The Repsol Honda Team has its sights firmly set on closing out the MotoGP season this weekend with a race victory at the traditional year-end finale at Valencia. Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso head to the Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo circuit fully motivated to end the 2009 campaign on a high, and also to win their private battles for third and fifth places in the World Championship standings. Pedrosa knows he can count on fever-pitch levels of support from his home fans at the third race of the season to be held in motorcycle-mad Spain. Valencia’s stadium-like layout guarantees an incredible race-day atmosphere, and Pedrosa will be seeking to delight the crowd with the same form that has seen him win the race from pole position on half of his eight previous Grand Prix appearances here, including the 2007 MotoGP race. With four top-three finishes from the last four races this season – including his debut wet weather podium at the previous round in Malaysia – Pedrosa is in confident mood as he attempts to overturn the 11-point lead Casey Stoner holds over him for third place in the championship. Stoner is looking back to his best recently so it won’t be an easy task, but the 24-year-old Spaniard isn’t preoccupied with the maths as he heads to Valencia – he will simply be targeting the race win on Sunday. Dovizioso is looking to take the positives from the last race in Malaysia – where he was running in a strong third for much of the race – and establish himself once again where he belongs in MotoGP’s leading pack this weekend. The 23-year-old Italian came home in fourth place in last year’s race at Valencia and, although this is not a circuit he rates as one of his favourites, Dovizioso also enjoys a big lift from the support of the 120,000-stong fans that pack the grandstands at the 4.005km (2.489-mile) track on race day. The battle for fifth place in the World Championship is one that Dovizioso will be keen to win this weekend, and he goes into the final round with a four-point advantage over Texan Colin Edwards. In the Constructor’s championship Honda is in second place with an 11-point lead over Ducati, and the Repsol Honda Team has a 31-point advantage over the Ducati Marlboro Team in the race for second place in the Team classification. The Repsol Honda riders’ weekend begins at Valencia on Thursday as they support the fundraising activities of the Riders for Health charity. First practice for the main event then takes place at 13.55 on Friday, with further practice and qualifying sessions on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s 30-lap race, which begins at 14.00 local time (GMT + 1 hour). DANI PEDROSA World Championship position: 4th 209 points “I always look forward to the Grand Prix here, and this year is no different. It’s a circuit I really enjoy riding at, even though it’s quite a tight layout, but what makes it really special is the way that you can feel the support from the fans all the way round the circuit. And of course, being a Spanish rider, I get a lot of positive attention here which gives you some extra motivation too. I’ve had some good results at Valencia in the past, and this weekend it would be great to finish off the year with a win – that’s what I want. It’s not been the easiest of seasons and we haven’t been able to challenge for the championship so I’m even more determined to sign off on a high note. The result at the last race, where I got on the podium for the first time in wet conditions, has given me a lot of confidence too. We know it can rain at Valencia, so we’re ready for anything this weekend.” ANDREA DOVIZIOSO World Championship position: 5th 152 points “The atmosphere at Valencia is always incredible and that makes it a special way to finish the season. I’m really looking forward to the race, even though this is not actually one of my favourite tracks because the layout is quite slow and twisty. The grandstands around the track are always packed and the spectators can follow the action and see all of the race, so it’s kind of like a stadium environment. I’m coming into this weekend with mixed feelings after the last race. I could have had a good result in Malaysia if I hadn’t crashed so I’m really determined to do well here, for myself and for the team. I’d like to finish the year with a good result to thank my guys, and also Honda for all the work done this year. I had a decent result here last year so I’m determined to be fighting at the front this weekend again.”