Move of Race. “I felt like I was on a mission,” said Andretti. “Tomy (Drissi) and I had a blast. I couldn’t have asked for any better competitor out there to go door-to door-with and clean. I can’t thank Tomy enough because that was so fun. I hope it was the highlight of his day because it sure was mine.” Watch a video here. (Thanks to Trans Am Media.) (11/20)
Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing M&Ms Toyota) won his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Busch outran fellow finalists Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota), Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford) and Martin Truex Jr. (No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) to win the season-ending Ford EcoBoost 400 on the strength of a creative pit strategy and a car that came to life under the lights. Hamlin was making his first Championship 4 appearance since 2014, while Harvick and Truex were making return trips to the finale. “We have a great race team and a great owner,” an emotional Busch said after climbing from his car. “Everybody always says you never give up and we’re no different. Sometimes we may not be the best, sometimes we may not have the right track position. Today we had a really good car and I could race around and move around. “There’s always your doubters, there’s always your haters,” Busch said smiling. “You know what? This one’s for the Rowdy Nation. You guys are the best. Thank you so much.” Busch had claimed the series’ regular-season championship in September, building a stockpile of playoff points that guided him to his fifth straight appearance in the Championship 4 field. The 34-year-old driver also won the title in NASCAR’s premier series in 2015, the second year of the elimination format. A four-win regular season marked his fifth straight year with multiple victories in NASCAR’s top series, but Busch entered the Miami race without a win since early June. That skid, plus a dominant Round of 8 from all three of his title competitors, put “Rowdy” and the No. 18 team flying under the radar for championship weekend. Busch also scored four Xfinity Series wins and five victories in the Gander Outdoors Truck Series, totals that helped him surpass 200 career wins in NASCAR national series competition in March. The year was not without tragedy, though. Joe Gibbs’ son J.D., co-founder of Joe Gibbs Racing, died in January after complications after a long battle with a degenerative neurological disease. “It’s been a difficult time,” Busch said. “To be able to reward them with a championship, I don’t know how much it means to them, but it’s the best I can do. I know JD was looking down on us all season long.” Busch becomes the 16th driver with more than one premier series championship. Seven-time champ Jimmie Johnson is the only other active driver with multiple titles on his resume. Busch also is the first repeat champion in the elimination-style postseason. (Thanks to NASCAR Media, as always.) (11/20)
(Trans Am Series)Chris Dyson (No. 20 Plaid Ford Mustang) won the the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli TA finale at the Daytona International Speedway on Saturday to close out the 2019 season with a title-deciding thriller. Dyson needed everything to go his way to overcome the points advantage of Ernie Francis, Jr. (No. 98 Frameless Shower Doors Ford Mustang). While Dyson claimed pole position in qualifying, led every lap of the 29-lap race and clocked the fastest time of the session on his way to his third win of the season, it wasn’t enough to derail Francis Jr.’s drive to a sixth career Trans Am title. Despite coming up shy of his championship goal, the second-year TA driver was ecstatic after the race to keep the winning Dyson name alive at Daytona. “I won here a few times the first part of my racing career and I am feeling fantastic after that win,” Dyson said. “It’s so great to be back at Daytona winning here, there’s nothing quite like it. It’s been a very dramatic season for us, a lot of ups and downs. We came here and we’ve done exactly what we needed to do. We came up a bit short on the title race but it was a real joy and privilege to race out there today.” Targeting the lead right from the drop of the green flag, Francis Jr., shadowed Dyson throughout the race. On the final lap, the 21-year-old South Floridian sliced a tire, which allowed Dyson to extend his margin of victory as Francis Jr. nursed his wounded Ford Mustang to a second-place finish. Adam Andretti drove from the back of the pack to finish third in the No. 17 Engineered Components Co./AnchorBolt Chevrolet Camaro, prevailing in a spirited battle to end Tomy Drissi’s bid for a fourth-consecutive podium finish in the No. 8 Lucas Oil/Axalta Chevrolet Camaro. The fight for the podium also earned Andretti the Cool Shirt Cool Move of Race. “I felt like I was on a mission,” said Andretti. “Tomy (Drissi) and I had a blast. I couldn’t have asked for any better competitor out there to go door-to door-with and clean. I can’t thank Tomy enough because that was so fun. I hope it was the highlight of his day because it sure was mine.” Watch a video here. (Thanks to Trans Am Media.) (11/20)
(Honda)
Max Verstappen (No. 33 Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, powered by Honda) passed Lewis Hamilton (No. 44 Mercedes-AMG Petronas) twice to take a brilliant victory in a gripping Brazilian Grand Prix. Behind him, the race developed into a dramatic finale as Sebastian Vettel (No. 5 Scuderia Ferrari) and Charles Leclerc (No. 16 Scuderia Ferrari) collided while disputing fourth place. It was another major league screw-up for Ferrari. Then, Hamilton collided with Alexander Albon (No. 33 Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, powered by Honda), and Pierre Gasly (No. 10 Scuderia Toro Rosso) held off the Mercedes for second place at the line. It was a remarkable end to one of the most incident-packed races in recent memory. "What a race!" Verstappen said, summing it up perfectly. "Loved it." Hamilton took the blame for his crash with Albon and was penalized after the race by five seconds, demoting him to seventh - promoting Carlos Sainz (No. 55 McLaren) to third. Verstappen was a deserved winner in a race that he controlled from the start, but Gasly was a star, Hamilton and Mercedes had an unusually difficult race, and yet again there will be a sharp focus on Vettel's driving and character, as the four-time champion continued his battle for supremacy at Ferrari with his young teammate. (Thanks to BBC Sport.) (11/20)
Max Verstappen (No. 33 Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, powered by Honda) passed Lewis Hamilton (No. 44 Mercedes-AMG Petronas) twice to take a brilliant victory in a gripping Brazilian Grand Prix. Behind him, the race developed into a dramatic finale as Sebastian Vettel (No. 5 Scuderia Ferrari) and Charles Leclerc (No. 16 Scuderia Ferrari) collided while disputing fourth place. It was another major league screw-up for Ferrari. Then, Hamilton collided with Alexander Albon (No. 33 Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, powered by Honda), and Pierre Gasly (No. 10 Scuderia Toro Rosso) held off the Mercedes for second place at the line. It was a remarkable end to one of the most incident-packed races in recent memory. "What a race!" Verstappen said, summing it up perfectly. "Loved it." Hamilton took the blame for his crash with Albon and was penalized after the race by five seconds, demoting him to seventh - promoting Carlos Sainz (No. 55 McLaren) to third. Verstappen was a deserved winner in a race that he controlled from the start, but Gasly was a star, Hamilton and Mercedes had an unusually difficult race, and yet again there will be a sharp focus on Vettel's driving and character, as the four-time champion continued his battle for supremacy at Ferrari with his young teammate. (Thanks to BBC Sport.) (11/20)