Valencia MotoGP Qualifying, BBC Interactive, Saturday - 1255 Race, Sunday, BBC Two - 1230

Only Italian superstar Rossi or American rider Hayden can win the title at the Ricardo Tomo circuit.

The 27-year-old Rossi goes into the final race with an eight-point lead and has another championship in his sights.

Hayden, 25, can win the title if he wins the race outright and Rossi finishes no higher than third.

Rossi looked to be out of this year's championship early in the season but his hopes of winning a sixth title were lifted after Hayden suffered a cruel twist of fate.

Hayden could have won the title at the Portuguese GP a fortnight ago but Honda team mate Dani Pedrosa sent him skidding into the gravel after they ran into each other.

I've got nothing to lose, I have to win and wait for Rossi to have a bad weekend Nicky Hayden

Hayden could only look on in horror as Rossi finished second and took the lead in the championship for the first time this season.

Rossi said: "Now I have only one chance, it's big pressure for everyone but it's great for the show.

"Valencia isn't one of my best tracks and we also know that Hayden is really strong here, so it's not going to be easy."

In some ways, the Estoril incident has taken the pressure off Hayden, who led Rossi by a massive 51 points after his victory at Laguna Seca in July.

"I've got nothing to lose, I have to win and wait for Rossi to have a bad weekend," said Hayden.

"I know it's a small possibility but we're not going to give up until the chequered flag."

The MotoGP championship will not be the only title decided in Valencia this weekend - Spain's Jorge Lorenzo and Italy's Andrea Dovizioso will battle it out for the 250cc crown with the Spaniard enjoying a 13-point advantage in the standings.