But the Italian's lead is a slender one and Hayden has proved this year that he also has race-winning capability with his Laguna Seca triumph. Mathematically Colin Edwards (Yamaha), fourth with 171 points, is still in the chase. But it's the Melandri/Hayden fight that will decide the matter on Sunday.

For some riders, like Sete Gibernau (Team Movistar Honda RC211V) and Alex Barros (Camel Honda RC211V), the season is all but over. Gibernau has failed to win a single race this season when he won four in 2004. Barros, one of the few men to win early in 2005, cannot now seem to find the recipe for success. Max Biaggi (Repsol Honda RC211V) is struggling too.

Troy Bayliss (Camel Honda RC211V) has lost his battle to be fit for this final race of the season. A possible replacement rider is Ryuichi Kiyonari. 'Kiyo' rode an RC211V for part of the 2003 MotoGP season for the Fausto Gresini run MotoGP team and finished 14th here at Valencia that year. After two hard-riding years in the British Superbike series, Kiyo could taste MotoGP action again.

Makoto Tamada (Konica Minolta Honda RC211V) who holds the pole position lap record here at 1m 32.815 seconds is eager to end his season with at least another podium to add to his third-place at the Japanese Grand Prix this year.

Last year Rossi won, with Biaggi second and Bayliss third and with a heavy winter test schedule to come riders need to carry confidence into the looming weeks of hard work, and into next year - the old adage that you're only as good as your last race always holds true.

The 4.005km Ricardo Tormo track was designed to fit in the 'bowl' of a natural amphitheatre, so that the huge crowds (120,000 plus) can track the progress of riders almost all the way around a full lap. With 14 turns (five rights and nine lefts) packed into this tight space, and only a short 876m straight, it's ideal for spectators - but hard work for riders.

There is no time to rest here. With many turns in quick succession and only the short chute on which to 'relax', the 'Cheste' track is punishing. Despite a slow average lap time at around a 150km/h average speed (the second slowest on the calendar next to Estoril) the bikes are on the edge of their tyres for long periods - precisely where riders need to apply maximum concentration.

The two fast turns at either end of the main straight are hard on rubber too, so set-up means making the most of available grip and having a machine that turns easily without too much physical effort from the pilot. Progressive acceleration out of those turns is vital too.

Marco Melandri:
After a year of experience on the Honda RC211V, with five podiums and a win, second place in the World Championship is a tangible goal. I now believe I can do it. It would be a dream come true at the end of a great season, the best possible way to thank Fausto Gresini who believed in me, for the team who followed me in everything, and for Honda and Michelin.

Max Biaggi:
The important thing is to look forward and to try to be positive. Valencia should be good for this, not just because I have a great memory of last year, when I got a podium finish after having fought for the victory. I really like this track, although it's quite narrow and not so fast. I just want to get a good result for my team.

Nicky Hayden:
Valencia is a track I've gone well at in the past, but have never finished the race in the last two years. Both times I've got caught up in it being the last race of the year, I've just let it all hang out and unfortunately crashed. So I guess this year will be no different other than we want to finish. Marco pulled some big points last week but we won't quit till the flag on Sunday.

Sete Gibernau:
To race the last round of the season in Spain is an extra motivation. I would like to give a gift to all those fans who follow my races and in particular to my fan club who always stood by me, even during this particularly difficult year. A gift to my team as well, who always did a fantastic job and who I would like to thank with a great finale.

Alex Barros:
I still have great belief in my ability and I go to every race believing I can win. I still remember the last race of the season here in 2002 when I had a fantastic battle with Valentino and won the race. I still have the same feeling and the same hunger to go out and win and we've been trying to do this all season but without sustained success. I like the layout of the track at Valencia and it is great to race in such a real festival atmosphere.

Makoto Tamada
I would like to fight with the best here. It would be a way to redeem a season without many successes and with a rash of injuries. The one I suffered at the beginning of the season in Portugal cost me three races, and the long time needed to fully recover has ruined my season. This is my last chance for glory here, I will give it everything.

Ricardo Tormo track details