From a press release issued by MS Aprilia Racing Press Information:

PREVIEW

Tuesday 29 October 2002

Valencia, Spain, last round of World Championship. Curtain comes down on 2002 season.

The 2002 season comes to an end, winding up an extraordinary year with neck-and-neck races and many world championship titles already won. The name of the 125 Class World Champion, however, is still in the balance. It is a close-run contest, and the final verdict will be made here in Valencia during the final race. Arnaud Vincent (Aprilia) and Manuel Poggiali (Gilera) will battle it out to the bitter end in the magical ‘Comunidad Valenciana’ arena. And that’s because the very technical circuit with its breathtaking corners was designed for the public: this is a sort of immense stadium where the entire track can be seen from the stands. Sporting passion reaches soccer-like levels in this 150,000-spectator facility, making Valencia one of the most intriguing events in the MotoGP. Familiar to the riders, Valencia has one of the tracks most often used in Europe for the winter tests. The paddock is absolutely colossal and the entire facility, which was constructed only recently, has extremely up-to-date infrastructure. The technical characteristics of the circuit and the mild climate due to its proximity to the sea mean that Valencia is also often used for F1 tests.


The circuit. Length: 4,005 metres – 9 left corners – 5 right corners – longest straight: 876 metres – Maximum width: 12 metres – Year of construction: 1999.


2001 winners. 125 Class: Poggiali (RSM) Gilera – 250 Class: Kato (Jap) Honda – 500 Class: Gibernau (SPA) Suzuki.


Circuit records – 125: 1’40.631, Ui 2000 – 250: 1’36.398, Nakano, 2000 – 500: 1’36.085, Criville, 2000.


APRILIA, 3 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Aprilia has already conquered 3 world titles this year: the riders’ title in the 250 class, with Marco Melandri, and the manufacturers’ title in both the 250 and the 125 class. The Venetian company has thus notched up 18 world championships in the road racing championship, and 20 since it entered motorcycle racing. Aprilia is indeed proud to hold two world titles in the trial championship (1992).


And yet there is another, highly sought-after title Aprilia is aiming for: the 125 riders’ world championship. If Arnaud Vincent, currently at the top of the standings with an 8-point advantage over Manuel Poggiali, wins the race on Sunday, he will give Aprilia an extraordinary four-of-a-kind, an absolute record for the Noale-based company. Indeed, the greatest number of world championships won so far in a single season was in 1998, when Aprilia scored a hat-trick: riders’ and manufacturers’ in the 250 class (Capirossi), and the riders’ in the 125 (Sakata).


125 CLASS, WORLD TITLE ALMOST WITHIN REACH

It will be no easy enterprise but Arnaud Vincent, currently leading the ratings with 8 points to play with, will make his attempt to become world champion this Sunday. Manuel Poggiali, his closest rival, is in fighting form and is going to battle it through to the bitter end, knowing that in a closely fought class like the 125, it is not that difficult to make up eight points. On the other hand, Aprilia’s great French rider Vincent has all the determination it takes to win and he has indeed already paid more than his due in terms of the bad luck that has targeted him during recent races. Arnaud has everything he needs to get to the top spot on the podium at Valencia and put his hands on the world title: he will just need to use his points lead to best advantage and make his final rush when he gets the opportunity.


250 CLASS: APRILIA AND MELANDRI WORLD CHAMPIONS

The world 250 class match can be said to be over. Marco Melandri won a truly terrific race at Phillip Island. He fought his rival Nieto (Aprilia) right through to the end, when his strategy and technical skill gave him the edge he needed. He won the Australian race in spectacular fashion, earning a world championship for the first time in his career. Aprilia had already won the 250 class manufacturers’ championship four races from the end of the season, and this is its third title this year. After ten days of intense PR work, the new world champion Marco Melandri has given countless interviews and has been the star guest on a number of television programmes. Macio is now ready for the closing race of the season. This is the final catwalk that the Ravenna-born champion would like to crown with yet another victory.


MOTOGP, REGIS LACONI MAKES 100

Valencia is a special occasion for official RS Cube rider Régis Laconi, for this will be his hundredth Grand Prix race. Régis has always performed really well at Valencia. In 1999, he won the 500 race in the pouring rain, and came sixth the following year. On the Aprilia RSV Mille he came second in the 2001 Superbike qualifying, and fourth in the first of the two races. Now, on Sunday’s historic anniversary, he will be bringing all his energy to bear and the talented Italian-French rider could indeed achieve a great result on the Valencia circuit, one of his favourites.