Jorge Lorenzo to miss season finale at Valencia

Yamaha Factory Racing rider Jorge Lorenzo will not participate in this weekend’s season finale at Valencia. The Mallorcan is still recovering from finger surgery following a crash in warm up in Australia

Lorenzo continues to make good progress in recovery following plastic surgery to repair damage to the ring finger of his left hand sustained in Phillip Island three weeks ago. The Mallorcan’s injuries require further recovery time to allow him to ride at a competitive level.

Japanese Yamaha test rider and All Japan Superbike competitor Katsuyuki Nakasuga will make his second appearance in the MotoGP premier class on behalf of 2010 World Champion Lorenzo.

Yamaha Factory Racing’s rider line up for the 1000cc test next week will be confirmed on Monday 7th November.

Bautista targeting strong season finale

The Rizla Suzuki rider wants to convert his recent promising form into a good result in the final race of 2011.

Álvaro Bautista will aim to end the 2011 season on a positive note after a difficult past ten days for all those involved in MotoGP.

The Spanish rider is approaching his home race at Valencia with the intention of turning his recent good form into a rewarding result, and will also strive to put on a display to honour the memory of the late Marco Simoncelli.

“I am really looking forward to going to the Valencia race. It has been a tough time for all of us since Sepang, but I am ready for the last race and the fact that it is in my home country always makes it a special occasion,” said Bautista.

“I have done well in the last few races, and my Suzuki has felt great, but the results have not arrived so we need to put that right. My target for the weekend is to fight to the maximum, finish the race with a good result and dedicate it to Marco. We had so many huge battles together – I will use these memories positively in Valencia.”

Final GP for Capirossi in Valencia

After a lengthy and successful career which has spanned 22 years in the World Championship, the Italian rider will retire following this weekend’s Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana.

Loris Capirossi is set to make his 328th and final Grand Prix start on Sunday at Valencia, as the Italian rider brings the curtain down on an illustrious career which has lasted 22 seasons in the World Championship.

Along with the rest of the MotoGP paddock the Pramac Racing rider will be determined to mark the last race of the 2011 campaign and his career with a fitting tribute to Marco Simoncelli.

“It will be difficult to be in the paddock without Marco, as everyone will miss him. No one will feel like going on the track, but we have to do it for him and for all fans of motorcycle racing,” said Capirossi.

“It will be my final race, and I still don’t know what will be going through my head, but I want to do it as well as possible.”

Capirossi’s team-mate Randy de Puniet added his respectful sentiment: “I share Capirex’s thoughts; it will be really difficult to race at Valencia without Marco, but part of our job is to continue. I’ll try my best to finish off the season with a good result.”