HONDA MEN RIDING FLAT OUT FOR REPEAT SUCCESS This Valencian venue has proved rewarding for a number of Honda men currently plying their trade in the premier class. Perhaps none more so than Spanish superstar Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V) who has won here in all classes during his stellar career. His team-mate Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC212V) is another man with happy memories of this traditional end-of-season circuit (since 2002). Nicky wrapped up the 2006 World Championship here with an inspired ride to third when the odds seemed stacked against this rugged campaigner who will race for Honda for the last time (at this stage of his career) at least. Both factory men are in a rich vein of form. Each has scored two podium finishes from the last four races and with Dani boasting a pole position, lap record and race victory here from 2007, he’ll be eager to deny his team-mate a swansong win. Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda RC212V) won here on a 250cc machine in 2003 before Dani piled up two wins in that class for Honda in 2004 and 2005. Alex de Angelis (San Carlo Honda Gresini RC212V) finished fourth in the 125cc category in 2002 and won here on a 250 in 2006. Aside from the enviable rider record the Honda factory enjoys here, it’s evident recent machinery in the shape of the 990cc RC 211V and current 800cc RC212V works well here. Alex Barros triumphed in 2002 on the RC211V, Valentino Rossi in 2003, Marco Melandri in 2005, and Dani on the RC212V last year. Andrea Dovizioso (JiR Scot Honda RC212V) who rode to a fully deserved podium finish in Malaysia last weekend does not have a noteworthy record here yet. But after his stirring ride at Sepang, he will set about business here with his typical resolve matched to added confidence. ‘Dovi’ joins the factory Repsol Honda team in 2009, while loyal factory servant Shinya Nakano (San Carlo Honda Gresini RC212V) will take the grid for the last time for the Gresini team, as a full-time rider. There is also the prestigious matter of the Rookie Of The Year title which is still up for grabs. Dovi is locked in a fight for this prize with his old sparring-partner from his 250cc days Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha). Whichever rider takes the award, they will be the highest placed rookie since the start of the latest four-stroke era in 2002. That honour is currently held jointly by Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden. The 4.005km Ricardo Tormo track was designed to fit in the ‘bowl’ of a natural amphitheatre, so the huge crowds (200,000 plus over the race weekend) can track the progress of riders almost all the way around a full lap. With 14 turns (five rights and nine lefts) packed into this tight space, and only a short 876m straight, it’s ideal for spectators but hard work for riders. There is no time to rest here. With many turns in quick succession and only the short chute on which to ‘relax’, the ‘Cheste’ track is punishing. Despite a slow average lap time at around a 150km/h average speed (the second slowest on the calendar next to Estoril) the bikes are on the edge of their tyres for long periods precisely where riders need to apply maximum concentration. The two fast turns at either end of the main straight are hard on rubber too, so set-up means making the most of available grip and having a machine that turns easily without too much physical effort from the pilot. Progressive acceleration out of those turns is vital too. Dani said: “I’m really looking forward to Valencia. It’s a great track for the fans because they can see the whole lap. The place is laid out a bit like a stadium, so the atmosphere is fantastic, especially since it’s the last race of the year. I especially enjoy this race, it’s always great to ride in front of so many Spanish fans. You can really feel their support. There are a lot of corners in quite a short lap with quite a few changes of direction, so it is very important to have an agile bike. You need to vary your riding style around this track, adjusting your technique according to each corner. Rear grip plays a crucial role, especially edge grip.” Nicky said: “One more try at ’em! I really love Valencia and I love the atmosphere, it’s always special to race in front of a Spanish crowd. I don’t want to sound soft but it will be an emotional weekend. This team has been family the last six years I was 21 years old when I showed up in Europe from Kentucky! We’ve had a good run together. I’m really grateful for the opportunity Honda gave me. Not a lot of people can say they rode factory Hondas for nine years. From the RC51 on, I’ve ridden some of the baddest bikes ever and worked with some great engineers. We’ll be hoping we can go out strong. Valencia has got a special place in my heart for obvious reasons.” Dovi said: “Valencia will be my last race with the team I made my debut with in the World Championships. These seven years have been important, we’ve collected many successes, including the world title in the 125 class. This season we wanted to be able to climb the podium. I would have preferred if it could have happened many other times, but we only got within touching distance before finally reaching it in Malaysia. Valencia is not a circuit I particularly like and a good result will not be easy. We’ll do our best, as always, as I would like to make another ‘gift’ of a good result before my change of team at the end of the season.” De Puniet said: “My right wrist gave me a bit of trouble towards the end of the race at Sepang and I hope it will be strong enough for me to keep riding as hard as I can here in Valencia. The track makes physical demands and I want to be in the best shape I can to give the team something to be really happy about now that the season is about to end. I’ve had success here with a 250, so let’s hope we can repeat that on Sunday.” De Angelis said: “At the start of my career I could never get to grips with Valencia, but over the last few years the situation has changed and I’ve been strong here, even winning the 250cc race in 2006. It is a circuit where a strong engine is not fundamental, because there are few places where you hit high speeds. It’s similar to tracks where we’ve done well this year, so I’m confident. I’d like to end the season in positive fashion and give my technical staff some nice memories to take with them because there will be some changes over the winter and I’ll be working with new people next year.” Nakano said: “This season has gone by so fast and Sunday is the final race already! Valencia is a unique place and I like it a lot. Tyre choice will be crucial because of the temperatures, which probably won’t be too high. In any case after two good races in Australia and Malaysia my confidence is high and I’m convinced I can end the season with another good result. I also have the chance to move up a few positions in the World Championship table so I’ll give maximum effort until the end.” 250cc With Italian Marco Simoncelli (Aprilia) wrapping up his first ever World Championship last weekend at Sepang, he’ll be in a relaxed but typically competitive frame of mind. He would like few things more than to deprive this season’s Spanish rivals of a ‘home’ win here. Yuki Takahashi (JiR Scot Honda RS250RW) graduates to the premier class in 2009 with the Scot team, who ran Dovi so successfully in his rookie year. The resilient Japanese competitor will leave nothing undone in a bid to bow out on a high note. Ratthapark Wilairot (Thai Honda PTT SAG RS250RW) has got better and better as the season has unfolded and his blistering qualifying effort at Sepang (heading row two as highest Honda qualifier) was one of the rides of the class of the season. He will hope to end the year in similar vein. Takahashi said: “I’ve always enjoyed Valencia. Although in recent seasons I haven’t managed to get the results I think I deserved. I want to finish my last year in 250s before my move to MotoGP with a good result that I want to devote to the team, which has enjoyed an exciting Championship with me this year. In Malaysia we secured an excellent fourth-place finish, and now we can move on and try to secure fifth position in the Championship for us.” Wilairot said: “I like Valencia and the atmosphere here is fantastic. We tested here in the pre-season with our Honda RSW but did not finish with good results as it was in February and temperatures were very cold. My approach at the Ricardo Tormo circuit will be no different to others, try to go fast from Friday, to be among the leaders.” 125cc With Frenchman Mike Di Meglio (Derbi) already wearing the 125cc crown for 2008, there could be no greater contrast for his fellow Gallic competitor Cyril Carrillo (FFM Racing Honda RS125R) whose team disbands after this race. Carrillo was injured at Sepang during qualifying and did not race. He will not race here either.