FIM Awards Ceremony closes the MotoGP season
After another three incredible races on Sunday at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana, the FIM Awards ceremony finally brought the curtain down on a history-maker of a season – where Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was top billing as he received his MotoGP World Champion trophy after taking the title in October at the Twin Ring Motegi, alongside fellow top three finishers Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi of Movistar Yamaha MotoGP.
The 2016 Awards were hosted by Suzi Perry and Ernest Riveras, with Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta and FIM President Vito Ippolito in attendance to hand out the range of awards throughout the evening.
Youngest ever 5-time World Champion Marquez took center stage as he received his hard-earned 2016 MotoGP trophy, along with Moto2 World Champion Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) – the first Frenchman to win more than one world title – and Moto3 World Champion Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – the South African fresh from a stunning storm through the field to another incredible win.
The MotoGP Rookie of the Year award was presented to Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider Tito Rabat, with LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow – the first British winner in the premier class for 35 years – taking the title of top Independent Team rider in 2016 after his amazing two victories during the year.
In Moto2, Tech 3 Racing’s Xavi Vierge received the Rookie of the Year prize, with Joan Mir (Leopard Racing) taking Moto3 Rookie of the Year after an amazing final showdown earlier in the day.
The BMW M Award for best qualifier in the MotoGP class went to Marquez for the fourth year in a row, as well as the Tissot Pole of Poles, which went to Zarco in Moto2 and Binder in Moto3.
The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team picked up the MotoGP Team world title trophy once again, but it was Honda who took the MotoGP Constructor Title in the premier class. Kalex came out on top in Moto2, and KTM in Moto3.
The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion Ayumu Sasaki, runner-up Aleix Viu and third-placed rider Raul Fernandez also made appearances on stage to receive their medals for their fantastic seasons in the Cup.
A special segment was also dedicated to Luis Salom, who tragically passed away at the Catalan GP, with a tribute including a letter from his family – read by his manager – proving a fitting tribute to a star of the paddock who is sadly missed. His number 39 will be retired from the Moto2 category in his honour.
