Newly-crowned champion Valentino Rossi has predicted a party atmosphere in Valencia this weekend as the FIM MotoGP World Championship comes to an end for 2009.

Rossi secured his seventh premier-class world title with a third-place finish in Malaysia last time out, and is looking forward to a weekend free of any pressure.

"I am very happy to be going to the final race with the championship won and the pressure off, now we can just enjoy ourselves," said the Fiat Yamaha rider. "It's been a fantastic year and now we just have one more weekend before we start work for 2010."

He added: "Valencia hasn't been a great track for me in the past and I've had some bad times there, but at the moment we're in great shape and our bike is working well everywhere we go, so I hope it will be the same at Valencia.

"It's a great place to finish and the atmosphere is amazing, so we will just do our best and hope for another good race to end a great season."

Rossi's team-mate Jorge Lorenzo needs just one point to secure second spot, while Casey Stoner has been in stunning form aboard his Marlboro Ducati since returning from a mid-season break and won in Malaysia to tighten his grip on third place in the standings.

Stoner said: "Valencia is a circuit I've always liked - it is tight and slow but surprisingly flowing, and I think it's a good circuit for a MotoGP bike.

"Apart from anything it is a great viewing spectacle for the fans, who can follow the bikes around practically the whole circuit.

"My Ducati has always run really well there and I've been on the pace for the past couple of seasons - in testing and in the races - so obviously we're hoping that trend continues, even though we will have to make a few small adjustments to the bike.

"We're finally at the end of the season and already looking forward to the next one, so if we can win this race then great, if not we'll try and finish the year with a podium and then start working towards next year."