ROAD RACE
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 18 / NOVEMBER 13, 2016
CIRCUITO DE LA COMUNITAT VALENCIANA / VALENCIA, SPAIN
P66
Nakagami (Idemitsu Kalex) had
been promoted to sixth by the
departure of Simon, after pick-
ing his way through a trio from
mid-distance.
They were still close over the
line, with veteran Mattia Pasini
(Italtrans Kalex) managing to
keep control, Jonas Folger (Dy-
navolt Kalex) picking through be-
hind him. Danny Kent (Leopard
Kalex) had caught up, and took
ninth narrowly ahead of Marcel
Schrotter (AGR Kalex).
Simone Corsi (Speed Up)
was 11th, fending off a persis-
tent Xavi Vierge (Tech 3); with
Miguel Oliveira (Leopard Kalex),
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Forward
Kalex) and Hafizh Syahrin (Petro-
nas Kalex) still close for the last
points.
Luthi's last-lap pass on Mor-
bidelli denied the Italian third
overall by just one point. They
finished the year Zarco 276,
Luthi 234, Rins 214, Morbidelli
213, Lowes 175.
Moto3
It was a day for the champion
in the smaller class, too, with
a doubly heroic comeback by
Brad Binder (Ajo KTM)—first after
a second-lap slip dropped him
20 places to 22nd, then again
when he ran wide with four laps
to go, dropping from first to
fourth.
The South African defied the
odds again, seizing the lead at
the start of the final lap to claim
his seventh win of the year by
0.056 of a second.
Pole qualifier Aron Canet (EG
Honda) had to start from pit lane
after stalling on the warm-up lap.
Another loser was Mahindra's
Pecco Bagnaia, knocked flying
for a second time in three races
by Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA KTM),
effectively costing him third in
the championship.
Enea Bastianini (Gresini
Honda) led the first lap ahead of
Binder, then Joan Mir (Leopard
KTM) took over for six laps, gain-
ing a gap of almost a second,
only to have to drop back one
place for a yellow-flag offence.
This closed up the lead group,
with Andrea Migno (SKY VR46
KTM) taking a spell up front,
then Mir again. All the time Bind-
er was picking through rapidly,
in front again on lap 21, back to
Brad Binder capped off his
championship season with
another win in Moto3.
