Yamaha sets up for season showdown in Spain
Friday 07 November: Movistar Yamaha MotoGP returns to Spain to wrap up the 2014 MotoGP season this weekend at the Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana.
With just 12 points separating Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo in
their battle for second in the championship, the Comunitat Valenciana
Ricardo Tormo Circuit sets the scene for an intense battle on Sunday.
However, the teammates won’t only be battling for their own glory: also
the Team Title is still up for grabs for Movistar Yamaha MotoGP.
After three successful weekends overseas Valentino Rossi arrives in
Spain with the intention to defend his second place in the championship
by claiming another podium finish. The very experienced nine-time world
champion has taken two premier class wins at Valencia in 2003 and 2004
and claimed multiple other podiums there, with a second place in 2002
and 2009 and third places in 2005, 2008 and 2010.
Having won a phenomenal race at the Valencia track last year,
teammate Lorenzo arrives in his home country with confidence. He looks
forward to the support of the passionate Spanish crowd as he aims to
finish the season with another thrilling battle for victory. So far
Lorenzo has claimed two premier class victories at this circuit in 2010
and 2013 and a third place podium position in 2009.
The final showdown at the Ricardo Tormo circuit is always enjoyable
for the riders, thanks to its unique atmosphere. Valencia became the
traditional closing stage of the MotoGP calendar in 2002 and is known to
draw record crowds. Its layout ensures all parts of the circuit can be
seen from every stand, so fans won’t miss any of the final racing
action. Completed in 1999, the 4.005 m MotoGP track is run
anti-clockwise, with five right and eight left hand corners and a 650
meters straight.
Valentino Rossi - Championship 2nd / 275 points
"It won’t be an
easy race! I’m second in the championship and being 12 points ahead is
good, but this gap is not sufficient enough to play a passive role this
weekend. Jorge is in a good moment. During the second part of the season
Jorge was very fast and he wants to win in Spain and try to take the
second place from me. We must focus on finishing the season with a
victory just like we aim to do at all races! My team and I will do our
best, as usual. Valencia isn’t one of my favorite tracks, but that
doesn’t bother me. In this season we were strong also in the tracks that
aren’t favorable to me. The three races in a row went well, I won
another race, and for this reason I think that we can do a good race in
Valencia! I am confident!”
Jorge Lorenzo - Championship 3rd / 263 points
"Finally
we face the last race of the championship and it’s always exciting to
come back to Spain to close the season. We have already saved third
position in the championship after the race in Sepang and I hope to
fight for the win again in Valencia. I think this is a better track for
our Yamaha M1 than Sepang. I won here last year and hopefully we get to
try this again this year. The second position of the championship is
still a possibility, but I need to get the victory and wait to see what
Valentino’s result will be like. I would like to close the championship
in a better way than I started it, especially in front of the big crowd
that always visits us in Valencia!”
Massimo Meregalli - Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team Director
"We
are now at the end of the season and head to Valencia for the final
race. Not only will second and third place in the championship be
decided between Vale and Jorge, but we’re also in with a shot to claim
the Team Title. We want to get the best results possible and start the
weekend off strongly. During the races overseas Valentino has proven to
be in great shape. Especially his win at Philip Island was a stunning
performance that showed the high level of his riding, but both our
riders have a great pace. Jorge’s win at Motegi was magnificent and he’s
been consistently fast in every session. The team and riders did a
great job this season and we are motivated to work hard this weekend to
give it one final push. It will be important that we give Valentino and
Jorge the possibility to compete at the front from the beginning, so we
can close the season in the best way.”