Only Stoner's fellow Australian Mick Doohan has scored more, taking 12 victories during 1997, and - although in only his second season - Stoner has shown Doohan-like dominance on his way to comfortably winning the first ever 800cc title for Ducati.
Last year at Valencia, it was another Australian leading the way for Ducati. Stepping in for the injured Sete Gibernau,
Troy Bayliss took victory from second on the grid, ahead of team-mate
Loris Capirossi. Stoner retired from the race on lap seven, but has previously sampled the top step of the Valencia podium in the 2003 125GP - his first ever world championship win.
Former seven times world champion Rossi has bad memories of the tight and demanding track, having thrown away an eight point lead when he fell during the 2006 title showdown - handing
Nicky Hayden the crown. But the Fiat Yamaha star won at Valencia during 2003 and 2004 - and just a single point in the 30-lap race on Sunday would at least ensure second place in the championship over Spaniard
Dani Pedrosa.
Honda's leading rider has started the last three grands prix from pole position and won three times in Valencia in front of his home fans in both 125 and 250cc races - but never in
MotoGP.
The battle for fourth place is much closer with just 19 points separating
Marco Melandri,
John Hopkins,
Chris Vermeulen and Capirossi. For three of those riders it will be their last ride for their current team. Melandri leaves Honda Gresini to join Stoner at Ducati, while Hopkins leaves Rizla Suzuki to join Kawasaki and is replaced by Capirossi who leaves Ducati.
The changes continue further down the championship standings, with
Randy de Puniet making his last appearance for Kawasaki before joining Honda LCR, while Spaniard
Toni Elias rides the Gresini Honda for the last time before joining Frenchman
Sylvain Guintoli at Pramac d’Antin Ducati. Elias will be replaced by Japanese rider
Shinya Nakano.
