SETUP REPORT - 21/10/2008

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Fiat Yamaha riders head to Valencia with more records in sight

A record-breaking season for Fiat Yamaha reaches its finale this weekend as the Grand Prix of Valencia brings the curtain down on the 2008 MotoGP World Championship. The traditional season-ending Spanish fiesta sees Valentino Rossi arrive with the title already in his pocket and the all-time points record for a season within his sights, whilst Jorge Lorenzo will become the highest-placed rookie in four-stroke MotoGP history by scoring just four points.

In a season that has seen Rossi become MotoGP World Champion for the sixth time, breaking the record number of wins in the class and scoring his 150th Grand Prix podium on the way, he now needs just eleven points to break the record for the highest tally in a season. He currently stands on 357 points, meaning fifth place or above would take him above the benchmark he set in 2005, which was equalled by Casey Stoner last year.

Lorenzo currently lies fourth in the championship and whilst third is now a mathematically impossibility, Andrea Dovizioso would have to win the race and hope the Spaniard finishes no higher than twelfth to dislodge him. Dovizioso is also the only rider with any chance of denying Lorenzo the title of Rookie of the Year. It is a familiar scenario for the old rivals, who entered the final round of the 2006 season at Valencia battling for the 250cc title, which Lorenzo won with fourth place as the Italian finished seventh.

The 21-year-old from Mallorca has never won at the Ricardo Tormo circuit although he will be looking to set that record straight this weekend in front of the 130,000 race-day fans that will pack into the unique stadium-style surroundings of the track. The layout is characterised by a never-ending burst of tight corners, connected by short straights. The long penultimate looping left-hander and the fast entry to turn one contrast violently with the otherwise geometric flip-flop chicanes and slow speed corners of the infield.

Valentino Rossi - "An account to settle"
"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. It's been a fantastic season and the win on Sunday in Malaysia was great, but I am not finished yet and I want to reward my team, Yamaha and Bridgestone for a fantastic season with the best possible result on Sunday. Then we can all celebrate with a big party!"

Jorge Lorenzo - "Aiming to finish on a high"
"Sunday was really disappointing but I am not hurt and now we are looking forward to Valencia. It's the third 'home' race for me and since at the last one, in Barcelona, I couldn't race, I especially want to get a good result for all my fans. It will be a special race because it's the 10th anniversary of the Valencia circuit. Of course it is a little sad that I am no longer fighting for third in the Championship, but I can still be Rookie of the Year and this is what I am aiming for. It is really important for me and for all my team. I don't have the best record at Valencia, I've never won the race there, although I was second in 2005, but I do have great memories from winning the 250cc world championship there in 2006. It will be our last race with Michelin, who I won my first premier class race with, and more than anything I want to get a good result for them, for my tyre technician Pierre, for Jean-Phillipe Weber and of course for my team."

Davide Brivio - "We want to win and party"
"Valencia is the last race of the season so we go there with a twin objective - to win the race and to party! It is nice to go to another race without any pressure and I think all the Spanish fans will enjoy watching Valentino in the incredible form he has shown recently. Of course it has been a tough few weeks on the road for the team, with a lot of travelling involved but honestly when you are winning you don't feel the stress! Even so, it will be nice to be back in Europe and we will be focusing on ending the season on a high. Whatever the result, we'll be partying on Sunday night!"

Daniele Romagnoli - "Motivation is high"
"We still have one race to go and it's another Spanish one so it's really important for Jorge. Despite the bad result in Sepang we have high motivation and we really want to finish the season well. We will all do our very best to be back on the podium there and to finish the season in the way that Jorge and the whole team deserves. Despite not getting the best results we've been in good shape for the last three race weekends and qualified on the front row for five races in a row now, so we know we can do it. This will be the last race with Michelin and so this is another reason to push. We want to give them a good final result to thank them for the hard work they have done all season."

 

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Rizla Suzuki ready for the final showdown in Valencia

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP is back in Europe for the final round of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship ? hoping to join in the end of season celebrations.

The traditional final MotoGP race of the year at Valencia in Spain always has a festival atmosphere, with huge crowds and the impressive firework display that greets the end of the event just adding to the carnival feeling.

The Ricardo Tormo circuit is celebrating its 10th Grand Prix this coming weekend. The Spanish track is unique in that it is the only stadium event on the calendar, and gives the massed banks of fans in the vast grandstands the opportunity to view all the action on track no matter where they are seated. Last season the huge crowd was able to cheer home a Rizla Suzuki to a podium place.

Loris Capirossi has competed at every Valencian GP and has enjoyed success there with three podiums from his nine visits. He will certainly be aiming for a strong finish to the season to push himself into a higher position in the championship and sign off his first season with Suzuki in style before the team embarks on a comprehensive winter test schedule.

Chris Vermeulen finished sixth at Valencia in 2007 ? directly behind Capirossi - and will be looking to improve on that position as the curtain falls on his third full season in MotoGP. Vermeulen is in a confident mood and eager to give his crew and all at Suzuki a boost as he too looks forward to the challenge of preparing for 2009.

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP will take to the track on Friday 24th October for two free practice sessions, followed by another free hour on the following morning. Saturday afternoon will see Capirossi and Vermeulen battling for the best grid positions for Sunday?s 30-lap race that will start at 14.00hrs local time (13.00hrs GMT), when the team will be looking to get enough points to consolidate fourth place in the Team?s Championship.

Loris Capirossi:

?I think Valencia will be good for us because it is not really a quick track and our bike is good for handling and braking - so we hope to go really well! We understand that the weather can sometimes be very difficult there because it can be quite cold, but I believe we can go really fast in Valencia. It is the last race and is a good opportunity to start working on how we want to continue next year.?

Chris Vermeulen:

?Valencia is a great circuit and it suits our bike well with it not having very long straights. The Suzuki works well on the tight and twisty type of circuit and last year we were very quick there and I am really looking forward to going back. Hopefully we can stand on the podium one more time this year, because that is the plan and I really think it is possible!?

 

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KAWASAKI FIRED UP FOR SEASON FINALE

Valencia once again hosts the MotoGP season finale, and after a sweltering race in Sepang, both Kawasaki riders return to Europe determined to end their season on a high with a strong showing in the final race of the year.

Valencia will be particularly poignant for Anthony West, who will make his last appearance for Kawasaki at the Spanish circuit. West, who was drafted in to the Kawasaki Racing Team as a replacement for the injured Olivier Jacque halfway through the 2007 season, will move on to pastures new next season and is determined to finish his time in MotoGP with one last good result.

But the 27-year-old Australian is adamant that he intends his absence from the MotoGP paddock next year to be only a temporary one. A strong performance in the final race of the year would be a fitting end to West's time in the premier class, but the Kawasaki pilot is under no illusions about how tough a race Valencia will be.

John Hopkins will continue to campaign Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-RR in 2009, but the 25-year-old Anglo-American is keen to draw a line under a difficult season with a good showing this weekend. Hopkins finished on the podium at Valencia just 12 months ago, and while a repeat performance this weekend may be just out of his reach, the Kawasaki pilot has a top ten finish clearly in his sights.

Valencia has hosted the MotoGP season finale for the last six years and it is certainly an atmospheric race, with around 150,000 fans heading down to see the final Grand Prix of the year.

The track is relatively slow-speed, and features a unique layout that was designed with the spectator in mind, as fans can see a full view of the entire circuit from any of the massive grandstands that ring the circuit.

The 14 turns, nine of which are to the left and five to the right, are tightly packed together, meaning that the riders spend most of the lap either cornering or changing direction. This requires a great degree of agility from their race machines, and tyres need to offer durability as they are placed under a lot of stress for the entire length of the race.


Anthony West Kawasaki MotoGP Pilot #13

"It's been a tough season for me, and I haven't achieved the results that I was expecting going into my first full year as a factory rider. Next year I'll be racing elsewhere, but my MotoGP aspirations are far from over. 2009 will be a year to regroup, to try and impress in another championship and, if I can do that then there's no reason why I shouldn't make a return to MotoGP in the future. That's what I'm aiming for anyway. We've been missing something all year, and that means we 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."

John Hopkins Kawasaki MotoGP Pilot #21

"I'm looking forward to Valencia, as I seemed to click with the circuit last year and finished the race on the podium. It's been a long season, with a lot of ups and downs, and the injuries have held us back a lot. But, I want to finish my first year with Kawasaki on a high so I'll be pushing hard for a good result this weekend, although the podium may be slightly out of our reach this time around. The Valencia circuit demands a lot of a bike and rider, so set-up will be critical this weekend. If we can get the bike working well during practice and qualifying, I think we can be confident of a top ten finish in the final race of the season."

 

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FREE PRACTICE REPORT - 24/10/2008

Lorenzo in fast form in rainy return to Spain

Jorge Lorenzo made a return to home soil in Valencia today but it was a somewhat rainy homecoming for the 21-year-old as the final race of the season got underway. The Fiat Yamaha rider formed a bright spot in the gloom however as his M1 is carrying a special paint job for this race, incorporating the national flag of each of the 14 countries in which he has won during his world championship career.

This morning's first free practice session was run in very heavy rain but Lorenzo made a good start and was third fastest. This afternoon, in slightly drier conditions, he made more progress with the wet setting of his Yamaha and his Michelin rain tyres and was once again third fastest. With today's weather looking a possibility for tomorrow as well, the rookie and his crew will be looking to continue improvements, especially to the front-end of his bike, in order to maximise their potential before qualifying.

Lorenzo's world champion team-mate Valentino Rossi was unhurt in a low-speed crash this afternoon and finished just behind Lorenzo in fourth, with Nicky Hayden leading the way.
Jorge Lorenzo - Position: 3rd Time: 1'45.959 Laps: 39
"It's a pity to be coming to Spain in the rain but anyway we made a good start today and I am quite happy. This morning was very wet and it was quite difficult to ride, but this afternoon the conditions were a bit better and I was able to be quite a lot faster and also do some good work on the set-up of my bike. My Michelin tyres are working well in the rain and I think we can make some more progress tomorrow if it's like this again, although of course I hope for sunshine! It's nice to be back in Europe but it's very busy for a Spanish rider at Spanish race and I have to have a lot of time for everybody! I have a special livery on my bike, which I like very much; it has the flags of all the countries where I have won and was designed by a member of the public in an Italian competition. It's all of 'Lorenzo's Lands'!"
Daniele Romagnoli - Team Manager
"This has been a positive and useful day for us. We found a good base to work from in the wet and the bike and our Michelin tyres are working well so far. We need to improve some areas for tomorrow, especially in the front end, and so we will work on refining this setting if this weather continues. Of course we hope for a dry session before the race so we can be prepared for all conditions!!"
Rossi fourth on rainy opening day in Valencia
The traditional MotoGP season finale got underway in Valencia today in miserable weather conditions, with rain falling throughout the day. World Champion Valentino Rossi, chasing his tenth win of the season, was fourth overall despite a slip-off in this afternoon's second free practice session.

This morning's session was run in very heavy rain and cool temperatures, and Rossi completed just eight laps of the 4km circuit. The afternoon saw the rain ease off somewhat however and the Italian and his crew were able to make more headway with their wet-weather set-up, completing 21 laps and finishing the session fourth fastest. Rossi was luckily unhurt when he lost the rear at the last corner and slid into the gravel in the first half of the session and was able to remount and continue work on his second machine.

Valentino Rossi - Position: 4th Time: 1'46.070 Laps: 29
"Today was a difficult day because this track is quite bad when it's wet and cold like this - the asphalt really doesn't give enough grip. This morning I went out just when it started to get really heavy and so I wasn't able to do any good laps, but this afternoon was better. In fact I felt good and I was quite fast with the Bridgestone wet tyres, so I think we have good potential if the conditions are like this again. Unfortunately I had a small crash at the last corner when I made a mistake and lost the rear, but I wasn't hurt at all and I was able to go back out with a slightly harder tyre and continue to work. Anyway, we were fourth finally and I am quite happy although we can be faster. Now we have to wait and see the weather for tomorrow."
Davide Brivio - Team Manager
"This morning the rain was very heavy and we only made a few laps. This afternoon it was better weather so that's when we really started working, in what were reasonably wet but not soaking conditions. Things weren't so bad and Valentino was up there with the fastest riders, but we definitely have a bit more work to do. He had a small crash when he lost rear grip at the last corner and slid off, but it was very slow and he wasn't hurt. It seems that it's likely that this weather is going to continue, unfortunately, so now we need to put together all the information we gathered today and continue to improve things tomorrow."
Tech 3 Yamaha looking to improve in Valencia
Cool and wet weather greeted the Tech 3 Yamaha team for the start of the final round of the 2008 MotoGP world
championship in Valencia today, with Colin Edwards and James Toseland ninth and 16th in tricky conditions.
After torrential rain had battered the Valencia circuit this morning, conditions improved slightly for this afternoon's second session, though track conditions were still treacherously slippery as Edwards and Toseland began their
quest to end 2008 on a high note.
Sixth in the rain-lashed first session, weight distribution changes to his Yamaha YZR-M1 machine helped Edwards climb as high as fourth under grey and gloomy but dry skies this afternoon. His best time of 1.47.314 eventually saw him finish ninth overall, just over a second outside of the top three as the Texan attempts to claim a top six world championship finish in Sunday's 30-lap race.

Today's inclement weather made it a challenging return to a circuit Toseland has vast experience on from his World Superbike days. The British rider gradually built up his confidence in the slippery conditions to post the 11th best time this morning. The 28-year-old was able to improve his lap time by 1.5s in the second session, though he had to settle for 16th overall having encountered some issues with rear grip.
With forecasts predicting a repeat of the wet and cool conditions tomorrow, Toseland is confident planned overnight changes to improve rear feel will help his bid to claim a top ten overall championship placing.
Colin Edwards - Position: 9th Time: 1'47.314 Laps: 38
"We started with the rain setting I used to back at Donington Park and it felt fine, but it uses quite a lot of weight on the front. So we tweaked it to get some more weight on the rear tyre and I felt pretty good. I'm really happy with the soft rain tyre that Michelin has got. This track is pretty tough to judge in the rain but with the softer tyre I'm reasonably happy with my pace. I tried a couple of harder tyres and didn't have the same confidence, but the soft tyre we are not sure if it will have the endurance for 30-laps if it rains on Sunday. I'm going to try and make some more changes with the team overnight to get a bit more weight on the rear to see if we can just to get a bit more confidence. This track in the rain is really tough and conditions were quite difficult. It is a weird feeling because you can't really push like you can in wet conditions on other tracks. Normally you can get the front and the rear moving and you're feeling for grip, but here it is all or nothing. You can't spin the rear and feel what its doing on this track.
You've either got grip or you haven't and you don't get a lot of warning when there is no grip as we saw with a few guys crashing out. There is still a lot to fight for on Sunday so I'm reasonably happy with progress today."

James Toseland - Position: 16th Time: 1'48.771 Laps: 41
"It was a tough day and we've got to find something to improve because the forecasts are for more rain tomorrow,and I need to find a bit more from the bike. I just didn't have a very good feeling and I'm not happy, but I've got
some ideas. In those greasy conditions I just haven't got enough feel from the rear and we need to find a lot more contact with the rear tyre. It feels a bit like riding around on eggshells at the moment. I'm not too far away but I've definitely got to make a step with the direction I think will work. I just need more weight on the rear to give me more confidence. This track is always tricky in the wet. When it is heavy rain, everybody has a respect for the place because they know how easy it is to get caught out. But when it is drying out, it doesn't give more grip, even though there is less water on the surface. People get sucked into thinking they can go faster and you don't get any warning before you get a big slide. This wasn't the start I wanted with tenth place in the championship to battle for on
Sunday, but I'm confident we can make some big improvements."


Free Practice

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time

1, Nicky Hayden, Honda, USA, 1'45.777
2, Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, ESP, 1'45.864
3, Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha, ESP, 1'45.959
4, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, ITA, 1'46.070
5, Casey Stoner, Ducati, AUS, 1'46.260
6, Andrea Dovizioso, Honda, ITA, 1'46.522
7, Randy De Puniet, Honda, FRA, 1'46.807
8, Sylvain Guintoli, Ducati, FRA, 1'47.055
9, Colin Edwards, Yamaha, USA, 1'47.314
10, Shinya Nakano, Honda, JPN, 1'47.483
11, Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki, AUS, 1'47.620
12, Alex De Angelis, Honda, SMR, 1'48.015
13, Marco Melandri, Ducati, ITA, 1'48.437
14, John Hopkins, Kawasaki, USA, 1'48.469
15, Anthony West, Kawasaki, AUS, 1'48.504
16, James Toseland, Yamaha, GBR, 1'48.771
17, Loris Capirossi, Suzuki, ITA, 1'49.092
18, Toni Elias, Ducati, ESP, 1'51.871

 

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SEASON FINALE OPENS WITH WET WEATHER AT VALENCIA

The 2008 MotoGP season finale got to a very wet start at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia today, with Kawasaki's John Hopkins and Anthony West concluding the opening practice sessions in 14th and 15th positions respectively.

Following the blistering heat of Malaysia last weekend, conditions today could not have been any more of a contrast, with low track temperatures and heavy rainfall present throughout the two, hour-long sessions. Both Hopkins and West found it difficult to negotiate the Valencia circuit aboard their Ninja ZX-RR race machines, as a super-slippery track surface made grip difficult to predict at maximum lean angles.

The two MotoGP pilots suffered with similar troubles, as rear traction issues were compounded by the slick conditions. The predominantly left-handed circuit caught out many of the Kawasaki duo's rivals in each of the crash-filled practice stints, despite the rain faltering late on in the afternoon session.

Hopkins, who spent some time evaluating new engine components today, is hoping that with the predicted weather improvements over the weekend, he will be able to make further progress in preparation for the final race of the year. The 25-year-old Anglo-American was struggling to get the bike over at full lean, as the wet and cold conditions made it incredibly difficult to get heat into the rear tyre of his machine.

West, who will campaign the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR for one final time this Sunday, was also troubled with rear traction issues, particularly on corner entry. The 27-year-oldstruggled to find the drive and stability he needs when cornering. West is hopeful that set-up changes to his machine overnight will improve the situation for tomorrow's qualifying session.


John Hopkins#21 - 14th - 1'48.469

"Going from the heat of Malaysia to the freezing cold conditions of Valencia has been a huge change and the conditions on circuit were pretty bad today. In the first session there was a lot of standing water on track and a lot of the guys decided to sit out the final 15-minutes as the rain worsened. It was so bad I hardly got my knee down at all and I had a few big moments out there. We had a few problems this afternoon with one of our machines, but we have spent the entire time trying to improve the rear grip of the bike. We also evaluated new engine components, but because of the conditions the results aren't conclusive, as we weren't able to ride at the maximum today. They say the weather is going to improve, but either way we have some things to try should it carry on raining tomorrow."

Anthony West#13 - 15th - 1'48.504

"It's incredibly slippery out there on track, and this is a circuit that is supposed to flow, so it's been quite hard work today. The bike feels quite nervous and I can't get hard on the brakes into the turns. Then, whenever I get on the throttle it just feels like I'm going to highside, although for some strange reason everything felt perfect at turn two. The conditions on circuit were not good, in fact many of the riders sat out the final part of the first session, so it's difficult to see where we're at. Hopefully things will improve for tomorrow as I'm determined to finish the final race of the year with a good result."

Fiorenzo Fanali Hopkins' Crew Chief

"The temperatures out on track have been quite low today as it's very cold and wet. We've tried some different settings to try to make the rear tyre work better in these conditions, and we've also worked on improving our engine braking along with the traction control to help John through the turns. We have progressively improved our lap time, but if we want to be competitive we need to refine our set-up further. The biggest difficulty at this track is there are quite a lot more turns to the left than to the right, so we need to check the data overnight and try to improve the grip level in the right-side of the tyre for tomorrow. We have also introduced new engine parts today, but we really need dry conditions to evaluate these properly."

1. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team 1'45.777; 2. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team +0.087; 3. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha +0.182; 4. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha +0.293; 5. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team +0.483; 6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) JIR Team Scot +0.745; 7. Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP +1.030; 8. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Alice Team +1.278; 9. Colin Edwards (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha +1.537; 10. Shinya Nakano (JPN) San Carlo Honda Gresini +1.706; 14. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing Team +2.692; 15. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing Team +2.727

 

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Rain delays progress for Rizla Suzuki at Valencia

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP racers Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi were again hindered in their preparations for a MotoGP race, as yet another rain-affected day hit the paddock.

Vermeulen (P11, 1'47.620, 30 laps) and Capirossi (P17, 1'49.092, 33 laps) used the two wet sessions today to search for the best set-up for their respective Suzuki GSV-Rs in rain conditions. Unfortunately both riders were left frustrated as they felt an important day?s testing had again been lost to the weather at the 4,005m Spanish track.

Heavy overnight rain had left the Valencian circuit very wet, before more rain this morning forced both Suzuki riders to sit out the final minutes of the first session as conditions became too dangerous out on track. As the downpour eased in the afternoon the surface never had a chance to dry out as cool air kept the track temperatures down to 17?C. Today?s best time was set by Nicky Hayden on his factory Honda.

Rizla Suzuki has one more free practice session tomorrow morning before the hour of qualifying in the afternoon. Vermeulen and Capirossi will both be hoping for better conditions to prepare for what the whole team hopes will be a dry 30-lap race on Sunday at 14.00hrs local time (13.00hrs GMT).

Chris Vermeulen:

?It was a difficult day today with the weather; it was very cold and wet ? unlike Malaysia last week when it was hot and wet! It made it quite hard to get going in the cold this morning, but the bike did seem to work pretty well straight out of the box so everything seems to be ok there. As the track conditions changed, with even more rain, we went out and tried even more settings in those conditions ? just in case the race is like that ? and we feel as though we are prepared if that happens. Hopefully tomorrow will be dry and we?ll get some time on slicks so we can prepare for the race.?

Loris Capirossi:

?Today has been very tough because we have been working all day to find the best solution to the conditions. It feels like I have zero grip on the rear and every time I lean the bike over I feel like I am going to lose it. We tried many things with settings and in the end we changed a lot of things and immediately went one second quicker, but the session was then over and we couldn?t keep on working to see what more improvements we could make. We certainly have a lot of work to do because we are still far away from the top and we still don?t really understand why we have the problem with the rear, but we will be looking at the data to see what is happening ? we really hope it rains tomorrow so we can fix the problem. We know we have to go much better, and we certainly have the capability to do so!?

Paul Denning ? Team Manager:

?There is no hiding the fact that today has been disappointing. We came here with very high hopes, but we were left today searching for better weather, better performance and requiring a big step in rear grip, particularly in the wet but drying conditions towards the end of this afternoon?s session. At the end it certainly became very difficult for us to get confidence and positive feedback out of the package. Other Bridgestone guys have gone very quickly today in these conditions, so it is clear that we have a lot of work to do tonight, and into tomorrow, if the weather stays the same.?

GP Parts Europe de la Comunitat Valenciana Free Practice Classification:

1. Nicky Hayden (Honda) 1?45.777: 2. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) +0.087: 3. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) +0.182: 4. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) +0.293: 5. Casey Stoner (Ducati) +0.483: 11. CHRIS VERMEULEN (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +1.843: 17. LORIS CAPIROSSI (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +3.315:

 

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Third row start for Capirossi in season finale

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP racer Loris Capirossi will start the last race of the 2008 MotoGP season from the middle of the third row after qualifying in eighth place at Valencia in Spain today.

Capirossi (1?32.614, 29 laps) missed out on a second row start by only one-tenth-of-a-second as he used slick tyres for the first time during this afternoon?s session. This morning?s final practice session was again interrupted by rain, but Capirossi worked with his crew to remedy some of the issues with wet grip that held him back yesterday. His race pace during this afternoon?s session was also very promising and Capirossi is confident of a good result in tomorrow?s race.

Chris Vermeulen (1?33.017, 30 laps) will start just behind his team-mate as he qualified on the fourth row in 12th place. Vermeulen also used the valuable amount of dry track time during the qualifying session to test race tyres and set-up in readiness for tomorrow?s race. He is happy with the progress he made and is convinced that with a good start he can run a competitive race.

Today?s qualifying was held in cool and overcast conditions with a constant threat of rain in the air. Track temperatures never got above 19?C and the surface never completely dried out making conditions difficult for all involved. Casey Stoner on his Bridgestone shod Ducati took pole position.

Tomorrow?s 30-lap race is the climax of an exhausting 18 events over the last seven months, The excitement will get underway at the 4,005m long Valencian circuit at 14.00hrs local time (13.00hrs GMT), with both Rizla Suzuki riders aiming to go out in style.

Loris Capirossi:

?The conditions this afternoon were much better and we were able to start the session with a race tyre. After about 15 minutes it started to rain a bit and so I put in a qualifier, but I think I used it a little too early because the track was not 100% dry and I think I maybe lost a couple of tenths on the lap-time. This is not too big a problem though and the middle of the third row is still ok here. I was able to test some race tyres and I am happy with the set-up for tomorrow. I am optimistic about the race because the whole team worked hard all day to get the wet setting right this morning and to set-up a great race bike this afternoon!?

Chris Vermeulen:

?It was very difficult conditions for qualifying because it was the first time this weekend that we had put slicks in the bike and we had to try and get a dry set-up, test some race tyres and set the fastest lap of the weekend on qualifiers ? all on a track that wasn?t completely dry ? it certainly was a tough challenge! I feel like the bike is working reasonably well and at the end of the session I was on my fastest lap but I made a couple of mistakes and lost a bit of time, if I hadn?t I?m sure I?d have been further up the grid. The race pace looks reasonable and I am comfortable with package we have for tomorrow, so hopefully we can get a good start, get through the field early and have a strong race.?

Paul Denning ? Team Manager:

?Today has been a more encouraging performance compared to yesterday?s and we managed to iron out a good percentage of the problems that slowed us up on Friday. In the full dry conditions both guys? pace on race tyres was encouraging and we can?t really complain too much about the qualifying positions. Loris could have easily been on the second row as he just missed out by less than a tenth, but nonetheless we know he gets off the line incredibly well so we have high hopes for the race. We also know that Chris will be giving it absolutely everything in the final Grand Prix of the season tomorrow and we hope that we get good results from both guys to carry us into the winter in style!?

GP Parts Europe de la Comunitat Valenciana Qualifying Practice Classification:

1. Casey Stoner (Ducati) 1?31.502: 2. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) +0.053: 3. Nicky Hayden (Honda) +0.201: 4. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) +0.710: 5. James Toseland (Yamaha) +1.016: 8. LORIS CAPIROSSI (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +1.112: 12. CHRIS VERMEULEN (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +1.515:

 

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HOPKINS HOPING FOR TOP TEN AT VALENCIA

Kawasaki's John Hopkins has his sights firmly set on a top ten finish at the final Grand Prix of the season in Valencia tomorrow, after qualifying his Ninja ZX-RR in 14th position on the grid. Anthony West will start his final race for Kawasaki from 17th position on the grid, after trailing his teammate home by just two tenths of a second this afternoon.

Following yesterday's wet practice, intermittent rain at the 4km circuit today left the entire MotoGP field with little time to set-up their race machines in dry conditions. The rain began to fall just 10-minutes into the opening session of the day and although a dry line began to appear towards the end of the practice stint, neither Hopkins nor teammate West were able to switch to full slick tyres.

Fortunately for the thousands of Spanish race fans lining the circuit, the weather improved slightly for this afternoon's hour-long, timed session. Using slick tyres for the first time this weekend, the Kawasaki duo opted to begin their qualifying runs early on in the session due to the threat of more rain.

Hopkins concentrated on finding a compromise between the rear-traction and agility of his Ninja ZX-RR, as at this circuit the machines are cornering for the majority of the lap. The 25-year-old Anglo-American progressively improved his lap time in race trim, and as the track conditions improved, the Kawasaki pilot ran his final qualifying tyre to set his fastest time of the day on lap 24 of 26, finishing in 14th position on the grid.

West also started his qualifying runs early on in the afternoon session, as he too predicted further rain. This gave him little time to adjust himself to a dry set-up, following three-hours of wet practice around the Valencia circuit. As the clouds cleared late on in the session, the 27-year-old Australian improved his qualifying time on his final run on super-sticky rubber, and the Kawasaki-pilot will start tomorrow's 30-lap race from 17th on the grid.


John Hopkins#21 - 14th - 1'33.681

"It's been an interesting qualifying session today. The track was still wet in places when we first went out, so we just tried to put some laps together to get a feel for the slick tyres in the dry for the first time this weekend. We started our qualifying runs early as it started to rain on circuit, but with no real warm-up, we didn't put a great lap together. We switched back to race tyres to work on our traction control and engine braking. We wanted to try and get the bike to turn a little bit better, particularly as this circuit requires a great degree of accuracy and agility from rider and machine. We had one final qualifying tyre late on in the session and we went a little bit quicker, but it wasn't exactly where we were hoping to be for the final race of the year. We have a clear indication of what we need to improve for the race, and I hope it's dry tomorrow as the aim is to finish inside the top ten."

Anthony West#13 - 17th - 1'33.879

"After all of the rain yesterday and this morning, we have had very little time to set the bike up in the dry. We decided to run the first few qualifying tyres early on in the session, in case conditions deteriorated out on track. This maybe wasn't the best idea, as it didn't give us any dry set-up time or a build up in speed for our qualifying runs. After the rain, the end of the session was reasonably dry and we ran a final qualifying tyre, which did improve our time, but we've ended up in 17th of the grid. Obviously this has given us a lot of work to do, but my lap time on a race tyre is very similar to John's, so my main aim will be to try and finish in front of him in my final race for Kawasaki."

Ichiro Yoda Kawasaki Racing Director

"The conditions here have been very changeable and this left us with very little time to set the bikes up in the dry. We know exactly where we need to improve for tomorrow, and one of the main areas we have been looking at today is the engine braking of our machine. I think a top ten is achievable for John, and Anthony should be able to run at a similar pace in tomorrow's race, as their lap times have been fairly close all weekend."

 

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Capirossi and Vermeulen fight to the end in final race of the year

Rizla Suzuki?s Loris Capirossi used all his experience to fight to the chequered flag at Valencia today to secure himself a top-10 finish in the 2008 MotoGP World Championship.

Capirossi started from eighth on the grid and was battling with the front group during the early stages of the 30-lap race. As grip became an issue in the much higher temperatures at the Spanish track today, Suzuki?s Italian star rode a lonely race for much of the duration until he came under pressure in the closing stages. Capirossi tried to defend his eighth place, but was overtaken on Valencia?s long start-finish straight as the penultimate lap started. He wasn?t able to claw back the position and brought his GSV-R home in ninth.

Chris Vermeulen took a gamble on using harder compound race tyres as the track temperatures rose to 30?C, but unfortunately it didn?t pay off and the Australian racer struggled to find the level of grip that he wanted to be competitive throughout the race. He managed to pass a couple of riders in the closing stages and eventually crossed the line in 13th place, to give him eighth overall in the championship standings.

Today?s race was watched by almost 118,000 fans that crowded the stands around the 4,005m circuit. Casey Stoner took victory on his factory Ducati with a faultless flag-to-flag performance.

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP will now remain in Valencia for a two-day test, where it will begin working on its assault on the 2009 campaign with the first evaluation of the latest incarnation of the Suzuki GSV-R.

Loris Capirossi:

?It was a really hard race today. I got a good start and had a nice rhythm in the first few laps. I stayed in touch with the front guys and I stayed there for a while and everything seemed to be ok until I had a little bit of trouble with the front tyre. I had chosen a soft compound and it started to move a little bit under braking and then the edge grip started to drop off a bit on the rear and I had to change my rhythm. I tried to defend my position but Lorenzo got me on the straight and I couldn?t do anything about it. This is now the last race and we have to start working hard for next year, I am a bit upset that we won?t have as many tests in the winter because we have a lot to do on the bike. I am sure Suzuki will work hard to help us because we still need to improve a lot.?

Chris Vermeulen:

?With the hotter temperatures we gambled with tyres and it was probably the wrong decision because from the first lap I really struggled to get feeling out of the tyres. It didn?t really get any better throughout the race so it made it very difficult for me to even keep the bike upright - as well as going as quick as I could. At the end of the race I was quicker than a few of the guys in front of me, but I was still a long way behind where we need to be. The engine just didn?t have enough on the one long straight, but for the test tomorrow Suzuki has brought a lot of parts for us to try, and fingers crossed they?ll be good parts and take us a good step forward.?

Paul Denning - Team Manager:

?Through no lack of effort or commitment the results today were far away from what we would like to achieve. From today the most positive thing to happen is that we now start work on the 2009 season straight away. The bike is not a bad package at all, but there are a couple of restrictions that are hindering the riders over race distance. We know the strong points of the GSV-R - and the weak points are extremely clear as well. Suzuki, and the team, is fully committed to taking a massive leap forward next season.

?I?d like to thank everybody involved with the team for their sterling efforts in 2008, the level of commitment has never faltered ? regardless of the situation ? and if we continue with that attitude we have a great chance of turning things around in 2009!?

GP Parts Europe de la Comunitat Valenciana Race Classification:

1. Casey Stoner (Ducati) 46?46.114: 2. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) +3.390: 3. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) +12.194: 4. Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) +24.159: 5. Nicky Hayden (Honda) +26.232: 9. LORIS CAPIROSSI (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +38.228: 13. CHRIS VERMEULEN (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +52.833:

World Championship Classification:
1. Rossi 373: 2. Stoner 280: 3. Pedrosa 249: 3. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 190: 5. Dovizioso 174: 8. CHRIS VERMEULEN (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) 128: 10. LORIS CAPIROSSI (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) 118:

 

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RACE REPORT - 26/10/2008

Rossi rounds out world championship season with 16th podium

Valentino Rossi brought the curtain down on a spectacular season with a third place in Valencia today, his 16th podium from 18 races in a year which saw him win his eighth world title. The 29-year-old Italian has taken nine wins, five seconds and two thirds this year, surpassing the all-time premier class win record and the record for the most points in a season in the process. His outstanding performances this season also helped the Fiat Yamaha Team to secure the Teams' title and Yamaha the Manufacturers' title.

Rossi had struggled to find a good set-up for his M1 during yesterday's qualifying and he started from 10th on the grid. However some last-minute changes paid dividends and he was able to get a good start, climbing to seventh in the first lap and then making a characteristic charge through the field to move into third on lap six. Unfortunately from then on he was unable to make a dent in the gap to second-placed Dani Pedrosa and he had to settle for the final podium position, 12 seconds off winner Casey Stoner.

His Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo secured the Rookie of the Year title with eighth place today, rounding off an eventful but impressive season for the 21-year-old. Both riders will be in action tomorrow as work for the 2009 season gets underway immediately with a two-day test at Valencia.
Valentino Rossi - Position: 3rdTime: +12.194
"I don't think that was so bad today! Unfortunately we had some problems yesterday and that meant we had to start from the fourth row, which left us with a very difficult task. As always though we found a way and my team gave me a good bike, which meant I was able to get a great start and then have some fun passing people. Once I got to third there was no way to catch Dani and so it wasn't such an exciting race from then on. This has been an amazing season for us and to finish with another podium, the 16th, is great and we cannot complain. I am so happy with what we have done this year, as I said it's definitely one of my greatest championships and I want to thank everyone once again - Yamaha, my team, the engineers, Bridgestone and everyone who helped us to get this result. Tomorrow we will try the new bike which means we can't have as big a party as we would like, but it is important to try to find a base for it so I am looking forward to it."
Davide Brivio - Team Manager
"I think it would have been difficult to have done more than this today, because we were starting from the fourth row and the setting still wasn't perfect. Anyway it was a great end to the season and we scored another podium, making 16 in total, nine of the them wins. We have the triple crown and this all makes it a fantastic season. Thank you very much to Valentino first of all and then all the engineers in Japan, who have worked so hard, and to all the team members for this huge effort. Luckily we had a big party in Japan because tomorrow we start to think about 2009 and start to test, and it's going to be important to make the most of it and to give good information to the engineers about the new bike. But we will still have some celebrations tonight so let's all enjoy ourselves! Thanks again to everybody, it's been a wonderful season."
Lorenzo secures Rookie Of The Year at season finale
Fiat Yamaha Team rider Jorge Lorenzo took a deserved Rookie of the Year title by finishing eighth at Valencia today, his fourth position in the championship the highest finish for a premier-class newcomer since the advent of four-stroke MotoGP. The Spaniard's first season in MotoGP has seen him win a race and take a further five podiums and four pole positions, helping Yamaha to secure the Team and Manufacturers' titles to add to his team-mate Valentino Rossi's World Championship.

After struggling for grip yesterday Lorenzo started from seventh on the grid and things got worse as the race got underway. He was unable to find a rhythm and slipped to11th until mid-race distance. From then on he began to improve and he was able to make up three places, finishing strongly to set the fastest lap of the race on the final lap.

The team gets straight back to work tomorrow with the very first test of the 2009 season, during which Lorenzo will have his first chance to try the new prototype 2009 YZR-M1.

Jorge Lorenzo - Position: 8thTime: +35.661
"I feel a bit disappointed with this result today because I really wanted to finish the season with a podium, but in the end we couldn't manage it here. We had some problems though so I have to be happy that I was able to finish the race strongly, passing people and doing my best lap of the race on the last lap, especially when you consider that yesterday in qualifying I was the slowest on race tyres! The best thing about today is that I am the leading rookie, so I get a trophy all the same and this makes me very proud of my first season in MotoGP with Yamaha. I want to thank all of my team, engineers and everyone who has helped us. I also have to say a special thank you to Michelin for their work this season because this is our last race with them. I am very proud that I was able to win my first MotoGP race with them. Tomorrow we begin straight away to work on the 2009 bike and I am very excited to try it."
Daniele Romagnoli - Team Manager
"We expected to finish in a better position for this last race, but unfortunately the problem we had in qualifying persisted, although we were able to improve it somewhat from yesterday. Jorge was able to keep a good pace during the second half of the race and he was able to finish strongly and make his best lap on the very last lap. This has been a fantastic year for us because we were able to make four pole positions, win a race and take five more podiums, helping Yamaha to win the triple crown, and Jorge is the year's leading rookie. I want to thank Yamaha very much for the huge effort they made in order to give us such a competitive machine, and I also want to thank Michelin for their support - we wish them all the best for the future. Finally thanks to everyone in our team for doing a fantastic job all year and we look forward to coming back even stronger next year."
Fantastic finale for Tech 3 Yamaha in Valencia
claimed a superb fourth place in the Team World Championship standings in today's Valencia MotoGP race.
The 15-point haul collected by Edwards and Toseland in today's 30-lap battle saw the Tech 3 squad seize fourth position by a single
point from Suzuki's official factory team, ending the 18-round campaign as the highest placed independent team.

American Edwards played a starring role in the success, his superb start from the second row of the grid giving him the perfect
platform to mount a bid for his first top six finish since he took third in Assen back in June. Edwards quickly claimed third from Nicky
Hayden on the first lap to settle in behind Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa.
But with minimal dry set-up time after another weather-hit weekend, Edwards quickly encountered some rear grip issues to find
himself back in sixth on lap six. He quickly adapted to the decreasing grip and crucially began to pull away from Suzuki's Loris Capirossi, maintaining a constant pace to the end.

Toseland also played a critical role in today's fantastic finale as he closed his rookie campaign with a hard fought 11th position. The
British rider shadowed fellow Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo for the opening fifteen laps in a close dice for 11th place, twice passing the Spaniard momentarily.Toseland also ran into grip issues in the closing stages, but he rode a brilliant final three laps to fend off Sylvain Guintoli, John
Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen.

Colin Edwards - Position: 6thTime: +32.209
"It has been a while since I finished in the top six and for this result to help the team finish fourth in the Team World Championship
makes it extra rewarding. I'm pleased for Herve Poncharal and the team because they deserve it. We had a couple of races where
we gave a lot of points away, but for an independent team we have done a fantastic job together and it was a year to remember. I got
a great start and rode around the outside of Nicky at the first corner to slot in behind Casey and Dani. I actually felt pretty comfortable
at that point. Nicky passed me though down the front straight and I started to spin the rear tyre a bit just as the other guys started to
get into the groove. The next thing I know, everybody was disappearing up the road and there was nothing I could do. With so little
dry track time we gambled with the setting and I ran a softer tyre and at the end I was having a few problems. My bike felt great but I
just didn't have a lot of grip and this isn't the best track for Yamaha. We don't have the initial raw grunt that you need on a tight and
twisty track like this with a lot of low speed acceleration points. I'd like to thank all my guys for their hard work throughout the season
and to Yamaha for their continued support. Finally I'd like to say a big thanks to Michelin. I had the greatest moments of my career
with them and I've enjoyed our time together. I'm looking forward to a bit of a break now before coming back in Jerez next month to
begin working as hard as ever for 2009."

James Toseland - Position: 11thTime: +52.107
"It was a hard race to finish a pretty hard season and while it wasn't how I wanted to finish on a personal note, it was great that I
contributed to the team getting fourth by a point. I'm glad I managed to hang on at the end there because I was coming under a lot of
pressure. In the first half of the race I was probably a bit quicker than Jorge but I just couldn't make a pass on him stick. I got him a
couple of times but I made mistakes and let him back through. One time I put my hand in the air to apologise for a close move going
into the first corner, and as I put my hand back for the second corner I missed my braking marker. So I'm annoyed with myself about
that. I was in a real fight at the end and I was just struggling for a bit of grip. We tried quite a big change on the set-up and it worked
well for the first half of the race, but towards the end I had to ride a bit defensive and make sure I didn't lose too many places. The
team deserve to be fourth in the championship this year and I was determined to help them achieve it. Tech 3 and Yamaha have
given me unbelievable support in my rookie year and I was pleased to battle right to the last lap to get that result for them. I have
learned a lot in 2008, and I'm looking forward to working hard in the winter and making a big impression next season."
Herve Poncharal - Team Manager
"It was a fantastic way for us to end the season and I really want to thank Colin and James for their effort. It was a tough weekend
with the weather conditions but it was very important to end on a positive note and we were reasonably confident when both of them
qualified on the second row. Colin made a great start and he did a good race, keeping a really good rhythm. In the first half of the
race, James looked even a little bit quicker than Jorge but he couldn't quite pass him. He pushed really hard throughout even though
he didn't have 100 per cent confidence, but it was a strong result and by hanging on at the end under a lot of pressure he helped us
get fourth in the Team Championship and we beat two full factory teams. That was our target before this weekend and we achieved it.
I'd like to congratulate Yamaha again for an incredible season. They gave us a great bike in 2008 and I'd also like to say a big thanks
to Michelin for their support. Thanks to them and Yamaha we had one pole position and two podium finishes. We will miss Michelin
but we now must look forward to a new era. Everyone at Tech 3 is now looking forward to a quick break and we will be back raring
to start our 2009 preparations in Jerez at the end of November."


Race 1

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time

1, Casey Stoner, Ducati, AUS, 46'46.141
2, Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, ESP, 0'3.390
3, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, ITA, 0'12.194
4, Andrea Dovizioso, Honda, ITA, 0'24.159
5, Nicky Hayden, Honda, USA, 0'26.232
6, Colin Edwards, Yamaha, USA, 0'32.209
7, Shinya Nakano, Honda, JPN, 0'34.571
8, Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha, ESP, 0'35.661
9, Loris Capirossi, Suzuki, ITA, 0'38.228
10, Alex De Angelis, Honda, SMR, 0'47.583
11, James Toseland, Yamaha, GBR, 0'52.107
12, Sylvain Guintoli, Ducati, FRA, 0'52.350
13, Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki, AUS, 0'52.833
14, John Hopkins, Kawasaki, USA, 0'53.227
15, Randy De Puniet, Honda, FRA, 0'53.411
16, Marco Melandri, Ducati, ITA, 1'8.387
17, Anthony West, Kawasaki, AUS, 1'11.181
18, Toni Elias, Ducati, ESP, 1'37.055


Best Lap

Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time

Casey Stoner, Ducati, AUS, 1'32.582

Rider Standings 26/10/2008

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Points
1, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, ITA, 373
2, Casey Stoner, Ducati, AUS, 280
3, Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, ESP, 249
4, Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha, ESP, 190
5, Andrea Dovizioso, Honda, ITA, 174
6, Nicky Hayden, Honda, USA, 155
7, Colin Edwards, Yamaha, USA, 144
8, Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki, AUS, 128
9, Shinya Nakano, Honda, JPN, 126
10, Loris Capirossi, Suzuki, ITA, 118
11, James Toseland, Yamaha, GBR, 105
12, Toni Elias, Ducati, ESP, 92
13, Sylvain Guintoli, Ducati, FRA, 67
14, Alex De Angelis, Honda, SMR, 63
15, Randy De Puniet, Honda, FRA, 61



Team Standings 26/10/2008

Pos., Team, Points
1, FIAT Yamaha Team, 563
2, Repsol Honda Team, 404
3, Ducati Marlboro Team, 331
4, Tech3 Yamaha, 249
5, Rizla Suzuki MotoGP, 248
6, Honda Gresini, 189
7, JIR Scot Team, 174
8, Team Alice, 159
9, Kawasaki Racing Team, 107
10, Honda LCR, 61



Manufacturer Standings 26/10/2008

Pos., Manufacturer, Points

1, Yamaha, 402
2, Ducati, 321
3, Honda, 315
4, Suzuki, 181
5, Kawasaki, 88

 

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TOUGH RACE TO END TOUGH SEASON FOR KAWASAKI

Kawasaki's John Hopkins and Anthony West faced a tough test at the Valencia circuit today, ending their 2008 MotoGP world championship campaign with 14th and 17th positions respectively in today's 30 lap race, after race day conditions differed greatly compared to practice and qualifying.

Hopkins got a good start from 14th on the grid and rode spectacularly around the outside of his rivals into eighth position by the end of lap one. The 25-year-old Anglo-American set his sights on hunting down the group ahead, but early on in the race was troubled with cornering issues aboard his Ninja ZX-RR. Despite his best efforts and some gritty riding, Hopkins lost a place on lap four to Shinya Nakano, and was then unable to hold off a succession of attacks as he struggled to find grip at the 4.005km Valencia circuit.

A lack of dry set-up time and the hotter race day conditions both contributed to the Kawasaki racer's difficulties in the race. As the rear grip began to drop off, and drive out of the turns more difficult to find, Hopkins was unable to defend against a determined attack by Chris Vermeulen on the final lap and had to settle for 14th position at the chequered flag

West, who campaigned his Ninja ZX-RR for one final time today, also got a good start and took four positions into the first turn. But with only a brief outing to set his machine up on slick rubber in yesterday's qualifying, the 27-year-old Australian also suffered with rear traction issues early on in the race.

West was frustrated as the rear traction available from his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR, using a tyre combination he is not confident was the right choice for today?s race, rapidly deteriorated and he slowly slipped down the standings to cross the finish line in 17th position.

Now that the 2008 MotoGP World Championship season has drawn to a close after 18 events held across four continents around the globe, tomorrow's testing at the Valencia circuit will mark the start of preparations for the 2009 season for the Kawasaki Racing Team.


John Hopkins#21 - 14th Position

"After getting such a good start to the race it became obvious we were going to be fighting a losing battle, because I soon realised I couldn't get the bike turned well enough. This also added to the wear on the rear tyre, and the season-long traction issues we've suffered were evident again, so after the first few laps I had to fight for every position I could. We knew it was going to be a tough one because, after all of the rain this weekend we've had very little dry set-up time, but I was really hoping for a top ten finish. I'm also incredibly disappointed as my crew chief, Fiorenzo Fanali, is retiring after this race and I really wanted to get one final good result for him. The 2009 season starts with testing tomorrow and we have to start finding solutions to our problems so we can be competitive right from the word go next year."

Anthony West#13 - 17th Position

"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. Rear grip dropped off sharply within a few laps, and it was like riding dirt track for the rest of the race with the bike sideways everywhere. 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 knew I'd finish the season close to my teammate in the championship standings, what I didn't expect was for us both to be so close to the bottom of the points table. 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."

Kawasaki Competition Manager

"Today's race was a tough ending to a tough season for the Kawasaki Racing Team. Conditions out on track were very different to those in practice, but both riders suffered with the issues that have plagued us throughout this year. 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."

1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 46'46.114; 2. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team +3.390; 3. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team +12.194; 4. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) JIR Team Scot +24.159; 5. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team +26.232; 6. Colin Edwards (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha +32.209; 7. Shinya Nakano (JPN) San Carlo Honda Gresini +34.571; 8. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha +35.661; 9. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP +38.228; 10. Alex De Angelis (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini +47.583; 14. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing Team +53.227; 17. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing Team +1'11.181