It’s that time of year again when we all get a little misty-eyed and emotional about what’s happened. But enough about kicking-out time at the office Christmas party, let’s have a look back at some of my highlights of the 2015 MotoGP season which will inevitably go down as one of the greatest of all time.

RIDER OF THE YEAR

Valentino Rossi: Say what you like about his season post-Australia, but at 36 years of age, Valentino was back in the big leagues in 2015, and led the championship from the opening round at Qatar until the final moments of Valencia. It may well prove to be his last chance to take a tenth title, but his legend is already secure. Even if he didn’t win, he’s a hero in a majority of fans’ eyes.

Close but no cigar: Johann Zarco – finally fulfilling career-long potential, Dani Pedrosa – post-operation we didn’t know what we were going to see, but we finally saw some of Dani’s best, Maverick Viñales – the kid’s a bit special

RACE OF THE SEASON

Phillip Island: Not a shadow of a doubt for me with this one. Quite simply the greatest race MotoGP has seen for a decade. (My last one on this scale was Estoril 2006 – go back and look at it if you don’t remember!) Forget your conspiracy theories, just go and watch the race again and see how riders on three different makes of motorcycle batter chunks out of each other lap after lap.

Close: Sepang – The build up and THAT movE, Assen – Rossi v. Marquez, Qatar – Rossi v. everyone, Any Moto3 race

OVERTAKE OF THE YEAR

Andrea Iannone on Marquez and Rossi at Phillip Island: This was one of those passes that raised a chuckle at the same time as making you rub your eyes to check you weren’t dreaming. It will live long in the memory because it wasn’t pre-meditated – it was sheer instinctive reaction to his rivals running wide, and showed guts by the bucket-load to take a mile when just an inch was offered.

Close: Marquez, Phillip Island – immense last lap, Pedrosa, Aragon – he gave Rossi as good as he’s ever got

MOMENT OF THE YEAR

Sepang lap 7: It proved to be the single biggest talking point of MotoGP in years, and it will be still talked about when I am old and grey. Ok, so when I’m old. The “did he, didn’t he?” saga brought the CSI out in everyone, and meant the Valencian showdown was probably the most viewed race in GP history.

Close: Marquez’s pole lap in Austin – Having just run the length of the pit lane. Stunning, Rossi’s first laps in Valencia and carving his way through the field from the back of the grid.

DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR

Ducati’s failure to secure a victory: Might seem a strange choice this but when one had looked so likely at the start of the season, to me it showed once again that despite Gigi Dall’Igna’s cunning, lead times in development compared to the other factories mean that if they don’t hit the ground running (à la Stoner in 2007) then they find it hard to keep up with their rivals.

Close: Scott Redding – he’d be the first to admit this, but Ducati testing looks promising, Moto3 riders during qualifying – things have to change, Open Hondas – not good enough, Moto2 – needs a shake-up

SURPRISE OF THE YEAR

Suzuki: We couldn’t have expected more from the return of an iconic GP brand. A one-two on the grid in Barcelona – both riders’ home race – and Maverick Viñales looking like the real deal on an under-equipped motorcycle. Let’s hope they continue to make steps forward with the arrival of the standard ECU software – it should work in their favour. Fingers crossed for more surprises.

Close: Danny Kent – after a tough first year back in Moto3 the switch to Honda looked risky, but finally a British world champ, Loris Baz – excellent first GP season from the big man, All British riders took a podium – Eh?!

BIGGEST CRASH OF THE YEAR

Any of Marc Marquez’s: Argentina was a disaster, but could be remedied, but he went on to crash out in Mugello, Catalunya, Silverstone, Aragon and, erm, Sepang… Too many DNF’s to even consider defending your title, but the Spaniard says he’s learnt finishing second is ok, which should make him favourite again next year. That is if he can work out the Michelin tyres and the new software

Close: Alex de Angelis – We never saw it, but it was very nasty and so good to see him back at Valencia hoping to ride again in 2016, Niki Ajo – Bringing the bike across the line on his knees at Assen!

I’m sure some of this will cause lots of debate around the Christmas tree, so let us know if you have any others you would add in here. I hope everyone enjoyed MotoGP in 2015, I know I certainly did, but I’m sure all the tension created this year will just make next year even better. Tweet Gav HERE