Motor Sport / Chris Ryan / 02 October 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now

After a break of almost a month, MotoGP returns for the last phase of the current season with four races left to decide the destination of the championship, writes Chris Ryan.

This weekend sees the riders in Estoril, Portugal for the fourteenth round of this season's championship.

After his win in front of his home fans at Misano last time out, Valentino Rossi leads the championship by thirty points from his team mate Jorge Lorenzo.

The Italian is chasing an astonishing ninth world title and has a superb record at Estoril, securing a podium finish in each of his nine races, including five wins. The Italian is looking forward to the race, and to recommencing his rivalry with Australian rider Casey Stoner who returns from injury.

"We're in the final stage of the championship and we have a strong position but, as we've seen throughout this season, anything can happen and we know that the championship is far from over yet. The next three races are all good tracks for us and my team and I will aim to get as many points as possible each time and then we will see where we are in Valencia! Last year we struggled a little in Estoril but it's been a great track for me in the past, especially with Yamaha, and it's a place that usually produces good, close racing so I hope that's the case again this year. I also hope to see Casey back in good shape and recovered because the championship misses him."

Stoner has missed the last three races after complaining of exhaustion and while the tests were inconclusive, the results showed he was suffering from a lack of sodium and low blood pressure. "The doctors have put me on some salt tablets to increase my sodium levels but we will have to see if it helps. We will understand more during the weekend," Stoner said. "Of course it's going to be difficult. At first we won't know if it will work because I've been off the bike so long that in any case my muscles will take some time to get race fit again."

Rossi's only real challenger for this season's title, Jorge Lorenzo, will have no shortage of support in Estoril. Lorenzo returns to the track where he took his maiden MotoGP victory last season and the Spaniard will enjoy the sight of the 'Tribuna G' section of the circuit where his fans are planning to display giant flags and banners from Friday to Sunday. His supporters will also attend in fancy dress as Spartan warriors as they cheer him towards victory.

To keep any real hope of the title alive, Lorenzo needs to emulate the results from Estoril last year where he won the race and Rossi could only finish third. With this season's last race at Lorenzo's home circuit, he needs to stay in touch with Rossi over the next three rounds in order that one mighty push in front of his fanatical home supporters might bring him a maiden title.