The last-ever 125cc World Championship title will be decided this weekend at the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana. Spaniard Nico Terol goes into the final round of the 2011 season with a 20-point advantage over Frenchman Johann Zarco.
Nico Terol heads into this weekend's Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana the firm favourite to clinch the last-ever 125cc World Championship title, as the final edition of the two-stroke category is decided in the last round of the 2011 season.
The Spaniard leads Frenchman Johann Zarco by 20 points at the top of the standings, and knows that a finish of 11th or higher in Valencia will deliver him his first World title. This is the fifth time that the 125cc title will have been settled at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia since the track became the final venue on the calendar back in 2002.
Zarco's impressive ride from 15th on the grid to third in the race in the previous round in Malaysia ensured that, with Terol placing fifth at Sepang, the fight for the crown would go to the bitter end, but it appears the Avant-AirAsia-Ajo rider will now have to settle for runner-up spot behind his Bankia Aspar rival who stepped on the podium in last year's Valencia race.
If the battle for first and second looks almost done and dusted, the scrap for third is extremely close. Sandro Cortese (Intact Racing Team Germany) currently leads rookie Maverick Viñales (Blusens by Paris Hilton Racing) by just two points, and the pair will be steeled for strong displays. Viñales' win at Sepang, his third of his debut year, was Aprilia's 15th of the year in the 125cc class – a new record for most wins in the category by a manufacturer. Viñales will also pick up the Michel Metraux Trophy on Sunday evening having been voted the best performer in the class by his fellow riders.
Héctor Faubel (Bankia Aspar) will aim for a strong sign off to the season in his home race, which he has twice won before in the 125cc class, and Jonas Folger (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport) still holds a slim chance of taking the Spaniard's top-five spot in the overall classification with a strong result.
Efrén Vázquez (Avant-AirAsia-Ajo) and Luis Salom (RW Racing GP) are both assured of top-ten finishes this season, whilst Alberto Moncayo (Andalucia Banca Civica) and Danny Kent (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport) will contest the final spot within the top ten.
Manuel Tatasciore (Phonica Racing) continues in the place of the injured Simone Grotzkyj, and there will be five wildcard riders on track this weekend. Danish youngster Emil Meyer Petersen (Nordgren Racing), Spaniards Daniel Ruiz (Larresport) and Juan F Guevara (Team Murcia Pramac), Brit John McPhee (Racing Steps Foundation KRP) and German Kevin Hanus (Team Hanusch) will all gain valuable World Championship experience.
source: motogp official
