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Jorge Lorenzo crashes as Casey Stoner finishes third in last race

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Pedrosa wins final MotoGP of the season as Stoner bows out and Lorenzo wipes out

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UPDATED:

15:19 GMT, 11 November 2012

A spectacular crash from newly-crowned champion Jorge Lorenzo allowed Dani Pedrosa to claim victory in the final MotoGP race of the season in Valencia.

Lorenzo wrapped up the championship with victory in Australia last month, but he was unable to register his seventh win of the season today amid wet conditions at the Spanish circuit.

Yamaha rider Lorenzo burst into the lead after a frenetic opening ahead of Pedrosa, but the champion crashed out of the race near the halfway point as he attempted a tricky overtaking manoeuvre on a back marker.

Disaster: Yamaha MotoGP world champion rider Jorge Lorenzo falls during the final race of the season in Valencia

Disaster: Yamaha MotoGP world champion rider Jorge Lorenzo falls during the final race of the season in Valencia

Lorenzo wipes out

Lorenzo

With a healthy lead over Pedrosa, Lorenzo shifted his bike to the edge of the track as he tried to overtake, but the wet conditions made his bike slip and he flew off into the gravel at pace. He walked away unharmed.

From that moment Pedrosa, who started from the pit lane with slick tyres, started to open up a gap between himself and Katsuyuki Nakasuga and he never looked back.

The 27-year-old, who was already guaranteed second place in the championship, finished the race nearly 37 seconds ahead of Nakasuga, who only joined the Yamaha Factory Racing team two weeks ago because of an injury to Ben Spies.

Thanks for the memories: Dani Pedrosa (right) with the retiring Casey Stoner

Thanks for the memories: Dani Pedrosa (right) with the retiring Casey Stoner

Pedrosa said afterwards: 'I am really happy because the conditions made it so much more difficult out there.

'I stayed really calm and I think it was the right decision to start on slicks.'

After dabbing away his tears an emotional Nakasuga said of his podium finish: 'I am very happy about this result. It was very difficult, but I did my best.'

Podium fun: Pedrosa (centre) with Stoner (right) and Hiroshi Aoyama (left) gets soaked with champagne

Podium fun: Pedrosa (centre) with Stoner (right) and Hiroshi Aoyama (left) gets soaked with champagne

Two-time world champion Casey Stoner finished third in his last-ever race.

Stoner told BBC Sport: 'I took the easy way out today by starting on wet tyres and to be honest, I was scared of crashing.

'I didn't want to injure my foot any more than I have already, especially in my last race. You can see there were a lot of crashes today.

'My eyes were the size of dinner plates the whole race. With a couple of laps to go I decided to go for it and it's a fantastic way to end it. I want to thank all my supporters down the years.'

London 2012 Olympics: Football: South Korea 2 Japan 0

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South Korea 2 Japan 0: Park and Koo seal bronze for Koreans in Cardiff

PUBLISHED:

21:12 GMT, 10 August 2012

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UPDATED:

21:12 GMT, 10 August 2012

South Korea claimed their first-ever Olympic football medal as they saw off Japan to secure bronze at the Millennium Stadium.

Arsenal's Park Chu-Young set them on their way with a superb solo effort in the 38th minute before skipper Koo Ja-Cheol sealed the win 11 minutes into the second half.

Japan enjoyed plenty of possession but, like Great Britain before them, found it tough to break down a well-organised Korean rearguard.

Job done! South Korea secured their first ever Olympic medal in football after they beat Japan 2-0

Job done! South Korea secured their first ever Olympic medal in football after they beat Japan 2-0

Korea captain Koo was heavily involved from the off and had a penalty appeal waved away when he went down far too easily with Hiroki Sakai in close attendance.

After a difficult start Japan slowly settled, but there was a niggly undercurrent to the game, summed up by Koo's wild lunge on Japan skipper Maya Yoshida, which earned the midfielder a booking.

It took almost half-an-hour for the first shot on target, with Jung Sung-Ryong unconvincingly parrying Hiroshi Kiyotake's low shot.

Arsenal's Park Chu-Young, who scored the opener, was ecstatic to get his bronze medal

Arsenal's Park Chu-Young, who scored the opener, was ecstatic to get his bronze medal

Contrast: Hiroshi Kiyotake cuts a dejected figure as he lies on the turf after the defeat

Contrast: Hiroshi Kiyotake cuts a dejected figure as he lies on the turf after the defeat

Sakai headed over from a corner for Japan, but it was South Korea who took the lead when Park seized on a poor defensive header to brilliantly turn Daisuke Suzuki and fire low beyond Shuichi Gonda.

Yuki Otsu crafted a great chance to level early in the second half, but scuffed his shot after linking with Keigo Higashi.

And the miss was punished seconds later when Sunderland's Ji Dong-Won flicked on goalkeeper Jung's punt downfield to allow Koo to shoot across Gonda into the net.

It was almost 3-0 just shy of the hour but Gonda managed to tip Kim Bo-Kyoung's curling effort onto the post.

Japan pushed forward in search of a way back into the game, but their hopes of setting up a tense finish ended when Yoshida's header was ruled out for a block on Jung with three minutes to go.

Battle: The Japanese could not break down South Korea's robust defence

Battle: The Japanese could not break down South Korea's robust defence