Riders arrive in Valencia for final MotoGP race
Added on Friday, November 5th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Riders arrive in Valencia for final MotoGP race
The 18th and final round of the 2010 MotoGP season takes place this weekend at the Valencia track in Spain.
Although the championship winner, Jorge Lorenzo, was decided weeks ago that doesn’t mean that the rider will be letting his guard down and the Fiat Yamaha rider is going to fight for a win in the final round, despite having never won at the circuit. Valencia is one of only three circuits that Lorenzo hasn’t won at, in any of the classes he’s raced in.
In yesterday’s press conference Lorenzo said: “I’ve never won here in Valencia. It’s not my obsession to get a victory here this weekend, but we are sure going to try. It’s the last race of the season, so we’ll make the last push, as we are very motivated to make the race.”
Lorenzo’s teammate Valentino Rossi has had more luck at the Spanish track, and is set to complete his final race for the Fiat Yamaha team this weekend. Rossi won at Valencia in 2003 and 2004, but has yet to ride to victory in the 800cc class – something he will be looking to rectify in this weekend’s race. He will be battling it out with Dani Pedrosa for the runner up spot.
“The points gap to second is quite big and Dani is always fast here,” said Rossi, before adding; “Anyway, a good target is also to resist and keep the third position from Casey, who is also fast here in Valencia.
“Last weekend we worked well in Portugal and had a good first half of the race, for this Sunday we try and prepare the second half.”
Pedrosa has a good record of podium finishes at the Valencia circuit and has had five victories, across all classes, including last year’s MotoGP race. Pedrosa currently has a 19 point advantage over Rossi, but a collarbone injury may impair his performance.
The Repsol Honda rider said: “I’m happy to be back here at Valencia, where I did a good race last year. I think we will have a great Sunday, because the crowd is always amazing, especially for the Spanish riders. This year I’m coming from injury, so I don’t know what is my level, but I hope to do a great race.”
Ducati rider Nicky Hayden and his fellow American Ben Spies are currently tied on points in sixth place. However, Spies is currently suffering from an ankle injury after he dislocated it in a sighting lap crash last weekend at Estoril, so Hayden has a strong chance of finishing ahead of Spies.
Hayden is aiming to get a good result on Sunday and had this to say: “Sixth in the championship isn’t bad, but not spectacular; certainly the goal at the beginning of the season wasn’t sixth place” stated Hayden. “It’s been a big step from last year; we’ve learnt a lot and I’ve enjoyed parts of it but still, it’s been frustrating not being able to make that next step, but it’s not over yet. The race on Sunday is a big part of the season, so we need to go out and be strong right from the gun tomorrow morning and try and do a good weekend.”
