An emotional finale

MotoGP

Fourteenth in the final Grand Prix of the season after finishing the Sprint race in the same position, Pol Espargaro ended his career as a factory rider with two final points. This despite a small crash which prevented him from doing any better. “It was an emotional day," admitted the GASGAS Tech 3 rider. “It wasn't my last time on the grid, because I know I'll be back there again, but my heart was in my throat. I could feel the people in the stands, the atmosphere, I had my team around me, all the riders I'd grown up with and I thought how lucky I have been to spend ten years chasing my dreams in MotoGP... It was very special. The race was very good, I was going better than ever, but then I crashed. The good thing was that I was able to get back into the race and take the final chequered flag in the points. That means a lot to me. I'd like to say a big thank you to my team for the work they've done and the welcome they've given me this year." Rookie of the Year Augusto Fernandez also crashed out of the race. But unlike his team-mate, he was unable to get back onto the track. “I'm disappointed to end the season like this, but nevertheless satisfied with my first season in MotoGP," confided the Spaniard. “I've learned a lot and I know that the best is yet to come.”

Moto2

Fifth on the grid, Sam Lowes finished his last Moto2 race in seventh position. With this result, the Elf Marc VDS Racing rider ends his Grand Prix career in ninth place overall in Moto2. “I would have loved to have finished with a final podium," confided the Brit. “Unfortunately I was never close enough to third to attack. I wasn't as good on the bike as I was in practice. In any case, I'd like to thank the team for the four great seasons we've spent together. We’ve won races, podiums and pole positions in a very competitive category. I'm even happier that next year the adventure will continue in Superbike under the same colours.” Despite a modest 16^th place finish at the last Grand Prix in Valencia, Tony Arbolino ended the 2023 season as runner-up in the world championship, with eight podium finishes to his credit, including three victories. “Even if we have nothing to be ashamed of, I'm still disappointed to end the year with such a result," admitted the Italian. “Fortunately 2024 starts tomorrow with a day of testing, which will allow me to turn the page.”

Moto3

The end of the season was decidedly unsuccessful for Dani Holgado. Even though he once again scored points by finishing the final race of the year in 8^th position, the KTM Tech 3 rider remained far from the podium to which he had grown accustomed to over the first part of the championship. Fifth overall with 220 points and seven podiums, including three wins, Holgado nevertheless looks a serious contender for the 2024 title. For his part, Filippo Farioli finished the year better than he started it. The Italian was once again in the points at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, taking the chequered flag in twelfth position. With an eighth place finish in Malaysia as his best result, Farioli ended the 2023 season with 19 points and a 24^th place overall. Joël Kelso finished the year in a respectable 7^th place. Injured in Portugal, the Australian, who also scored a fine podium finish at Phillip Island, unfortunately took some time to get back on the pace. With 67 points, he finished the championship in 17^th position, not far behind his team-mate Xavi Artigas, who finished 15^th.

The Spaniard, who also finished on the podium once, in Texas, finished in the top ten on six occasions. In Valencia, however, the Spaniard had to make do with 19^th place.