It is almost inevitable that Valentino Rossi will win his first 800cc MotoGp Championship this weekend in Motegi, Japan. In Friday practice, Rossi was 3rd fastest, behind Stoner and Pedrosa (who looked lightning fast in the dry). All Rossi needs to do is finish on the podium and he will claim his 6th premier class title.

What a difference a year makes. At 2007 in Motegi, it was 21 year old Casey Stoner who claimed glory, finishing 6th place to win the title. The race started under wet conditions, but halfway thru it dried and most riders came in to switch to slicks. Rossi's Michelin wets weren't working well, and after pitting to change to full slicks, a brake problem popped up. The Doctor finished a dismal 13th place. Master of Motegi Loris Capirossi won the race, sealing a perfect, historic day for Marlboro Ducati, who must have thought it very sweet indeed to capture their first Championship on Japanese soil.

A year later, and Rossi's switch to Bridgestone tires looks like a masterstroke. The switch helped close the gap to Stoner, as did the increased speed of the 08 Yamaha M1. Of course, Stoner's costly late season crashes helped, but the fact that Valentino could consistently pressure Stoner was surely a factor in these mistakes. The Bridgestones played a huge role in Vale's ability to do that.

Meanwhile, travel back to Motegi 2007, to relive Stoner and Ducati's first MotoGP Championship, via this Eurosport clip, which includes a huge Pedrosa crash for all you Indy Dani fans out there: