News

Max Biaggi has always scored points in Valencia except for race 1 last year when he suffered from his fall in Phillip Island. His best result here is his second place in race 2 in 2006. In the 500/MotoGP championship he always scored points in seven races, and also in this case his best result was a second place behind Rossi in the 2004 edition. Biaggi scored pole in MotoGP in 2001 and 2002;

Carlos Checa was fifth and third on his Superbike debut at this track last year and in the 500/MotoGP championship he ran nine races in Valencia, scoring a best result of fourth in the 2001 and 2005 editions;

Troy Corser has won five times at Valencia (2000 race 1, a double in 2001 and 2005) and finished second twice. Troy has scored four pole positions (2000, 2001, 2005 and 2006). Corser at Valencia is able to clinch an all-time record, the one related to fastest laps scored on the same track. At the moment this record belongs to Carl Fogarty and Aaron Slight who set eight fastest laps respectively at Assen and Phillip Island. Corser at Valencia has scored seven fastest laps, the last one in race 2, 2006. Corser has scored points at Valencia in every race since race 2, 2004;

Out of six races run at Valencia, the best result for Michel Fabrizio is a seventh in race 1, 2007. He was more successful in Supersport, where he scored a fourth in 2005;

Noriyuki Haga won race 2 in 2000 and was second behind Bayliss in both 2002 races; he was also second in race 1 in 2007, behind Xaus. In 2008 he was back on the top spot of the podium in race 2. For him also two third places, one in race 1, 2000 and the other in race 2, 2007;

John Hopkins in his MotoGP career always scored points in seven races run at Valencia. The American however counts only one top-10 finish: the third place in the 2007 edition behind Pedrosa and Stoner;

After his third place in his first race at Valencia in 2005, Yukio Kagayama has had some trouble on the Spanish track: both in 2007 and 2008 he was recovering from physical problems that hampered his performances. Last year after a fall in race 1 he had to turn to his spare bike, with which he was able to score a sixth place;

Regis Laconi seems to stick to eighth, a place he obtained four times in his last six appearances. The Frenchman posted four retirements in Valencia and in 2005 he wasn't able to start due to an accident in the warm-up with Bernat Martinez. His best result is a fourth in his debut here in 2001. Regis scored pole in the 2004 edition;

After four retirements in his first races here, Karl Muggeridge managed to see the chequered flag for the first time last year in race 1 with a sixth place. Curiously in his five races run in the Supersport championship he wasn't able to do any better than sixth (2001 and 2003) even if he was able to start from pole in 2004;

Valencia is a jinxed track for Max Neukirchner: last year he was in sight of his maiden win when he was taken out of the race by Carlos Checa at the last corner and was forced to abandon the weekend. For the German the best result is a tenth in race 2, 2007, out of seven races run;

In the Superbike championship, Broc Parkes scored points in race 2 in 2001 (13th) and race 1 in 2002 (15th), then he went to Supersports, where he scored points in four races out of five, scoring as best result a fourth in 2006 and 2008;

Three 14th places are the best result here by Jakub Smrz;

Makoto Tamada always obtained points in all his MotoGP races run in Valencia from 2003 to 2007, scoring as best result a fifth in 2004. He was in the points also in race 1 in 2008 (ninth) before retiring in race 2;

Ruben Xaus won race 1 in 2007 and finished on the podium in both 2003 races. For him four retirements out of twelve starts.

OTHER NOTES ABOUT THE VALENCIA RACES

Ducati have won ten of the eighteen races run at the Spanish track. The Italian team was unbeaten from race 1, 2002 to race 2, 2004;

In 2000 and 2001 Aprilia was able to win three times out of four races with Troy Corser, scoring pole in both events;

In the last four years, four manufacturers were able to win in Valencia: Ducati (4 wins), Suzuki (2), Honda (1) and Yamaha (1);

Only three manufacturers were able to score pole in Valencia: Aprilia (2000 and 2001), Ducati (2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007) and Suzuki (2005, 2006 and 2008).

MILESTONES IN SPAIN

1991: 25th fastest lap for Ducati, recorded by Doug Polen (Jarama);

1992: (in Albacete) first win for Aaron Slight. First and only fastest lap and podium place for Daniel Amatriain; 25th podium for Fabrizio Pirovano;

1993: (in Albacete) 100th presence in race for Fred Merkel. First pole position for Aaron Slight;

1995: 100th fastest lap for Ducati by Pierfrancesco Chili (Albacete);

1996: 10th win for Troy Corser (Albacete);

1998: first pole for Noriyuki Haga (Albacete), the tenth for Yamaha;

1999: (Albacete) 100th race start for Pierfrancesco Chili and Andreas Meklau;

2000: 25th pole for Troy Corser;

2001: 10th podium for Troy Bayliss;

2002: 10th win and 25th podium for Troy Bayliss; 150th presence in race for Colin Edwards;

2003: first front row presence for James Toseland;

2004: first fastest lap for Garry McCoy, first podium for Steve Martin;

2005: 100th race start for Chris Walker;

2006: 25th win and 50th podium place for Troy Bayliss. 100th podium place for Troy Corser;

2007: tenth win for Ruben Xaus, 150th race start for James Toseland;

2008: first pole for Max Neukirchner, the first for a German rider, first fastest lap for Carlos Checa.

SUPERSPORT FLASH DATA

Honda have won the last four editions of the Supersport race, the last one, last year, being the maiden win for Joan Lascorz. Lascorz was the second Spanish rider to win at Valencia after Pere Riba (2001).

Only Sebastien Charpentier was able to win more than one Supersport race at Valencia (2005 and 2006).

SUPERSTOCK 1000 FLASH DATA

Daniel Oliver was the only Spanish rider able to win a Superstock 1000 Valencia on his home track (in 2000). The last two editions were won by two Australians: Mark Aitchison and Brendan Roberts.

SUPERSTOCK 600 FLASH DATA

French riders have won three of the four races run in Valencia: Yoann Tiberio (2005), Maxime Berger (2007) and Loris Baz (2008);

In the last two editions Yamaha have scored pole, win and fastest lap.