Valentino Rossi goes into the final grand prix of the season at Valencia this weekend with a third successive MotoGP title in the bag and another record in his sights.

The biggest question at the Spanish circuit on Sunday, however, is whether or not it will be the last time the 24-year-old rides the Honda RCV on which he has dominated the top class of motorcycling for the last two years.

Rossi's contract with Honda is up at the end of the season and he has yet to agree a new one.

Speculation has strongly linked him with a move to Yamaha for a salary thought to be in the region of $10 million a year.

Rossi will be chasing his ninth victory of the season at the Ricardo Tormo track and a finish in the top three would enable him to equal Giacomo Agostini's record of 22 consecutive podium finishes set in the late 1960s.

The slow Valencia track, with its 14 corners and one short straight, is the only grand prix circuit currently in use where the young Italian has never topped the podium.

"It's not a favorite of mine and I've never won there, but the important thing is to try to end the season on a high note," said Rossi.

Spain's Sete Gibernau will be hoping to delight the estimated 120,000 crowd by rounding off his sensational season with a victory at his home race.

The 30-year-old won at Valencia in 2001, his first and only race win before the four successes for Honda this year which have won him second place in the championship ahead of Italy's Max Biaggi.

"I like the track," Gibernau said. "Although for many riders it's not that special. But I'm riding at home so it's special.

Italian Marco Melandri, who has undergone surgery on a shoulder injury he picked up at the last grand prix in Australia, will be replaced at Yamaha by veteran Japanese rider Norick Abe.

The destination of the 250cc crown Melandri won last year before moving up to MotoGP is the only one of the three titles in grand prix motorcycling still up for grabs.

Aprilia rider Manuel Poggiali, the 2001 125cc champion from San Marino, will battle it out with Honda's Roberto Rolfo of Italy for the championship, with only seven points separating the pair going into Sunday's race.

Daniel Pedrosa, who wrapped up the 125cc title in Malaysia three weeks ago, will still have a homecoming of sorts despite breaking both his ankles in practice for the Australian Grand Prix.

The 18-year-old Spaniard will travel down from his home near Barcelona on Sunday morning to take a lap of honor around the circuit in an open-topped car.