The first season of the new Moto2 category is about to end with only the Valencian GP of 2010 to go ahead. The crown of the first Moto2 world championship has already gone to Toni Elias, but the order from 2nd to 5th is still to be defined, with four riders still in the hunt for the honours. Among these there is also our Simone Corsi, who is in 5th place and is not yet resigned from taking 4th place from Swiss rider Thomas Luthi. Equally charged is Alex De Angelis, who has collected three podiums and a fourth place from the last four races, where he has also been the rider who has collected the biggest amount of points, and he could also take 6th place in the riders’ championship. In the world manufacturers’ championship MotoBI has already secured 4th place. Simone Corsi “It has been a positive season, for sure one of the best in my career, I still have some hopes for the 4th place and as I don’t have anything to lose at this point I will certainly try to attack. The last races didn’t go as well as I’d expected, the crash in Australia and the rain in Estoril prevented me from good results, meaning that I need to improve even more. I like Valencia, I’ll start with the awareness that I need to find an aggressive approach to practices and qualifying in order to set-up in the best way my machine for the race.” Alex De Angelis “Valencia is a nice track that I link to positive memories, this is the last chance for this season and I’ll give my best. In the last four races the worst result was the 4th place I took in Motegi and after three podiums in a row I feel excited but also aware of our potential thanks to the technical package I have available. I’ve found a good feeling with the MotoBi since the very beginning, I don’t care about the troubles I have had in the first half of the season, I’m only interested in closing the season with a good performance.” More, from a press release issued by FTR MOTO: FTR MOTO AIMING FOR FINAL ROUND CELEBRATION FTR MOTO is looking to close the inaugural Moto2 World Championship in successful fashion with victory in this weekend’s 17th and final round at Valencia in Spain. Leading FTR M210 rider Andrea Iannone, in the FIMMCO Speed Up Team colours, could clinch second place in the Championship if he can overcome a six-point deficit to Julian Simon in Sunday’s 27-lap race at the 2.49-mile circuit. Iannone has three race wins this year at Mugello, Assen and Aragon and has taken five pole positions, two more than any other rider. The 21-year-old Italian has also recorded the fastest lap of six of the 16 races so far. “Andrea has been a stand-out rider in 2010 and has achieved far more than anyone anticipated,” admitted FTR’s Steve Bones. “When he rode a four-stroke for the first time in a Spanish Championship race at Valencia at the end of last year he really looked like he would take a long time to adapt. Thankfully he quickly got used to the FTR M210 and has been devastating at times.” Iannone’s team-mate Gabor Talmacsi will be looking to protect his sixth place in the Championship at Valencia after the Hungarian scooped a first pole position in Portugal last week and finished the race in eighth place. Karel Abraham, riding the Cardion AB Motoracing Team M210 for the final time before moving to the MotoGP class, can climb as many as five place in the Championship if results were to go his way on Sunday at Valencia a circuit where he took a 250cc career-best sixth place finish last year. Luckless Alex Debon and his Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team will miss this weekend’s final round after Debon suffered a fractured right collarbone during practice at Estoril last week. “The final round promises to throw up some spectacular action with a lot of riders wanting to end the Championship on a high, some are still to confirm a place for 2011 so therefore keen to impress and most are just looking for some final round glory,” added Bones. “Since Estoril we’ve been moving forward with our own 2011 plans and had some really interesting track time with potential new riders at Aragon on Monday. In all we’re pretty confident about next year’s programme with the much-improved M211.” More, from a press release issued by Dorna Communications: Jorge Lorenzo may have wrapped up the 2010 World Championship title in Malaysia, but the Fiat Yamaha rider is still hungry for wins, as he proved just one week ago in Estoril by taking his first victory as World Champion, and his first since the Czech Republic Grand Prix back in August. Another win for Lorenzo this weekend in the season finale at Valencia would cap what has been an almost perfect year. With the championship won and the pressure off, the Mallorcan is certainly looking to end his season in style this weekend, at one of only three circuits on which he hasn’t won previously in any class. “I’ve never won here in Valencia,” said Lorenzo, during this afternoon’s pre-event press conference. “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.” The man with the most success at Valencia is Pedrosa, with five victories in total across all classes, including last year’s MotoGP race. The Repsol Honda rider has the best chance of finishing second in the Championship, holding a 19-point advantage over third-placed Rossi, but he’s still recovering from his collarbone injury having only made his return to racing in Portugal after sitting out three races. “I’m happy to be back here at Valencia, where I did a good race last year,” said Pedrosa. “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.” Rossi is another rider with a successful track record at Valencia. The Fiat Yamaha rider won in 2003 and 2004, but has yet to take victory in the 800cc era, a situation he will be looking to rectify this weekend, as he attempts to chase down Pedrosa in the championship standings. “The points gap to second is quite big and Dani is always fast here,” declared Rossi. “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.” Nicky Hayden is currently sixth in the championships standings, tied on points with compatriot Ben Spies. The Ducati rider could well surpass his fellow American this weekend, as Spies is riding injured after dislocating his ankle in a sighting lap crash at Estoril just one week ago. Hayden finished fifth aboard the GP09 Desmosedici last year at Valencia, a track that holds fond memories for the Ducati after he clinched the MotoGP title here in 2006 but is aiming higher this weekend. “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.” For Héctor Barberá this weekend at Valencia is so much more than just a home race. The Páginas Amarillas Aspar rider hails from a nearby town and grew up at this circuit, where he has won in both 125cc and 250cc classes, with last year’s victory clinching him second place in the 250cc World Championship standings. This will be Barberá’s first MotoGP appearance at Valencia and, after showing signs of improvement in Portugal, he is desperate to carry this momentum into his home race. “I have very good memories here in Valencia, because I’ve won here in the 125cc and 250cc classes before,” said Barberá. “Winning in MotoGP on Sunday is almost impossible, but I will try my hardest to secure the best possible result for my team and everyone.” Also taking place in Valencia on Thursday was the ‘Day of Champions’. As MotoGP’s official charity, Riders for Health enjoyed its traditional end-of-season event at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit. Attendees visited the pit lane and paddock, where they were able to chat to the MotoGP stars and collect the autographs of their favourites. The riders were also present at a fundraising auction giving away race memorabilia, with all profits going towards Riders’ work in Africa assisting in the delivery of vital medical supplies.