Both riders finished on the podium in Misano with Vermeulen prising open a four point championship lead over Hopkins after finishing second. Hopkins leaves for Kawasaki at the end of the season to partner Australian
Anthony West and how he would love to say goodbye with his maiden
MotoGP victory.
Italian
Marco Melandri continues to defy medical logic by finishing fourth in Misano after a 150 mph crash the previous day. He joins Stoner at Ducati next season but like Hopkins, would like to say thank-you to his existing Gresini Honda team with a victory.
His team-mate Spaniard
Toni Elias also knows about crashing and injuries. He returned to the fray in the Czech Republic less than two months after breaking his left leg in a practice crash at Assen in Holland. Nobody will forget his dramatic maiden MotoGP victory last season and in Misano he showed a glimpse of the style and determination that brought that victory.
Veteran Alex Barros returns to the scene of one of his greatest triumphs where only two years ago he inflicted a rare defeat on the all-conquering Rossi who was chasing his fifth consecutive win in Estoril. The Brazilian returns riding the Pramac D’Antin Ducati and hoping to be part of the 2008 team who should announce their line–up at the weekend.
Nicky Hayden could be finally saying goodbye to his World title after a desperately disappointing season and he’s already planning next year and some better luck. He also got caught by De Puniet’s Kawasaki in Misano but is putting some podium finishing performances together which he could easily repeat on Sunday.
Twenty year-old Spaniard
Jorge Lorenzo can’t retain his 250cc title on Sunday despite also winning eight grands prix this season. The Fortuna Aprilia rider holds a 54 point lead over the Aprilia of Alex De Angelis after securing that eighth win at Misano.
