Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

MotoGP refugee and 2003 Superbike World Champion Neil Hodgson is a candidate to become Eric Bostrom’s teammate on the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin AMA Superbike team in 2005.

Ducati Corse Superbike Racing Director Paolo Ciabatti confirmed that Hodgson was being considered for the ride in an e-mail to Roadracingworld.com Thursday. A final announcement regarding the second rider could be made as early as mid-November, he wrote.

Hodgson, who will be 31 on November 20, was born in England and currently lives on the Isle of Man. The son of a club racer, he won the 1992 British 125cc Grand Prix Championship and went into the 125cc World Championship the following year. He made his 500cc Grand Prix debut in 1994 on a Harris Yamaha YZR500 and campaigned the entire 1995 500cc GP World Championship on a WCM ROC-Yamaha YZR500, finishing 11th in the points with a best race finish of seventh.

In 1996, Hodgson started a long Superbike racing career, spending most of his time on Ducatis in World Superbike with a best result of fourth in the 1999 World Superbike Championship. In 2000, he came back to the British Superbike series and won the title with GSE Racing. Hodgson then went back to World Superbike, finishing fifth in 2001, third in 2002 and, as a factory Ducati rider, winning the Championship in 2003 with 13 wins and 20 podium finishes in 24 races. He has 16 wins and 41 podiums in his 147 career World Superbike starts.

Hodgson returned to the premier class of motorcycle road racing this year with d’Antin Ducati. The veteran struggled with six DNFs during the season and has only finished in the points seven times, his best finish of eighth coming at Motegi, where six riders were taken out in a first-corner melee.

From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

State of California Recognizes Infineon Raceway for Recycling Efforts

SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) – Infineon Raceway has become one of the first motor sports facilities in the country to be recognized by a state governmental agency for its recycling efforts.

The State of California Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling, recognized Infineon Raceway’s recycling efforts for its 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events.

During the NASCAR and NHRA events in 2004, Infineon Raceway collected 12,260 pounds of plastic bottles, 2,900 pounds of aluminum cans and 1,800 pounds of glass.

George Mutter, vice president of operations for Environmental Event Management Group, which oversaw the recycling efforts at Infineon Raceway, said this was the first motor sports facility in California to receive such an honor by the state.

“This was an outstanding effort by Infineon Raceway, especially for the first time,” Mutter said. “This was the right thing to do for the environment and I hope to see more tracks take the initiative to implement such programs in the future.”

Infineon Raceway received the recognition from the state by James D. Ferguson, assistant director, Division of Recycling.

From a press release issued by Clear Channel Entertainment — Motor Sports:

The Maxxis U.S. Open will re-air in its entirety on NBC December 12th at 2:30-4:00 p.m. (EST).

The original airing of the Maxxis U.S. Open was condensed due to the length of the Subway 500 NASCAR race from Martinsville. After reviewing overwhelming response of the viewers, NBC made the decision to re-air the Maxxis U.S. Open in its entirety.

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

ALLERTON JOINS SUPERBIKE SQUAD

Supersport rider Glenn Allerton has been drafted into the Australian Suzuki Superbike squad to race alongside three-times Champion Shawn Giles next year.

The 23-year-old privateer, who finished second in this year’s Supersport series with two round wins and 13 podium finishes, is excited about his racing prospects aboard Suzuki’s legendary GSX-R1000 Superbike and the opportunity to regain the title.

“Moving up to the Superbike class is a great step for me but the chance to ride with Team Suzuki is awesome. This is such a fantastic opportunity,” said Allerton.

“Team Suzuki has an incredible track record and Shawn is one of the most experienced riders in the country. I hope to learn a lot from everyone in the team. I want to win races with Team Suzuki and be as consistent as possible and I’d like to be in the top three at the end of next year.”

Team Suzuki Team Manager Phil Tainton believes Allerton’s self-imposed goals for the season will be challenging but totally achievable.

“Glenn is a very impressive young racer and we’re very pleased to welcome him into the team.

“Putting Shawn, with all of his talent and experience, alongside Glenn will give us a very strong rider combination. We will be out testing prior to Christmas with both riders before launching into an intensive testing and development period in the New Year.

“Team Suzuki conceded the title for the first time in four years and we’ll be out in force to reclaim the crown in 2005,” added Tainton.

TEAM SUZUKI AUSTRALIAN SUPERBIKE WINS:

2003: Australian Superbike Championship – Craig Coxhell.
2002: Australian Superbike Championship – Shawn Giles.
2001: Australian Superbike Championship – Shawn Giles.
2000: Australian Superbike Championship – Shawn Giles.
1996: Australian Superbike Championship – Peter Goddard.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Despite the fact that AMA Pro Racing has issued a 2005 Superbike Series schedule showing a race at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) on September 17-18, no deal is in place and whether or not there will be a race at VIR is up in the air.

That’s what VIR co-owner Connie Nyholm told Roadracingworld.com when she returned a phone call on Thursday, October 28.

“AMA has not been in contact with me at all,” said Nyholm. Asked about the date seen on the 2005 AMA schedule, Nyholm said, “We have an option for a race next year. I believe it is their intention to have a race here next year, but they have not contacted me regarding any specific date.”

The VIR date is marked as “tentative” on the 2005 schedule released by AMA Pro Racing recently.

From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS NAMED TO FORBES BEST SMALL COMPANIES LIST

CONCORD, N.C. – Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE:TRK), a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States, is among the 200 Best Small Companies in America according to an annual ranking by Forbes magazine.

“Every year we’re more particular about membership in this elite list,” Forbes writers Cecily Fluke and Lesley Kump said about the selections. “To qualify, candidates have to show a consistent pattern of positive growth during a five-year period, as well as over the last 12 months.”

The annual feature, which appears in the Nov. 1 issue of the prestigious magazine, includes companies with revenues from $5 million to $750 million (small by Forbes standards), net profits greater than 5 percent and share prices above $5 as of Oct. 1.

Speedway Motorsports became the first company in motorsports history to go public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1995.

In addition, the Company announced it has completed the exchange of all outstanding unregistered 6¾% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013, that were issued in a private transaction on July 7, for new registered 6¾% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013.

Speedway Motorsports owns and operates the following premiere facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Lowe’s Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. The Company provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiary, and manufacturers and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars through its 600 Racing subsidiary. The Company also owns Performance Racing Network which broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to over 725 radio stations nationwide.

From a press release issued by Rostrum Racing:

JONNY MOORE CLOSES “DREAM SEASON” WITH SIX PODIUMS AT CCS “RACE OF CHAMPIONS” DESPITE BROKEN COLLAR BONE.

ROCKFORD, IL (October 26, 2004)- Rostrum Racing’s Jonny Moore capped a dream season with six podium finishes at last weekend’s CCS “Race of Champions” at Homestead Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida despite a broken collar bone.

Moore suffered the displaced clavicle fracture only weeks before the national event in a crash at the Great Plains Regional finale at Blackhawk Farms on September 19th. “I’ve crashed a few times this season but this was my first broken bone as a result of a crash. It really couldn’t have come at a worse time with the Midwest Regional finale only 3 weeks away (Gingerman Raceway-South Haven, MI) and then the Race of Champions only a week and a half after that”, said Jonny. Moore aggravated the injury in South Haven, which set back his recovery and his chances at a national title. “I went to Homestead mainly to support my riding partners, Dave [Gygax] and Ryan [Johnson] in the pits, but I packed all my gear just in case I started feeling better”, said Jonny. “I really wish I could have been healthy so I had a better shot at a national title, but really I am blown away with how well I ended up finishing despite the circumstances”.

Moore placed second in Middleweight SuperSport, Middleweight Superbike, and Unlimited SuperSport and took third place honors in Heavyweight Superbike, GTO and GTU aboard his yellow plate #55 Yamaha R6 at the national event.

Moore’s “Dream Season” has included 97 regional podium finishes, including 51 wins and regional titles in 10 separate classes. He has secured the Midwest and Great Plains Overall Amateur Championships, as well as the Blackhawk Farms Amateur Track Championship and the highly coveted Blockwork’s “Race to the Beach” award granted to the CCS rider with the highest overall performance rating in the nation. “I’d like to thank Trackside Engineering, Cycle Tech and Rock River Powersports for all their help this season and I really look forward to painting on some white plates and doing it again next year.”

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

ROBERTS RETURNS FOR FINAL MOTOGP

Kenny Roberts Jr. will rejoin team-mate John Hopkins at this Sunday’s Valencia GP, the final round of the 2004 MotoGP calendar, determined that recent injuries will not prevent him from taking part in a pivotal race for the factory Suzuki MotoGP team.

The 2000 World Champion was the worst hurt of six fallers in a first-corner tangle at the Japanese GP at Motegi on September 19, suffering a dislocated left elbow among other injuries, and missing the next three races as he underwent remedial treatment at home in the USA.

His target was to return to Valencia – and the 31-year-old American aims to attain that goal – to take part in what is a special event for the team.

The race at the twisty circuit outside Valencia is not only the end of a tense and dramatic championship year; it will give three newly-crowned 2004 champions a chance to parade their triumph in front of a mass of fans.

It is not only the climax of a fruitful year of development for Suzuki’s fast-improving GSV-R 990cc MotoGP prototype: It also marks a significant change-over for the factory’s racing team. The Valencia GP is the last race after almost three Grand Prix decades for retiring team manager Garry Taylor, and an introduction to the team for fellow Englishman Paul Denning, who will take over Taylor’s role in 2005.

Taylor is the longest-serving team manager – and has served the Suzuki team for 29 years. His experience runs from the era of the legendary double-champion Barry Sheene through two more World Championships, with Kevin Schwantz and Kenny Roberts Jr.

His record of of 378 GPs is more than half – 60 per cent of all races in the 500 and MotoGP class – and includes 57 GP wins, 154 podium finishes and 56 pole positions.

The Valencia GP will be his last and he is approaching the milestone feeling “surprisingly relaxed about it.” Taylor will be handing over a tight-knit and very experienced team with a fine back catalogue and a recent log of continually-improving results.

“Of course I want to see Suzuki succeed in the future and I’m sure Paul will achieve that – he’s the right man in the right job at the right time,” said Taylor. “I shan’t miss the racing, because I’ll be able to see that on TV. But I shall miss some great people in the paddock, and especially the Suzuki team members, who have given me such loyal support over the years.”

The retiring team manager added: “This is a very exciting time for Suzuki, for the MotoGP team, and for Suzuki people all over the world.”

Denning is moving into GP racing after serial success – including the prestigious 2004 British Superbike Championship – with the Crescent Suzuki team.

“I’m very much looking forward to my first weekend with the MotoGP team to get my own viewpoint on the strong and less strong points,” said Denning.

“Valencia will be like a crash course – on where the team is at, and how to move it forward. I’ll be looking to Garry Taylor for help, with his years of experience with the team; and looking for ways to continue the strong development of this year to make the Suzuki GSV-R regularly competitive in 2005,” he said.

The 220-plus horsepower 990cc V4 GSV-R has made significant progress during 2004 to become a regular challenger for front row qualifying positions and strong top ten results. Valencia closes a highly promising season for the factory squad and opens the doors to future efforts to regain the winning positions.

KENNY ROBERTS – AN IMPORTANT RACE:

“My elbow has been recovering steadily and I’m coming to Valencia with the hope and belief that I will be able to ride. Garry Taylor’s last race is the end of an era for Suzuki and we’re already working on starting a new one. I want to be there.”

JOHN HOPKINS – A GOING-AWAY PRESENT FOR GARRY:

“I’ve spent plenty of time testing at Valencia, though never on Bridgestone tyres. It’s the kind of track I like – lots of hard braking; and I hope the weather stays dry. It’s Garry’ s last race and I’m definitely aiming to put it on the box for him as a going away present.”

ABOUT THIS TRACK:

Named in honour of the late former World Champion Ricardo Tormo, the track at Valencia was first used in 1999 and typifies the new-millennium style of stadium circuit with vast grandstands and natural hillside terraces offering spectators a view of almost the entire 2.489-mile length from a number of vantage points. This is because the full lap has been crammed into a very compact area, looping back and forth and then back again in front of the avid Spanish fans – more than 100,000 fans are expected to pack the circuit. For riders, the layout of many corners means a lot of hard braking, but only a few overtaking opportunities, but careful design has given the track a fast straight and some challenging faster corners as well. The lap starts with an epic left-hander and closes with a series of medium-speed corners taken at high lean angles, but with the rider both braking and accelerating while at maximum lean. It is a stimulating riding challenge.

ABOUT THIS RACE:

The European season started in Spain at Jerez, and closes at Valencia; the third GP on Spanish soil (Catalunya is the other), and the fourth on the Iberian peninsula, which adds in the Portuguese round at Estoril. This year, for the third time, the Valencia race closes the season. With all the championships already decided and the pantalooned Valencia fireworks brigade in full force, a party atmosphere is guaranteed.

GP DATA:

Ricardo Tormo Circuit, Valencia.
Circuit Length: 2.489 miles – 4.005 km.
Lap Record: 1:33.317 – 96.006 mph / 154.506km/h. V Rossi (Honda), 2003.
2003 Race Winner: Rossi.
2003 Race Average: 47:13.078 – 94.868 mph / 155.907 km/h.
2003 Fastest Race Lap: See lap record.
2003 Pole Position: Rossi 1:32.478.
2003 KENNY ROBERTS: 11th, qualified 18th (Suzuki).
2003 JOHN HOPKINS: 13th, qualified 17th (Suzuki).

From a press release issued by Yamaha Racing:

Yamaha enters 2005 Superbike World Championship

Yamaha Motor Europe’s officially-supported Yamaha Motor Italia squad will switch from the Supersport World Championship and enter a two-rider team in the 2005 Superbike World Championship.

Yamaha’s Italian distributor has been one of the most active teams in the history of the Superbike World Championship. Between the inauguration of the series in 1988 and 1994, Yamaha Motor Italia, under its former name of Belgarda, financed and managed its own superbike programme – taking several race wins and regularly finishing in the top five in the series championship. In 1995, when Yamaha decided to make an official entry into the championship it was only natural that the factory team was based at the Yamaha Motor Italia workshops.

Yamaha withdrew from the series at the end of the 2000 season, after Noriyuki Haga finished second in the championship, to concentrate on development for the YZR-M1 MotoGP project and exploring new four-stroke technologies also for the benefit of future production models. Between 2001 and 2004 Yamaha Motor Europe focused its attention to supporting the YZF-R6 entry in the Supersport World Championship.

Yamaha will confirm the rider line-up for its 2005 world superbike campaign at a later date.

Laurens Klein Koerkamp (Yamaha Motor Racing – European Racing Operations manager):

“Yamaha Motor Europe felt the time was right to return to world superbike. Our MotoGP programme is now firmly on track and since we last competed the regulations have been changed to allow four-cylinder 1000cc sportsbikes to enter the championship. The R1 is Europe’s best selling supersport bike and has already proven its competitiveness in 2004, winning the Endurance World Championship and claiming the top four positions in the European Superstock Championship. We are sure that our return to world superbikes will further reinforce the R1’s sporting image.

“Next year is Yamaha’s 50th anniversary. Racing is part of our corporate DNA. In 2004 we enjoyed possibly our greatest ever season with Valentino Rossi winning the MotoGP world championship and Stefan Everts enjoying his fourth straight motocross world title with Yamaha. I am pleased that we will mark our anniversary by challenging for all the major world championships.”

Claudio Consonni (Yamaha Motor Italia Racing General Manager):

“Racing is part of our company’s spirit and an important marketing tool for Yamaha Motor Italia. We have been involved in world supersport for many years and have never hidden our desire to return to a series we have been involved with from the first days of the championship. The team, headed by former superbike and supersport rider Massimo Meregalli, has an experienced group of engineers, many of whom previously worked with the factory superbike team. They have already started work building the bikes and we are all really looking forward to our new challenge.”

Yamaha Motor Germany will manage Yamaha’s sole official entry in the Supersport World Championship with Australians Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes riding the 2005 model YZF-R6.

From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

Grand Prix of Community of Valencia, October 29, 30, 31 2004

RIDERS REV UP FOR FULL-ON END OF SEASON FINALE

All three World Championship titles have now been wrapped up, with the 125cc and 250cc crowns belonging to Honda men Andrea Dovizioso (Team Scot Honda RS125R) and Dani Pedrosa (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW). The MotoGP title fell to Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) after the season-long challenge of Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) ended in typically determined fashion at Phillip Island two weeks ago.

With some contracts yet to be finalised every rider now wants to finish the season strongly and remind manufacturers and teams of their potential for the year to come. The Grand Prix of the Community of Valencia thus assumes far more significance than that of a mere end of season parade.

Two manufacturers titles are still in the balance too. Honda has won the major MotoGP title, the 250cc manufacturers award hangs on a knife-edge with Honda ahead of Aprilia by just a solitary point. Aprilia has a points advantage of 23 in the 125cc manufacturers title – but even that significant lead is under threat if in-form World Champion Dovi can win and the Derbis and KTMs can deprive Aprilia of the necessary points to wrap it up.

With a heavy winter test schedule to come riders need to carry confidence into the looming weeks of hard work, and into next year – the old adage that you’re only as good as your last race always holds true.

The 4.005km Ricardo Tormo track was designed almost as an amphitheatre, so that the huge, 150,000 plus, crowds can track the progress of riders almost all the way round a full lap. With 14 turns 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 loads of 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 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 the turns is vital too.

Last year in the MotoGP class Rossi won on an RC211V with Gibernau second and Loris Capirossi (Ducati) third. In 2002 Barros won – again on the all-conquering RC211V, with Rossi second and Biaggi third. Sete won in 2001 and the Spanish star, who has now finished World Championship runner-up for the second successive season, is aiming for a repeat of that win this weekend.

“I would obviously like to be arriving in Valencia with the title still up for grabs – let’s not kid ourselves,” said Sete. “But even though Valentino has won, the season is not over for me. I will go for it at Cheste, we will give our very best as we have done in every Grand Prix this season. Racing at Valencia is always special because it is the last race of the season and it is always packed out. As a Spanish rider it’s fantastic to compete here because you can hear the fans pushing you on – the atmosphere is incredible.”

His team-mate Colin Edwards (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) said, “I’m just going to go for it in Valencia. It’s the last race of the season and you’ve got to give it everything. Also, I want to say goodbye to the team in the best possible way. I want to say thanks to Fausto Gresini and the rest of the team for the help they have given me this season. It is a fantastic team – very professional and well organised. All the boys have this massive passion for bikes, and for racing, and that is something not all of the teams have.”

For Alex Barros (Repsol Honda RC211V), this is the end of a season that promised much, “I still have a great belief in my ability and I go to every race believing I can win,” said the Brazilian. “I well remember the last race of the season two years ago when we had a fantastic battle with Valentino and won the race. I still have the same feeing and the same hunger to go out and win. We have been trying to do this all season but without success. I like the layout of the track at Valencia and it is great to race in front of such a huge crowd – a real festival atmosphere.”

Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) is another rider who needs a big result here too, “I can’t really believe that the last race of the season is here,” said the young American. “I just don’t know where this year has gone, it’s clicked by so fast. It really doesn’t seem that long ago we were all at Valencia last year. I have real good and bad memories about the weekend – good as it was the first front row start I took in MotoGP but bad as I crashed in the race pretty early on which ended any hope I had of getting some good points. This year hasn’t really gone to plan. A racer always wants to go better every year and this year has been real tough.”

Max Biaggi (Camel Honda RC211V) is another rider who’s season seemed plagued by misfortune, but the Roman contender is as ready as ever, “Ricardo Tormo is not among my favourite tracks,” he said. “It’s too slow and twisty. Next year they should be making it faster and this is good because even if the track doesn’t excite me, the atmosphere certainly does, with a brilliant crowd who can follow you over the whole lap. Racing in Spain is always special because of the passion among the fans here. The last races over the intercontinental trip weren’t brilliant and now I want to get a top result.”

Makoto Tamada (Camel Honda RC211V), riding on Bridgestone tyres, is equally set for glory in this final 2004 round, “I really like the fast circuits, with the long bends and quick changes of direction,” he said. “But Valencia is quite different to all of that. I don’t particularly dislike it, perhaps because in the winter tests I went quite well. The last two races haven’t gone as I expected, so I really want to prove myself now. Both the Malaysian and the Australian GPs saw me having to recover positions on the early laps. You have to qualify well and make a good start here. I’m hoping for both!”

Dani Pedrosa comes to Valencia as the youngest ever 250cc World Champion, the youngest rider to have achieved back-to-back World titles, and the first rider since Carlo Ubbiali in 1960 to win the 125cc and then 250cc World Championships in consecutive years. Some achievement for a 19-year-old.

He makes this homecoming under happier circumstances than last year too. Last year he broke both ankles at Phillip Island having wrapped up the 125cc title at Sepang a week before. He was paraded around the Cheste track in an open top car. This year he races – and that means a great deal to this intense competitor.

“I know that Valencia will be a very special race for us,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to getting there because last season I missed out through injury. To go back as World Champion is fantastic but I don’t want to relax just yet. I was really happy in Australia because we won the title, something unthinkable at the start of the season, but the one thing I wasn’t too satisfied with was fourth place. So, in Valencia we have to really concentrate, do well in the practice sessions, and try and get the best possible result in the race to cap off a dream season.”

Dani’s team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW) is equally focussed, “We’re back in Spain and I am pleased about that,” he said. “The atmosphere is really impressive and I’m sure that the people will be excited about welcoming Dani home. I’m happy with our season – I’ve learnt a lot from the team over the course of the season and I want to end it well. I’d love to be back on the podium.”

Tony Elias (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) said, “It’s the last race of the World Championship and I want to end my season with a good result. The last race was a bad one for us and we have to forget that. The bike was really good at the pre-season test at Valencia but we have made many changes since then. If we find a good base set up in the first free practice we have to build on that for the race.”

In the 125cc race Dovi has now cast off the pressure of World title aspiration having already secured his first World Championship. This is a race he wants to win for the sake of finishing his season in style and battling to achieve a World Manufacturers’ title for Honda – against the odds.

He said, “The Valencia circuit has never been easy for me. I find slow tracks difficult. I prefer long fast corners at circuits like Phillip Island, Barcelona and Assen. Still I’m going to Valencia with the intention of winning the race. I’m in very good form and the bike is really strong now so it would be a good way to end my 125cc career if I could take back-to-back wins. I’d be the first rider to do it for two years.”

More, from a press release issued by d’Antin Ducati:

A FESTIVAL FINISH IN VALENCIA

The World Championships come to a close this weekend at the Valencia circuit, the very same track where the d´Antin MotoGP riders got their first opportunity to test their Ducati Desmosedici virtually one year ago.

It’s a circuit that Xaus and Hodgson know well, and both the Spaniard and the Briton are determined to close the year on a high. The charismatic Spanish rider already has the Rookie of the Year trophy tucked under his belt, after a year in which he didn’t just stand out amongst the new-boys, but he also took a podium finish and is currently in tenth position in the championship.

Things have been slightly more complicated for Neil, but the British rider is not throwing in the towel and hopes to get the kind of result in Valencia that he has worked so hard for all year.

RUBEN XAUS : “It’s a tough circuit for MotoGP because the bikes have so much power and at Cheste the kind of bends you come across and the relatively short straight sections mean you lose grip and the front tyre comes off the ground very easily indeed. You’re always sliding around and it is quite difficult to overtake, so the races are generally in a group. The most important thing of all is that it is a home race for me, and you can feel the crowd supporting you and giving you a boost; that’s very important because I’d love to finish in tenth place in the championship. It’s the last race of the year, and it’s time to forget about everything and just go out on a high.”

NEIL HODGSON : “It seems like just yesterday that I tested the Desmosedici in Valencia! It’s honestly been a tough year, but we mustn’t lose our spirit. I know this track well, although to be fair it’s always been hard for me because it’s as twisty on the Superbike as it is on the MotoGP bike, but at least we have some basic references and we will try and get everything going right. It’s the last race of the year and the atmosphere created by the Spanish public is incredible, so I’m confident of having a good race and finishing the season with at least some satisfaction.”