The race got off to a bad start when Alvaro Bautista clipped Andrea Dovizioso’s back wheel on the first corner.  The collision also took out Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden and Randy De Puniet.  Fortunately, no one was injured.

The Valencia Grand Prix was Casey Stoner’s 10th victory of the season.

All riders paid tribute to the Italian Marco Simoncelli who was killed in the previous meeting, the Malaysian MotoGP.

Valencia MotoGP – The Circuito de la Comunitat Valenciana – Round 18

1 Casey Stoner (Aus) Honda 48mins 18.645secs
2 Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 48:18.660
3 Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Honda 48:24.581

MotoGP 2011 Driver Championship Standings

1 Casey Stoner (Australia) Honda 350 points
2 Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 260
3 Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Honda 228
4 Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 219
5 Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 176
6 Valentino Rossi (Italy) Ducati 139
6 Marco Simoncelli (Italy) Honda 139
8 Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati 132
9 Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha 109
10 Hiroshi Aoyama (Japan) Honda 98

“To wrap it all up at my home race and on my birthday is perfect.” Stoner told reporters after the race. Italian riders Marco Simoncelli and Andrea Dovizioso were second and third, respectively.

Stoner only had to finish in the top six to win the championship after the 2010 MotoGP champion rider Jorge Lorenzo missed the race after crashing out in the morning warm-up session that left him being rushed to hospital with a hand.

24 year-old Jorge Lorenzo, was concerned that the crash may have left him with a permanent disability.  He underwent plastic surgery on his left hand and will miss next weekend’s Malaysian MotoGP.

“After the crash I was very worried that I would not have full feeling in my finger again,” Lorenzo told reporters.

Casey Stoner wins his first MotoGP championship for Honda Repsol.  His previous victory was in 2007 riding for Ducati.

MotoGP Round 16, Phillip Island Australia Grand Prix

1 Casey Stoner (Aus) Honda 42mins 02.425secs
2 Marco Simoncelli (Ita) Honda 42:04.635
3 Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Honda 42:04.879
4 Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Honda 42:15.585
5 Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha 42:33.311
6 Randy De Puniet (Fra) Ducati 42:51.225
7 Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati 43:18.739
8 Toni Elias (Spa) Honda 42:05.177
9 Loris Capirossi (Ita) Ducati 42:09.187
10 Karel Abraham (Cze) Ducati 42:45.142

Vettel got off to a flying start and took the lead on the first lap and went on to win his 10th race this season.

With both the Driver’s and the Constructor’s Championship already won this season Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull still have one record still in their sights.  Vettel has already been likened to fellow countryman Michael Schumacher and if he can win the remaining three races in India, Abu Dhabi and Brazil he will equal Schumacher’s record 13 wins in a single season.

Over the past few seasons the FIA have attempted to address criticism aimed at F1 being dull and races becoming predictable with less overtaking and thrills.  But next season it will be up to the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso and McLaren and Ferrari to catch the 24 year old Sebastian Vettel and the Red Bull team.

With four races still remaining Sebastian Vettel’s third place finish in the Japanese Grand Prix behind Jenson Button (McLaren) and Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), was enough to clinch his second title.

Mark Webber hasn’t had a bad season but it is his Red Bull team-mate that has a sensational season.  Vettel has won nine of the 15 F1 races so far this year, and managed to start in pole position on no less than 12 pole occasions.  That is an amazing record.

I still believe, given the same car, Lewis Hamilton would have been much closer to Vettel this season.  That said, Jenson Button’s achievements this year have been somewhat overshadowed by Hamilton courting the headlines for all the wrong reasons and Vettel’s sheer brilliance.

2011 F1 Japanese Grand Prix

1  Jenson Button (McLaren-Mercedes) 1:36.568
2   Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)  +00:01.160
3   Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull-Renault) +00:02.006
4   Mark Webber (Red Bull-Renault) +00:08.071
5   Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) +00:24.268
6   Michael Schumacher (Mercedes GP) +00:27.120
7   Felipe Massa (Ferrari) +00:28.240
8   Sergio Perez (Sauber) +00:39.377
9   Vitaly Petrov (Renault) +00:42.607
10 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes GP) +00:44.322

F1 Drivers Championship 2011

1   Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull-Renault) 324
2   Jenson Button (McLaren-Mercedes) 210
3   Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) 202
4   Mark Webber (Red Bull-Renault) 194
5   Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) 178
6   Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 90
7   Nico Rosberg (Mercedes GP) 63
8   Michael Schumacher (Mercedes GP) 60
9   Vitaly Petrov (Renault) 36
10 Nick Heidfeld (Renault) 34

Casey Stoner had a great race passing Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo to win in California at the weekend. He took the lead on lap 26 as he passed Lorenzo. The 2007 world champion held on his fifth win of the season with Lorenzo second and Pedrosa claiming third.

The 25-year-old currently leads the MotoGP Championship by 20 points from the current champion Jorge Lorenzo with eight races still to come.

The American Ben Spies could only manage fourth place in front of his home crowd with fellow Americans  Nicky Hayden & Colin Edwards finishing 7th & 8th respectively.  Valentino Rossi had a very close call as he almost lost control coming out of the last corner on the second lap, while Brtish rider Cal Crutchlow was unhurt after he crashed out of the race on lap four.

Other riders to retire included Alvaro Bautista who crashed before half way, and Gresini Honda rider Marco Simoncelli who slid off his bike, making it 4 retirements from 10 races this season

Casey Stoner told reporters after the race:

“I was making time up on the brakes but slowly the bike got better and better and when everyone was struggling with grip I made a move.

Stoner continued to say:

“With a few laps to go I put the hammer down and it is a great weekend to come through and win.”

United States MotoGP results:

1. Casey Stoner (Australia) Repsol Honda 43′52.145
2. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 43′57.779
3. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Repsol Honda 44′01.612
4. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 44′12.707
5. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Repsol Honda 44′13.030
6. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Ducati 44′22.496
7. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati 44′23.176
8. Colin Edwards (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha 44′37.647
9. Hector Barbera (Spain) Aspar Ducati 44′43.694
10. Hiroshi Aoyama (Japan) Gresini Honda 45′00.995

MotoGP 2011 Championship:

1. Casey Stoner (Aus) Repsol Honda 193 points
2. Jorge Lorenzo (Spn) Yamaha 173
3. Andrea Dovizioso (It) Repsol Honda 143
4. Dani Pedrosa (Spn) Repsol Honda 110
5. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Ducati 108

The safety car was called into use following Hopkins’ crash which left no gaps when the riders restarted. As soon as the safety car left the track Tommy Hill sped off to stretch his lead and left Josh Brookes, Shane Byrne & Michael Rutter to fight for second & third.

Relentless Suzuki rider Josh Brookes came in second with a slight gap on Bathams Ducati rider Michael Rutter, who beat HM Plant Honda rider Shane Byrne by overtaking him on the last lap of the final lap in an exciting finale.

Round 7 – Oulton Park, Race 1:

1.  Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha)
2.   Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) +5.492s
3.   Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +5.669s
4.   Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +5.755s
5.   Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +6.789s
6.   Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +7.128s
7.   Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +13.055s
8.   James Westmoreland (Motorpoint Yamaha) +18.699s
9.   Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) +18.960s
10. Scott Smart (Moto Rapido Ducati) +21.619s

Britisih Superbikes 2011 Championship:

1.  S. Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 214 points
2.  J. Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) 182
3.   T. Hill (Swan Yamaha) 165
4.   M. Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 129
5.   R. Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 121
6   J. Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) 111
7   J. Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) 91
8.   G. Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) 90
9.   S. Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) 89
10. M. Rutter (Rapid Solicitors Ducati) 88

The drivers reflect on their previous performances at Silverstone and what it means to them to perform at their own track and the obvious importance of doing particularly well in front of the British fans.

There was no repeat of the Canadian Grand Prix where a lapse of concentration allowed Jenson Button to overtake Vettel on the last lap.  Yesterday the 23 year-old defending champion won the European Grand Prix with a fautless and somewhat effortless drive to give him his sixth victory of the 2011 season. He led from start to finish and never looked like being overtaken, even with a slight lead over Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber.

BBC1 commentator and former F1 driver, Martin Brundle remarked: “This has again been a study in dominance by Sebastian Vettel. [...] He was using his head, using his tyres better than anyone else and we haven’t seen him put a foot wrong.”

Following the race both Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and McLaren-Mercedes‘ Lewis Hamilton admitted they believe this season’s F1 Drivers Championship is already wrapped up.  Though today, Lewis Hamilton has vowed to continue trying his best to beat the unstoppable Red Bull-Renault driver.

Sebastian Vettel’s victory yesterday extends his lead to 77 points with eight races still to go.

Lewis Hamilton finished in fourth place with Jenson Button in sixth.

F1 Drivers’ World Championship 2011
1   Sebatian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull-Renault 186 points
2    Jenson Button (Great Britain) McLaren-Mercedes 109
3    Mark Webber (Australia) Red Bull-Renault 109
4    Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) McLaren-Mercedes 97
5    Fernado Alonso (Spain) Ferrari 87
6    Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 42
7    Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 32
8    Vitaly Petrov (Russia) Renault 31
9    Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Renault 30
10 Michael Schumacher (Germany) Mercedes 26

Goodwood House through the trees credit Goodwood Collection

The days are ticking away to the start of the fabulous Goodwood Festival of Speed and this years event promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with over one hundred of the world’s top drivers, riders and famous faces already confirmed to appear at the splendid setting of Goodwood House in Sussex during the first weekend in July.

The Festival of Speed remains unique in its ability to attract the majority of the current season’s Formula One teams and drivers, with at least eight of the twelve 2011 F1 teams confirmed for Goodwood, one week ahead of their British Grand Prix appearance at Silverstone.

These GP teams will include Red Bull, Scuderia Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes, Lotus-Renault, Mercedes GP, Williams-Cosworth, Marussia Virgin and Team Lotus.  Current F1 drivers and leading characters in action at the Festival will include Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber, Nico Rosberg, Heikki Kovalainen, Timo Glock, Bruno Senna, Vitaly Petrov, Christian Horner and Adrian Newey.

Past Grand Prix winners present at the Festival of Speed will include Sir Stirling Moss, Nigel Mansell, John Surtees, Damon Hill, Jochen Mass, Emerson Fittipaldi, Thiery Boutsen and Peter Gethin,alongside the current voice of F1 on the BBC, Martin Brundle. Le Mans winners Derek Bell, Richard Attwood, Jan Lammers, Andy Wallace and Marco Werner will join a roll-call of other motor sport stars at Goodwood that reads like a Who’s Who of motor racing.

Among the many celebrations going on at this years Festival of Speed will be the biggest ever celebration of Indy cars outside of the USA and a special Rally Forest stage in honour of the Skoda Rally team.

The Johnnie Walker Viewing Tower

Visitors to this years show are invited to access the incredible Johnnie Walker viewing tower which is situated opposite the F1 paddock. With its top platform set at 12 metres high the tower provides some of the best views of the event that you are likely to get.

On arrival, visitors will be greeted with a sample of Johnnie Walker® Red Label, paired deliciously with strawberries and black pepper, before being given the opportunity to learn about the depth of flavours that make up Johnnie Walker and taste the different varieties during  various mentoring sessions running throughout the weekend.

From here, visitors can make their way to platforms one and two, which both offer fantastic views of the Festival.  To bring to life Johnnie Walker’s proud sponsorship of the Vodafone Mercedes McLaren team, platform two will offer an insight into the style and sophistication of Formula One by playing exclusive interviews with sporting legends Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.

Win a pair of free tickets to the Goodwood Festival of Speed

This is surely a motoring event not to be missed at a location where it is possible to get up close to your racing heroes. Buzzin F1 are offering a pair of free tickets to the Goodwood Festival of Speed for Saturday 2nd July in a free to enter competition.

To enter the competition simply answer the following question:

PLEASE NOTE: THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED

Which current Formula 1 team does Johnnie Walker Black Label sponsor?

Send your entries to comps@buzzinmedia.co.uk with “Goodwood Festival of Speed” in the subject line with your answer and your full address and contact telephone number.

This Buzzin Media Competition ends on Sunday June 26th, 2011. The editor will randomly choose the winning entry.

The editor’s choice is final.

Stoner started in pole position on the grid after being the fastest rider in all qualifying sessions, setting a new Silverstone lap record in the process.  Apart from an intentional slow pull away and first couple of laps while he accustomed himself to the treacherous spray and judged the track for potential hazards, he lead the race, finishing with an amazing 15 second lead over Repsol Honda team-mate Andrea Dovizioso.

Race contenders Marco Simocelli, Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies lost control of their bikes, while Valentino Rossi, who started in 13th position could only finish 6th as he continues his struggle to tame his Ducati.

Casey Stoner is the first Honda rider to win three consecutive MotoGP races since Valentino Rossi in 2003.  That victory was Stoner’s fourth of the season in his 150th GP start.  He now leads the 2011 MotoGP as the teams and their riders head to the Dutch TT on Saturday 25th June at the Amsterdam Assein Circuit for Round 7 of this season’s championship.

The only British rider, Cal Crutchlow missed the chance the impress in front of a packed crowd of over 78,000 when he crashed out in qualifying on Saturday and broke his collarbone.

British MotoGP Result:

1 Casey Stoner (Australia) Honda 47:53.459
2 Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Honda 48:08.618
3 Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha 48:14.939
4 Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati 48:20.443
5 Alvaro Bautista (Spain) Suzuki 48:29.028
6 Valentino Rossi (Italy) Ducati 48:57.985

MotoGP 2011 Championship:

1 Casey Stoner (Australia) Honda 116.0 points
2 Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 98.0
3 Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Honda 83.0
4 Valentino Rossi (Italy) Ducati 68.0
5 Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 61.0
6 Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati 60.0
7 Hiroshi Aoyama (Japan) Honda 43.0
8 Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha 37.0
9 Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 36.0
10 Karel Abraham (Czech) Ducati 33.0