VALENCIA SET TO HOST FINAL CHAPTER TO 2009 SEASON AND PROLOGUE TO 2010
The Ducati Marlboro Team makes the relatively short road trip to Spain
this week in preparation for the final round of the 2009 MotoGP World
Championship, the "La Comunitat Valenciana GP". In recent years
the Ricardo Tormo Circuit has become the traditional venue for the
championship curtain call and, at the same time, an opportunity to
glimpse into the future as the teams immediately begin their winter
testing programme for the season ahead.
Tortuously slow and twisty, on paper Valencia looks unsuitable for the
power of a MotoGP bike and in particular that of the Desmosedici, yet
this is the circuit where the Ducati Marlboro Team has celebrated some of
its most famous successes. Other than in 2005, with a best result of
fourth, the team have been represented on the podium every season they
have competed there, including a sensational one-two in 2006. Casey
Stoner, who arrives in Spain on the back of consecutive victories in
Australia and Malaysia, scored the first win of his career at Valencia in
the 125cc in 2003 and finished second for Ducati in MotoGP in 2007,
following up with a win in 2008. Nicky Hayden has been on the podium
twice here before, taking second place in 2005 and third place in 2006,
when he also clinched the title.
CASEY STONER, Ducati Marlboro Team (3rd in the championship on 220
points)
"Valencia is a circuit I've always liked -- it is tight and
slow but surprisingly flowing and I think it's a good circuit for a
MotoGP bike. Apart from anything it is a great viewing spectacle for the
fans, who can follow the bikes around practically the whole circuit. My
Ducati has always run really well there and I've been on the pace for
the past couple of seasons -- in testing and in the races -- so
obviously we're hoping that trend continues, even though we will have
to make a few small adjustments to the bike. We're finally at the end
of the season and already looking forward to the next one, so if we can
win this race then great, if not we'll try and finish the year with a
podium and then start working towards next year."
NICKY HAYDEN, Ducati Marlboro Team (13th in the championship on 93
points)
"I love Valencia and for obvious reasons it is a place that holds
very special memories for me but I don't just like it because it is
where I won the title in 2006 -- I actually just like the circuit
itself. I guess it will be my first 'Ducati anniversary' and it
will be interesting to see how far we have come since that first test a
year ago. I can't wait to get there -- it is a great Grand Prix
with a special, welcoming and party atmosphere. Hopefully I can have a
good race and enjoy myself. If I can manage a good result there's a
chance we can finish the season in the top ten, with ninth place just
twelve points away. I won't be easy but we'll see what we can
do."
LIVIO SUPPO, MotoGP Project Director
"Valencia has always been a good place for our team and I hope it is
again this year. Casey and Nicky both go well here and my dream would be
to see them on the podium together in what would be a wonderful way to
finish 2009. They deserve it, as does everybody at Ducati Corse.
We've had some good moments and some difficult ones over the course
of this season but in both cases we have just continued to do our job,
giving our maximum at all times and I think that the results in the last
two races are the proof that our motto of "never give up" always
pays off."
THE TRACK
The Valencia circuit, named after Spanish rider Ricardo Tormo, has been a
fixture on the World Championship calendar since 2002, having been used
for the first time in 1999. Measuring 4.005km, it is an unusual circuit,
built within a stadium style complex that makes it possible to see
virtually any part of the circuit from any seat in the house. Whilst on
the one hand this makes it a great venue for the fans, the track layout
is constantly forced back on itself, making for a series of tight corners
separated by short straights that require plenty of low revs, short gear
ratios and provide little opportunity to fully open the throttle. In
fact, the short back straight and slightly longer front straight are the
only two high-speed points on the circuit. Unlike most circuits, it also
runs anti-clockwise.
-credit: ducati
