Final GP for Capirossi in Valencia

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.”