The final showdown of the MotoGP 2008 calendar takes place in Valencia in Spain this weekend. The riders title has long since been won by Italian rider Valentino Rossi and the constructors championship by Rossi’s Yamaha team.
Second place in the Moto GP riders championship was secured by Casey Stoner in the last round at the Polini Malaysian Grand Prix, when sixth place was enough to see off rival Dani Pedrosa, who’s second place on the track was not enough to catch the Australian in the points table.
Ducati are currently just a single point ahead of Honda in the constructors championship and both teams will be looking to take the consolation prize with nothing else left at stake.
Last years Valencia Moto GP resultssaw a win for Honda’s Dani Pedrosa with Casey Stoner in second place. Valencia is the home track for Pedrosa and he has always been strong there, he will be in a confident frame of mind following his excellent race in the last round.
Honda team mate Nicky Hayden is also fast on the Valencia circuit and he too is in very good form. He is set to join Ducati for next season, but will be riding all out for the Honda team until the chequered flag.
The Ducati team and Casey Stoner in particular will be hoping that the wrist injury that has plagued the rider all season will hold up on the twisty Valencia track. He will not have the benefit of an on form team mate to keep the pressure on Honda, with Marco Malandri enduring the most miserable of seasons, it would take a miracle for him to secure points in Spain.
For Casey Stoner the hard work will continue after the Grand Prix, when the Australian will test the brand new Ducati Desmosedici GP9 at the Valencia track for two full days. He is excited at the prospect saying that he can’t wait for testing to begin.
He will then face surgery immediately after testing, in an effort to be fit and injury free for the 2009 season.
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