Moto GP, Round 18 - Valencia

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The 2010 MotoGP season has been one of numerous talking points but very little enthrallment. While it looked like Lorenzo and Rossi would offer a classic title duel Rossi’s injuries made that impossible. Casey Stoner came into the season on the back of a promising end to 2009 but from the moment he crashed in Qatar it was clear that his season would also be an uphill battle. Dani Pedrosa criticised the bike after the opening races and it was clear that he was struggling, HRC though put all their resources into making the bike competitive and by mid season Pedrosa was the form man in MotoGP.

His championship challenge, and season, though was derailed by a pair of crashes. The first at Laguna Seca looked to end his title tilt but the dogged Pedrosa continued to press hard in chase of his compatriot at the head of the title standings. It was only in Japan that Lorenzo eventually took the title after Pedrosa’s practice crash.

Valencia will offer Stoner, Rossi, Pedrosa and Dovizioso the chance to fire the first warning shots in the battle that will be MotoGP 2011. The race will have added significance for Rossi as it is not just the last race of a trying season but also his last race racing for Yamaha.

Just twelve months ago it would have been unthinkable that Rossi would leave Yamaha but events since the start of the year have seen Rossi fall out of favour as Yamaha came to realise that Lorenzo offered them another great rider who could win for years aboard their machinery. Rossi was obviously hurt by the various episodes of the summer and this weekend is sure to see a fiery performance from the nine times world champion before he heads to Ducati.

Casey Stoner is in a similar position to Rossi and is sure to look to end his Bologna tenure with another victory. He would do well not to view footage of last year’s race and his embarrassing formation lap high side. The Australian is moving to Honda next season and while he is clearly relishing the challenge of changing teams he will also know the physiological importance of winning this weekend.

The Spaniard’s Lorenzo and Pedrosa will both stay with their current teams in 2011 but with Stoner joining Pedrosa at HRC it is imperative that the diminutive Dani can get healthy as soon as possible or else his rival will gain the development initiative for 2011. All of the leading contenders will know that for various reason Valencia offers them a great opportunity to start their 2011 seasons from the best possible position within their ever changing teams.

Yamaha might face a predicament this weekend with Ben Spies. The rookie of the year suffered a bad spill at Estoril and while he is in Valencia his participation is by no means certain, if he is unable to race Cal Crutchlow will start his MotoGP career early in place of the American.

Marco Melandri will draw his Grand Prix career to a close in Valencia. The Italian has had a chequered career that saw him win the 2002 250cc title and challenge for the 125cc championship in 1998. The 800cc era has not been kind to Melandri but as he looks forward to moving to World Superbikes it will be interesting to see if he can end his 12 year Grand Prix career on a high.

In the smaller classes Marc Marquez is on the verge of winning his first world title and heads to Valencia with a 17 point lead over Nico Terol, winner in 2008 at Valencia.

The inaugural Moto2 season also draws to a close and after some of the most pulsating racing of the year the new class has been heralded as a tremendous success by fans all around the world. Champion Toni Elias will be keen to end the season on a high before his return to the premier class but riders like Iannone, Redding, Simon and even Kenen Sofuoglu will be looking to start their 2011 title assualt with a victory in Valencia.

The season has had its fair share of thrills and spills and it can be guaranteed that Valencia will see another exciting weekend of action!