Day two of testing at Valencia occurred under bad weather conditions with intermittent showers and a constantly damp state on the track.The Yamaha team decided not to ride, new Ducati rider Nicky Hayden rode the fastest lap time with a good 1.48.287 followed by Repsol Honda rider Andrea Divizioso. Casey Stoner opted out and was watching his new team mate from the pit-lane.

Today’s fastest rider Nicky Hayden said about the rainy day: “I would have preferred to have another dry day today because we still had a lot of things to try with the bike but at least I got chance to get a first feel for it in the wet. We’ve seen with the way the rain has followed us around this season how important it is to have experience in these conditions too.”

The Alice team with Mika and Niccolo concentrated on bike characteristics for the two days. For Mika it was the first time riding a MotoGP bike and also for Niccolo it was the first time riding in rain.

Continue reading: MotoGP: Day two at Valencia

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Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi have given heir review of the last MotoGP race for this year. The Valencia race was unpredictable because of the weather conditions on Friday and Saturday and a fourth row starting position for Valentino, while a good performance from the local Spanish rider Dani Pedrosa was expected. Nicky Hayden couldn’t keep his position until the end of the race and will not return next to Honda next year. He finished fifth, behind Andrea Dovizioso.

Casey Stoner, pole position and winner said: “I couldn’t ask for much more! It was a very difficult season with lots of ups and lots of downs… but another two good results is great. Yesterday we couldn’t find a good setup, but working after doing the qualifying laps and in the warm up got us ready for the race.”

Dani Pedrosa’s review, second on qualifying and second in the race: “Normally Stoner is very good at setting up the bike in a short amount of time. In the race he was just a little faster. He was better than me today. I’m a little disappointed about this, because I wanted the victory for the fans and with the special Repsol livery. I’m happy to get back to the top after a bad middle of the season, where my feeling wasn’t so good, so this is a good thing for us.”

Valentino Rossi, 10th on qualifying and third in the race: “We completely messed up the only dry practice. I started from the fourth row because of this. We modified the setting, I got a great start and overtook other riders quickly. I was behind Dani quite early and not so far, and I tried to push but we were not at 100%. We always struggle here, but I’m happy to close the year with a podium. It was a great season, see you next year!”

Source | MotoGP

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After the MotoGP finished its final round at Valencia on the weeked, we give you the final standings from the MotoGP Championship, with the two rivals Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner appearing on top. Standings continue after the jump.

1. Valentino Rossi ITA, 373 points
2. Stoner Casey AUS, 280 points
3. Pedrosa Dani SPA, 249 points
4. Lorenzo Jorge SPA, 190 points
5. Dovizioso Andrea ITA, 174 points

Continue reading: MotoGP 2008 Final Standings

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It was a tough time at Valencia for Anthony West and John Hopkins, the two Kawasaki riders. John started at 14th position on the grid and rode spectaculary around into eighth position, but had trouble with cornering issues, ending the race at 14th. West took a great start taking four positions into the first round but suffered rear traction issues in the race and finished 17th.

Anthony West said about his race: “What a frustrating end to a frustrating season. I wanted to finish my last race with Kawasaki as close to the top ten as I could, but a questionable tyre choice put paid to that today. This season didn’t turn out as I was expecting, and while I’m sure people are pointing the finger at me for this, I leave here knowing that I did my best and that I couldn’t do any more. I’d like to thank Kawasaki for giving me this chance in the premier class; it hasn’t been the easiest time, but the experience will definitely stand me in good stead as I move onto pastures new in 2009.”

Some final words from Kawasaki Competition Manager Michael Bartholemy: “Today’s race was a tough ending to a tough season for the Kawasaki Racing Team. The final result for this season is certainly not one I was expecting. I was confident that with the undoubted calibre of our riders, combined with the professionalism of everyone involved in Kawasaki’s MotoGP project, we would be regularly finishing in the top ten, or even top five. Unfortunately it didn’t work out as we were expecting and this is something we hope the all-new for 2009 bike will address. I’d like to thank Anthony for all his hard work this year and, together with everyone in the team, wish him the best of luck for next season.”

Source | kawasaki

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The 27 year-old Anthony West replaced the injured Olivier Jacque in the Kawasaki team halfway through the 2007 season. The Valencia race on Sunday will be his last appearance for Kawasaki and Anthony hopes to finish with one last good result.

West hasn’t achieved the results he was expecting in MotoGP, and next year will ride somewhere else, but with the aspiration to return to MotoGP one day. About the Valencia race he says: “We’ve been missing something all year, and that means we’ve been less competitive than we were expecting. Realistically it will be difficult to run at the front in Valencia, but a top ten finish should be achievable. I’m only one point behind Marco Melandri in the championship standings, and I hope I can pull in enough points in the last race to beat the rider who’ll replace me at Kawasaki next season.”

Anthony West, was born in Maryborough. The Australian rider started racing at an early in dirt-track. He moved to road racing and won the Australian 250 production title in 1998, was 3rd in the 125 Championship and qualified for the Australian Grand Prix. West continued and went to the Shell Advance Honda Team in 2000, finishing at 6th overall. Today Anthony is riding in the Kawasaki factory team and is at 18th position with 50 points.

Source | motogpupdate and motogp

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It will be the final race with Honda for Nicky Hayden on Sunday at Valencia. The Repsol Honda rider and former World Champion will be emotional after riding his last race for the Japanese brand after staying with them for nine years and spending six years with Honda in MotoGP.

After his Championship title in 2006, Nicky has experienced two difficult years at Honda and has decided to leave the team and join Ducati for the 2009 MotoGP. Nicky will be a team mate for Casey Stoner and will ride the Ducati Desmosedici for the first time during the test after the MotoGP race at Valencia.

Nicky has said it will be emotional for him. He likes riding at Valencia, he loves the atmosphere and it has a special place in his heart. He says: “It’s fast, big, you can feel the energy, it looks like a go-kart track on the map but in reality you need a bike that gets round corners better than it goes in a straight line.”

About the Honda team, Nicky said: “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.

Source | crash.net

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After completing 17 of the 18 rounds around the globe all the MotoGP teams and riders are getting prepared for the final and last round at Valencia in Spain. Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa are already assured of the top three positions in the 2008 edition.

The target for the Ducati Marlboro Team is to defend second place in the constructors championship which they currently hold by only a one point advantage over Honda.

Casey Stoner has said: “Valencia is also the place where I took my first victory and where I rode the Ducati for the very first time back in 2006. This year we’ll ride the GP9 on the day after the race and I really can’t wait for that. I hope the wrist doesn’t give me the same problems I had at Sepang so that I can be in shape for a good race on Sunday and two solid days of testing on Monday and Tuesday.”

Valentino Rossi is not yet finished and wants to go for another win and a big party: “I have had two bad years at Valencia and I have some memories I would like to forget with a good result there this year - I have an account to settle! In 2006 I crashed and lost the championship and then last year I broke my hand and lost second place in the championship! It’s not the best track for us but I won there with Yamaha in my first year with them and I would like to do the same again this weekend.”

Source | Ducati and Yamaha Racing

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We can’t find a better video that shows the atmosphere during the MotoGP round in Valencia, Spain. Have a look at all the guys having fun in the streets. The Spanish really know how to party.

Also for 2008 the countdown has started and after a few days you will be able to enjoy the race at home watching it on tv, or like these guys out around town. Will the battle with Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner go on again or can’t Casey fight because of his injury? What about the American Nicky Hayden, impressed by Andrea Dovizioso last time at Sepang? And can the Spanish Dani Pedrosa show his talent riding his home round? We can’t wait to see!

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