Final blog of the motorbike season
|12:00 UK time, Friday, 2 November 2007
So after 18 rounds (and a lot of time spent hanging around in airports) the MotoGP season finally draws to a close. Casey Stoner claimed the title back in Motegi and Valentino Rossi looks to have second place tied up. The tyre issue that’s dominated the season now looks to be resolved – no control tyre for MotoGP in 2008 but Rossi looks set to be the only Yamaha on Bridgestone’s and it could prove to be the Italian’s biggest challenge so far.
The BBC team are in reflective mood this weekend as the programme looks back over the year, a season in which Ducati and Stoner stunned the paddock with an awesome display of superiority that left everyone else playing catch-up. Matt Roberts has caught up with the new World Champion whilst Suzi gives Valentino a chance to air his frustrations after a difficult season.
The new World Superbike Champion James Toseland will also be joining us on Sunday. A nail-biting final race saw James take the title by just two points from Noriyuki Haga. He’s moving up to MotoGP next season with Tech 3 Yamaha as team-mate to Colin Edwards and will be with Suzi on the grid to chat about his hopes in the premier class. And if that’s not enough James is also be appearing on Inside Sport this Monday when he takes to the mountain roads of the Isle of Man with Matt Pinsent.
In the other classes Jorge Lorenzo has been crowned the 250cc champion for the second year in succession and will head to MotoGP next season as Rossi’s new team-mate. However, the 125cc title has gone down to the wire and will be decided here in Valencia. Don’t forget we have full coverage of these races from 0945 GMT on Sunday on BBCi - just press your red button. Briton’s Bradley Smith has had a mixed season in 125cc this year taking his first podium spot along the way. He’s secured a fantastic ride for 2008 and will be talking to Suzi after the MotoGP race.
But as one season draws to a close so another starts and the work for 2008 begins in earnest on Monday when Steve Parrish gets to test some of this year’s bikes. First up it’s the Honda and then on Tuesday he’ll ride Casey’s championship winning Ducati. Steve’s already had the chance to ride the Suzuki and Kawasaki this year, the only other person apart from the official riders so far, and it will be interesting to see how they compare. We’ll bring you the lowdown in our first programme from Qatar in 2008.
So that’s it for now. Any feedback on what you loved or hated this year or things you’d like us to do in 2008 then let us know. I’m off on my own adventure for the next few months whilst I take some maternity leave but I’ll be back in time to do it all again in just over four months – the new season kicks off on 9 March, we’ll see you then.
