From a press release issued by Team Telefonica Movistar Honda:

VALENCIA, ANOTHER GOAL TO BE REACHED

GP VALENCIA – PREVIEW

The 2004 season concludes with the Valencia GP, a championship year full of breathtaking moments where the riders of the Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda have been unquestionable protagonists.
Sete Gibernau, after a season which saw him leading the championship for the first part of the season and fighting for the title until the Australian GP (the 15th of the season), reconfirms himself as runner up in the Championship for the second year in a row, title which confirms both his value as a rider and that of his team together with Honda and Michelin.

The Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda concludes this season at Valencia with still one goal to reach: winning first place in the Teams Classification. Only one point separates the “azul” team from the leader. A prestigious goal which would complete an extraordinary season for Gresini Racing and would confirm the value of Fausto Gresini’s package: a well organized structure which is aided by the! support of Honda and Michelin, a professional technical staff passionate about racing, very important sponsors like Telefonica MoviStar and Castrol who believe in him and his riders.

The title isn’t far as both Sete and Colin are determined to give their best on the Spanish circuit. Sete Gibernau wants to give a superb show to his fans and all the spectators who followed applauded and rallied him on for 16 challenging races. Colin Edwards is very upbeat and wants to salute his team with a fantastic result in order to repay the mechanics and staff of their fabulous work throughout the year. For him it will be a race to remember as it will be his last time on the RC211V with the colours of the Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda: the relationship between the Texan and Gresini Racing in fact ends with this GP.

The final verdict will take place right on here, on this track during the Valencia GP race, a technical and tormented track, born with a huge stadium wh! ere spectators – conveniently sat on the steps – have complete visibility of the entire event. The Spanish effect added to the fact that Valencia is the last round of the Season, makes it so that this race finishes with a huge party in which a huge numbers of spectators participate.

SETE GIBERNAU, A BIG THANK YOU TO HIS PUBLIC

Valencia is an extra special track for Sete Gibernau. It is in fact here that the Spaniard won his first race in the 500cc class.

The Ricardo Tormo is a small track and complicated for the MotoGP bikes, but the very apparent festive atmosphere is incredible. Valencia is a GP that gives incredible emotions, year after year.

Once again Sete Gibernau is ready for the last challenge of the year, intentioned to give the very best to his public.
“Valencia has always been a special event for me as it is the last race of the season, and it is also a wonderful opportunity to give a great result to my Spanish fan! s.

The track is slow and tormented, not very suited for MotoGP bikes. However it is always capable of thrilling the 150.000 spectators who crowd the grand stands.

My favourite part of the track is the last corner.

The track is tight, and this doesn’t allow for much overtaking, however a good point to overtake is the entrance in the second corner.

The secret to a good lap? On this track it is important to have a good setting, a good rhythm and it is especially important do not commit any mistakes.
For a Spanish rider it is incredible to race here as you can hear the crowd cheering around you, it is an incredible support.”

COLIN EDWARDS, “VALENCIA, DO OR DIE”
At the end of a season in which Colin Edwards distinguished himself for being consistent on the pace, but missing of aggressiveness and incisiveness, two traits which the twice world champion is known for.

The Texan of the Team Telefonica MoviStar H! onda is ready to open the throttle in Valencia, the last round of the 2004 MotoGP Championship.

Now that he has a good feeling with the bike, he has to get ready to say goodbye to the team which accompanied him for the entire season.

Edwards comments the Valencia race like this: “Do or die, I am going to Valencia and opening the throttle.”

Colin Edwards, known for being consistent, has every intention breaking his riding rule, that of riding in a regular way in order to get points every race, and he promises to put on quite a show.

The goal of his final race is to reconquer his fourth position in the championship that has been momentarily lost because of the accident he was caught up in Japan and because of his eleventh place in Sepang, his worse placing of the season. 6 points separate the Texan with Alex Barros who is in fourth place coming into this race.