Hopkins: It'll be emotional.

The Anglo-American first rode a GSV-R back in 2003, but is 'going green' next season, after signing for Kawasaki.

The 24-year-old admits it'll be an emotional weekend, which he hopes to end on a high; but Hopper also needs to keep his concentration - he is currently just one point behind Honda Gresini's Marco Melandri in the fight for fourth in the world championship, with team-mate Chris Vermeulen only four points further back in sixth.

"This is going to be an emotional weekend for me, but I won't let that distract me from what I've got to do," insisted Hopper, who has taken his first three MotoGP podiums this season. "I want to finish as high as I can in the championship and be the number one Suzuki rider for this year. I want to go out on a real high and give my crew and Suzuki a big thank-you for everything they have done for me. Valencia is a special place with an amazing atmosphere and I would love to be the one who sets off the fireworks at the end of the race!"

Le Mans winner Vermeulen will be equally determined to overturn Hopkins' slim points lead - allowing Suzuki to boast that it is keeping its highest placed 2007 rider - but says he also has one eye on next season, testing for which will start almost as soon as the 2007 season ends on Sunday.

"There is still plenty to do this season and it is important for me, the team and Suzuki to finish as well as we possibly can at Valencia," said the Australian. "I had a bit of bad luck in the race last year and ran off, when I felt I was going quite well. We got some testing after the race and it is a track I really enjoy so I am looking forward to going back there. Although this is the last race of 2007, it is also a step on the road to what we can achieve next year and we must work as hard as we can here and not just wait for the testing to start."

Vermeulen will be joined by Loris Capirossi next season.