Valencia - MotoGP Sunday Guide

Grid facts ahead of the Grand Premio Parts Europe de la Communitat Valenciana premier class race.
MotoGP Group in action

- Casey Stoner is starting from pole for the ninth time this year, which equals the record number of poles in a season during the four-stroke MotoGP era achieved by Rossi in 2003 when riding for Honda. Stoner´s one GP victory at Valencia was in the 125cc class in 2003 riding a KTM, it was also his first ever Grand Prix win.

- If Dani Pedrosa finishes on the podium in Valencia he will surpass his previous best points´ total in the MotoGP class of 242 points which he achieved last year. If Pedrosa wins the race he will have taken victory in all three MotoGP races held in Spain in 2008.

- Nicky Hayden is making his 99th and last Grand Prix start riding for the Repsol Honda Team.

- Colin Edwards will be starting from his best grid position since he was the third fastest qualifier in Germany.

- James Toseland´s current points total is the highest achieved by a British rider in the premier-class since Niall Mackenzie finished the 1993 season with 103 points riding a ROC Yamaha.

- Randy de Puniet won the 250cc race at Valencia in 2003 riding an Aprilia.

- Jorge Lorenzo has not qualified on the front row for the first time since he was seventeenth on the grid at the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic.

- Loris Capirossi has twice finished on the podium at Valencia when riding for Ducati; he took third place in 2003 and second in 2006.

- Andrea Dovizioso´s only podium finish at Valencia was in 2004 when he finished second in the 125cc race.

- Valentino Rossi is making his 150th start in the premier-class of Grand Prix racing. By finishing fifth or better Rossi will set a new record for number of points scored during a season, a record he currently holds jointly with Casey Stoner. Valencia is the only circuit on this year´s calendar where Rossi has not had a win since 2004.

- Yamaha will set a new record points total in the constructors´ championship if any of their riders finish in the top six. The current record is 395 points by Honda in 2003.

- Valencia will see the 118th MotoGP race since the advent of the four-stroke formula at the start of 2002. Only Shinya Nakano and Valentino Rossi, have competed in every one of these races.