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Once again a full season of motorcycle racing has flashed by in a glimpse as the Gran Premio de la Comunidad Valenciana brings the curtain down on the 2009 season this weekend.

After back-to-back races on the other side of the planet the MotoGP paddock returns to Europe and, as it has done every season since 2002, to the Cheste circuit for the grand finale.

With the title and the runner-up spot already guaranteed in the 125cc class, the attention will turn to an all-Spanish battle for third and fourth place overall.

Whilst Sergio Gadea is involved in that battle, for the other two Bancaja Aspar Team riders this weekend is purely about racing for the joy of winning and also celebrating their fantastic one-two in the championship. Newly-crowned World Champion Julián Simón and Bradley Smith have also been one-two on the podium in the last two rounds and they will bring their good-natured personal duel to Valencia with Simon looking to stay on top and celebrate a victory on home soil after two thwarted attempts already this year.

“It is our home race and the most special event of the season for our team”, said Simon. “To arrive here as world Champions and with the job done for the season means we can go into the weekend feeling calm and confident but also very highly motivated to try and win my last race in the 125 class and finish off a wonderful 2009 in style. We'll work hard to get the bike set up from Friday and give ourselves the best possible shot at winning the race on Sunday. We have done a lot of laps of Cheste in testing and we know what setting works well, so really it's just a case of adapting it to the conditions. We have a good chance of victory here and I'll give it everything I have because the fans deserve it. I can think of no better way to finish the season than with victory at Valencia. ”

Smith has been on the podium at every race since Indianapolis and the Brit is desperate to gain revenge after defeat to his team-mate on the final lap at both Phillip Island and Sepang.

“It is really nice to have wrapped up second place in the championship because now I don't have anything on my mind in Valencia – I just have to focus on going out there and doing my best”, he said. “We have put two great races together in Australia and Malaysia, although finishing second in both of them was a disappointment for me so we are going to try and win the last one any way we can. I know the circuit well from my time in the CEV so it will be important to try and use that to our advantage. I'm very keen to score a good result for all the local sponsors and for my family and friends who will be coming down. It will be a tough weekend because the Spanish riders are always fast at their home circuits, but I won't be backing down. I'm very confident in myself because the feeling with the bike is fabulous at the moment and we're putting on a very strong finish to the season.”

© CAPSIS International