The Gran Premio de la Comunidad Valenciana is set to bring the curtain down on another campaign this weekend, as the MotoGP paddock unpacks and prepares to race for the final time in 2009. After a transcontinental trek to Australia and Malaysia, the series returns to European soil for the sixteenth and final round of a 250cc World Championship that is still to be decided. Hiroshi Aoyama and Marco Simoncelli will go head to head for the title on Sunday, with the Spanish riders also looking to celebrate with victory in their home round.
 
With a disappointing weekend in Malaysia now behind them, the Mapfre riders head to Valencia determined to score good results for the team in their home race. Álvaro Bautista’s title aspirations ended in a crash at Sepang but his hunger for victory is still as fierce as ever and the Spaniard is looking for a repeat of his performance in the most recent race on Spanish soil, having won at Montmeló in June. It is a final appearance in the intermediate class for the former 125cc World Champion, who moves up to MotoGP next year. Mike di Meglio also slid out of the race at Sepang but the Frenchman showed signs of his continued excellent form during practice and he is determined to maintain that throughout the final Grand Prix as he looks to secure the 250cc Rookie of the Year title.

And after being forced to deal with a host of completely new circuits to him, Balázs Németh finally competes at a venue where he has already had track time, thanks to a team test back in June. The Balatonring rider is in fine form thanks to a tenth place finish in Malaysia – his best result of the season so far – and he is looking to maintain his momentum in Valencia with more points to add to the five he picked up at Sepang. 

Álvaro Bautista:
“I would have liked to be going to Valencia in different circumstances this weekend but luck hasn’t been on our side for the last three races. The championship is over for me but this is my last race in the 250 class and I want to enjoy it in front of my home fans. I’ll go out there and give it everything to fight for the win. We have missed out on our main objective so now I just want to enjoy the weekend and sign off from the class in style. It is important to me to end this phase of my career with a win. Cheste holds few secrets for me because I have done so many laps there and it is one of my favourite circuits. There are no excuses and I will be giving it everything from Friday.”

Mike Di Meglio:
“It is incredible how fast this year has gone, I can’t believe it’s the final race already! Valencia is not a circuit I love particularly but we have tested there a lot so I hope that helps us get on the pace from the start. We have a lot of data so there is no reason why we shouldn’t to be fair. We have been working very well and picking up good results in recent races – it was just a shame about the crash in Malaysia. I am determined to put together a good race at Valencia, my team’s home race, and finish off the season with a top result. The fight for the Rookie of the Year title is very close but hopefully we can gain a couple of positions in the championship on Sunday and win it. I’m no obsessed by that though – the important thing for us is to have a good race and whatever happens after that happens.”

Balázs Németh:
“To be honest I have mixed feelings about going to Valencia. On one hand I’m really looking forward to riding because I have felt really good on the Aprilia recently and I can feel that I am slowly improving. On the other hand I’m a little sceptical about the circuit because I actually injured myself at Cheste a couple of months ago and I’m not sure how I’ll feel about going back there. In any case, this is the last race of the year and I go into it determined to finish the season off with a good result.”