Two-time Moto2 World Champion rounds off great season by winning his last race in the class in Valencia.

Johann Zarco ended his time in the Moto2 class with a victory in Valencia today, signing off in the best way possible. The Frenchman, proclaimed World Champion for the second time two weeks ago in Malaysia, placed first at the Valencia GP after an intense fight with Franco Morbidelli, crossing the finish line on his own for win number seven of the season.

Starting from pole position, the Ajo Motorsport rider carried out a perfect strategy planned alongside his team. Despite not being able to leave his rivals behind during the opening laps, Zarco remained at the front and demonstrated his ability to handle the situation. After an entertaining battle with Morbidelli at the halfway point in the race, he managed to impose his pace and break away for the win.

The Valencia GP marked the end of a dreamed two years for Johann Zarco and Ajo Motorsport, in which they have won two World Championships, taking 15 victories and a further 9 podiums.

Results – Race
1. Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) 43:17.626
2. Thomas Luthi (Kalex) +3.281
3. Franco Morbidelli (Kalex) +4.981
4. Sam Lowes (Kalex) +5.636
5. Alex Rins (Kalex) +5.850

Moto2 World Championship Standing 2016
1. Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) 276 points
2. Thomas Luthi (Kalex) 234 points
3. Alex Rins (Kalex) 214 points
4. Franco Morbidelli (Kalex) 213 points
5. Sam Lowes (Kalex) 175 points

Aki Ajo – Team Manager
“It has been a wonderful end to this two-year project for Ajo Motorsport and Johann Zarco in Moto2. Of course we did not expect something like this when we put the project together with this group, the sponsors and of course, Johann Zarco as a rider. Expectations were very high since we started planning this project, but no one had even dreamed of it being as successful as this, with two World Championships. These have been good moments for all those who have worked very hard for this, and they are all very talented people: Johann [Zarco] as our rider, Laurent [Fellon], his family and all those working on the team, the crew led by Massimo Branchini and the sponsors. Thank you all.”

5 JOHANN ZARCO
“I don’t have much to say, I just want to enjoy the moment to the maximum. I am very happy because the race strategy worked out very well. Yesterday I was happy to be starting from pole, but when I analysed the session I saw that I was lacking a few tenths, and that it would be difficult to follow Franco [Morbidelli] and Thomas [Luthi]. Also, I was lucky to be first because they never put in a perfect lap. So I thought that today I should take the opportunity, not let them escape and fight from the beginning to feel better. Everything worked out great, exactly as we wanted; first we were able to take a big gap over second place when we were 15 laps in, and at the end we got the victory. It’s the perfect way to sign off, and I want to thank the team because once again they have shown that they can give me a bike that gives me confidence and allows me to attack.”