Crash.net recently asked for your
MotoGP star of 2008, from a shortlist of ten riders provided, and - with voting having now closed - the time has come to reveal the results.
The bulk of the shortlist picked itself, containing the top seven riders in the final world championship standings, and we also wanted to know how highly you rated the two other class rookies, who also made an impact on several occasions.
The final candidate was more difficult: Outside of the championship top seven, and with podiums considered essential for any non-rookies to reach the 'star' shortlist, there was a tie between
Toni Elias and
Chris Vermeulen.
Both took two podiums this season, but the final place on the shortlist was narrowly given to Elias since he achieved the higher race results (one second place and one third, compared with Vermeulen's two thirds), had changed teams for 2008 and is the first ever satellite Ducati rider to claim more than one podium in a single season.
During the next ten weekdays, we will be revealing the voting results in reverse order, with the winner being revealed on Wednesday December 3.
More than 54,000 votes were cast for the MotoGP poll. The average score given for each rider was used to produce the final ranking.
MotoGP Star of the Year – Tenth place:
Name: Alex de Angelis
Team: San Carlo Honda Gresini
Bike: Honda RC212V
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Pole Positions: 0
Fastest laps: 0
Championship points: 63
Championship position: 14th
Alex de Angelis was the lowest ranked of the four 2008 MotoGP rookies and the lowest ranked of the ten riders on the 2008 shortlist, so perhaps it's not surprising that the San Marinese sits at the tail end of your countdown.
The Honda Gresini rider - who finished second 16 times in 250GP, winning just one race - showed little fear as he made the step up to the premier-class, with the highlight of his season a stunning charge from last to fourth at Mugello.
