Quartararo in Moto3™, Raffin in Moto2™, Noyes in Superbike and Sardanyons in Kawasaki Z Cup proclaimed this season’s champions

The Circuit of Valencia today hosted the final and decisive round of the championship, in which Quartararo in Moto3™, Raffin in Moto2™, Noyes in Superbike and Sardanyons in KZC were proclaimed this season’s champions. With the added attraction of sunny skies and pleasant temperatures, twenty four thousand fans turned up to enjoy the day’s victories.

There were two Moto3™ races in this closing event of the season. The first was stopped by the red flag after three laps because of a crash involving several riders. The race restarted thirty minutes later, with the same grid positions, but now rescheduled to 9 laps. With no time to waste, after a few laps Fabio Quartararo (FRA-Honda) and Jorge Navarro (SPA-Honda) broke free and fought a close battle for first place. With one lap remaining Jorge Navarro made a mistake and went down (SPA-Honda). Immediately after, the chasing group was reduced when Gabriel Rodrigo (ARG-KTM) and John McPhee (UK-Honda) crashed out. Finally, Fabio Quartararo (FRA-Honda) took victory and was awarded the prize of “A year’s free Repsol fuel”. He received the trophy from Dani Pedrosa. Accompanying him on the podium were Aleix Masbou (FRA-Honda) and Albert Arenas (SPA-KTM).

The second Moto3 race suffered the same fate: the red flag and a reduction to 9 laps. A few minutes later the grid reformed, but with Navarro missing after suffering another fall. Pole position rider Gabriel Rodrigo (ARG-KTM) made an excellent start and held the lead with Quartararo somewhat off the pace of the leading group. Behind the leader came John McPhee (UK-Honda) and Albert Arenas (SPA-KTM), until, around the halfway point, the French rider came past them to hold the lead to the flag. Rodrigo kept the pressure on Quartararo and refused to let the Frenchman pull clear in his usual style, taking a well-earned second place with John McPhee (UK-Honda) in third.

The Moto2 race began at full throttle. Following his recent string of excellent performances, a confident Xavi Vierge (SPA-TECH 3) held the lead until around the halfway point when South African rider Steven Odendaal (RSA-Speedup) took over for three laps, but with Jesko Raffin (SWI-Kalex), Florian Alt (GER-Kalex) and Edgar Pons (SPA-Kalex) shadowing him. Riding his Kalex well, the German led in the second half of the race until, once again, a breathtaking final lap decided the winner: Jesko Raffin (SWI-Kalex), with Florian Alt (GER-Kalex) and Edgar Pons (SPA-Kalex) coming in second and third. Best Superstock 600 rider was Bertin Thibaut (FRA-Yamaha) who was crowned this season’s champion.

Kenny Noyes (USA-Kawasaki) was crowned 2014 FIM CEV Repsol Superbike champion, though Carmelo Morales (SPA-Kawasaki) took victory in today’s race. The Team Calvo rider won in style, though he was always threatened by rivals Kenny Noyes (USA-Kawasaki) and Iván Silva (SPA-BMW), who went down just three laps before the end. Faithful to his usual conservative approach during the initial laps, Carmelo Morales (SPA-Kawasaki) waited to the halfway point of the 19-lap race before going on the attack. Lap by lap the Team Calvo rider pulled away from the following group to finish six seconds ahead of Kenny Noyes (USA-Kawasaki). The quickest Superbike privateer rider this weekend was Ole Plassen (NOR-Ducati), while the championship went to Alejandro Esteban (SPA-Kawasaki), just one point ahead of runner-up Eeki Kuparineen (FIN-BMW).

Ending his season in the best way possible, winner of the Kawasaki Z Cup race and championship was Joan Sandanyons. In second position was José J. Jiménez who in turn was proclaimed runner-up overall. Victor Lozano, who in his only appearance of the season, took a hard fought third place.

You can find all the results and information concerning the Championship on its official website: www.fimcevrepsol.com

More, from a press release issued by Palmetto PL Kawasaki:

Kenny Noyes, FIM CEV Superbike Champion!

American Kenny Noyes (Palmeto PL Kawasaki) rode the race of his life at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, Valencia, and emerged at the end of the 19 laps as FIM CEV SBK International Superbike Champion. He went into the ninth and final round trailing former Spanish Champion Ivan (BMW) by four point and needing either win or finish second ahead of Silva.

Starting fourth off the second row, Noyes got the holeshot and, with Venezuelan teammate Robertino Pietri in his slipstream, opened slight gap over Morales and Silva, but on lap three they both got past the Venezuelan and closed on the leader. On lap seven Morales when into the lead and Silva slipped under Noyes out of Turn 2 but the American dived under Silva at Turn 6 and tucked in behind the new leader.

Once the gap over Silva had grown to a just over a second, Noyes slowed his paces slightly, but then Noyes lost some valuable time finding his way past a lapped rider and Silva was suddenly only .4 back. With five laps remaining Noyes upped the pace and not only pulled clear of the BMW rider, he also closed on Morales and looked set to make a move when Silva lost the front on the entrance to turn four at the start of lap 17.

The Palmeto PL team quickly got the board and informed Noyes that his only rival had crashed. He then slowed and cruised home to take the title. Pietri was third, giving Palmeto PL not only the title but also two podium places.

Kenny Noyes: “My strategy from the beginning was to push as hard as a could on the opening laps and try and get some distance between me and Silva. The opening push was enough to do that. When Morales came by, I thought that would be OK because it is good to have a wheel to follow at Valencia, but when Silva slipped under me out of turn 3, I realized I had to pass him back immediately and push again. When I saw on my board that I had 1.1 seconds over Silva, I slowed just a bit, but on the next lap I saw he had closed to .8 and then I had some trouble with a lapped rider and my board told me he was just .4 back. I made a second hard push and in three laps I was back with Morales and had put Silva over a second back. I was starting to think about making a move on Morales, but with two laps to go, my board said Silva was out. I had to take a long look back to believe it and I saw beautiful empty track!

“I didn´t think I could do a whole race in the 35´s. But that´s what it took today.

“Silva went down pushing hard and it was the only time all year he´s failed to score. He pushed us hard and was fighting right to the end. I´m so grateful to the team, to Kawasaki and to Michelin for all the work they put in, and it was great to be on the podium with Robertino again. That made it ever more special for Palmeto PL.”

Robertino Pietri: “After I lost my chance for the championship in Portugal, my job this weekend was to work for the team. On the opening laps I was second behind Kenny and tried to hold Morales and Silva back, but they had a better pace than I did today. The season has been a good one for me. I finished fourth in the points and had my share of podiums in a championship that has some really strong riders up front. I want to congratulate Kenny and the team for winning this first edition of the new FIM CEV Repsol Superbike International Championship. This team is really like a family and riding for them had made me grow as a rider and made me love racing even more.”

Race Result;

1. Morales (Spain) Kawasaki ZX1000-R

2. Noyes (USA) Kawasaki ZX1000-R

3. Pietri (Venezuela) Kawasaki ZX1000-R

4. Ramos (Spain) Kawasaki ZX1000-R

5. Rodriguez (Spain) Suzuki GSX1000-R

6. Plassen (Norway) Ducati 1198

7. Martinez (Spain) Kawasaki ZX1000-R

8. Rivas (Spain) BMW R1000SS

9. Pouhair (France) BMW R1000SS

10.Llano (Spain) Kawasaki ZX1000-R

Final Championship Standings

1. Noyes 160 , 2. Morales 145, 3. Silva 144, Pietri 125, Barragan 123, Rivas 113, Rodriguez 71, 8. Ferrer 53, 9. Kuperinen 44, 10. Gomez 43.