MotoGP news

Moto GP heads to Malaysia

MotoGP takes in two continents in as many weeks as the 2007 season draws to a close, moving from Australasia to Asia for the Polini Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix on October 21st. The penultimate round of the year, which takes place at the Sepang Circuit close to Kuala Lumpur, sees the riders and teams preparing for a final push for pride, points and positions in the MotoGP World Championship. 

With the individual, team and constructors title already in the bag for Casey Stoner and Ducati, the main interest in the MotoGP class lies in whether the Australian can add to his win tally, and to whom will take second place in the premier class. Valentino Rossi currently holds a 29 point advantage over Dani Pedrosa with 50 still up for grabs, heading to a track where both riders were on the podium last season. 

Rossi was the victor of the 2006 race, and he has only finished lower than second at Sepang on one occasion in his MotoGP career. He won the race at Malaysia in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2006, and another triumph would ensure that he at least earned some consolation for his efforts this year. 

Behind Rossi and Pedrosa, a battle between team-mates rages for fourth in the championship. Suzuki's John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen have been virtually inseparable over the course of the season, and are split by only five points in their battle to be the top finisher in their internal duel. A dip in form from both riders has seen Marco Melandri and Loris Capirossi get back amongst the contenders for fourth, and the quartet are now within just fifteen points of each other. 

The remainder of the top ten consists of Colin Edwards, 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden, and Brazilian veteran Alex Barros. 

On 12pm on Saturday afternoon, an announcement will also be made regarding the recent control tyre proposal made by Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta. The deadline for the decision taken by the Grand Prix Commission consisting of Dorna, IRTA, the MSMA and the FIM will have arrived, and the much rumoured tyre situation for 2008 will become clearer for all involved.

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