The event will have extra significance for de Puniet, who leaves Kawasaki after two seasons to join Honda LCR in 2008. The 26-year-old is hoping to end his ZX-RR career with a second ever podium, but knows it'll take a mistake free ride. Last year, de Puniet crashed out on lap five.
"Valencia is a small track but, even though I usually prefer the faster circuits, I'm quite fond of it. When I rode in 250s, I won there and also got a third, so the place has been good to me! It's difficult to maintain a strong, fast level there so it's imperative to maintain maximum concentration. If you can ride without any mistakes, you can do well," he confirmed. "I'm feeling good after the last three races, which gave me two top six finishes and a podium, so I'm hoping I can get a good result in Spain, especially as it's the last race of the season and my last race for Kawasaki. I've been with them for two years and have many good memories and I'll like to get another podium before I leave. The bike's working so well now, but we'll have to see what happens at the weekend."
Team-mate
Anthony West is staying 'green' for next season, when he will be joined by
John Hopkins, and is out to avenge an embarrassing error last time out at Sepang. The Australian qualified an excellent fifth for the Malaysian Grand Prix, but then positioned his bike incorrectly on the grid and received a ride-through penalty.
"The circuit itself is pretty tight, and it's hard to really open bigger bikes up there, but it's a great challenge," said Ant. "Some sections involve a lot of hard acceleration and braking, with lots of tight hairpins that close back up on themselves. But it's a nice track to ride, you can see the whole of it from the pits: it's a bit like a go-kart track! Anyway, I hope to do well there, qualify as well as I did at Sepang but not make any stupid mistakes this time. I want to get a good result to round off the season, if I can."
