Generali Grand Prix of the Comunitat Valencia 2012
Posted on Nov 05, 2012 by Nick Harris
Twenty one year old Oxfordshire rider Bradley Smith signs off his two year Moto2 career fighting to hang onto seventh place in the championship.
Smith, who won the 125cc Valencia race a couple of years ago and who joins Crutchlow in MotoGP next year, is just one point in front of his former team-mate Spaniard Tito Rabat. Londoner Gino Rea is also uncertain about his future despite his superb third place in Malaysia on the Federal Oil Gresini machine and will be out to impress at the final round.
Gloucestershire teenager Scott Redding still could finish fourth in the highly competitive Moto2™ World Championship if results went his way on Sunday. He trails fourth placed Tom Luthi by 16 points and would need at least his fifth podium finish of the season on the Marc VDS machine to have any chance.
Nineteen year old Marc Marquez replaces Stoner at Repsol Honda next season and competes in his last Moto2 race on Sunday after clinching the title with a third place in Australia. The 125cc and Moto2 World Champion has already won eight grands prix this season and it should be yet another titanic battle between the Champion and runner-up Pol Espargaro who won his fourth grand prix of the year at Phillip Island. The fight for third place is still to be decided with Andrea Iannone, who joins Ducati in MotoGP next season and former 125cc World Champion Tom Luthi separated by 11 points. Gloucestershire teenager Scott Redding is 16 points behind Luthi in fifth while Bradley Smith holds onto seventh by a single point from Tito Rabat.
SMITH READY FOR THE BIGGEST DAY OF HIS LIFE
Twenty-one year old Bradley Smith prepares for the biggest day of his life when he rides the Monster Tech 3 MotoGP Yamaha for the very first time at Valencia on Tuesday after the final Moto2 Grand Prix of the season.
The three times grand prix winner has signed a two year deal with the team to ride in the MotoGP World Championship where he will join fellow British rider Cal Crutchlow.
The two day test at the Ricardo Tormo circuit is creating massive worldwide interest with nine times World Champion Valentino Rossi returning to Yamaha after two years at Ducati.
His replacement Andrea Dovizioso rides the Ducati for the first time while Moto2 World Champion Marc Marquez has his first taste of MotoGP replacing Casey Stoner on the Repsol Honda. Andrea Iannone also arrives from Moto2 to ride the Pramac Ducati but unfortunately his new team-mate Ben Spies misses the test after his crash in Malaysia.
The day before Wiltshire teenager Danny Kent makes his Moto2 debut when he tests Bradley Smith’s Tech 3 Mistral machine.
Bradley Smith:
“I ve known for over a year about the test but suddenly the day has arrived and I can’t wait. I’ve been given the chance of a lifetime to compete against the best riders in the world in the most competitive series on two wheels. It’s a massive opportunity starting on Tuesday and I can’t wait to start a new chapter in my career.”
VALENCIA FACTS AND FIGURES
The Valencia circuit is named after the former 50cc World Champion who died of Leukemia. The 2.489 miles, situated in the eastern suburbs of the Mediterranean port, staged its first grand prix in 1999 won by the Frenchman Regis Laconi riding the Red Bull Yamaha. The circuit which has staged the last round of the Championship for the last ten year is built in stadium style providing superb viewing for the spectators.
Circuit Length: 4.005 kms
Width: 12 m
Pole Position: Right
Longest Straight: 876m
Left Corners: Nine
Right Corners: Five
Pole Position Record:
Valentino Rossi/Yamaha
1.31.002 (2006)
Lap Record:
Casey Stoner/Ducati
1'32.582 (2008)
TELEVISION TIMES BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT 2
Friday 9 November
1210 – 1500 British Eurosport 2 – Live Practice Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2
Saturday 10 November
1155 – 1510 BBC Red Button & British Eurosport 2 - Live Qualifying Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2
Sunday 11 November
0945 – 1225 BBC Red Button/British Eurosport 2 – Live Moto3 and Moto2 races
1230 – 1400 BBC2 Live MotoGP race