Please click on the above image to view it larger.

Your teammate is the first one you want to beat. But that’s especially true when someone else has already wrapped up the title, and 2nd is now the best you can do for the season.

Valentino Rossi heads to the final race of the season at Valencia with a 12 point lead over long time rival Jorge Lorenzo.

With two wins among his 12 podiums in 2014, Rossi has one more podium than Lorenzo, though the Spaniard also has two victories. Each rider also has a single Retirement in 2014, Rossi at Aragon and Lorenzo at Losail.

As Marc Marquez tries to win his thirteenth race in a single season, and set yet another record in the process, Rossi and Lorenzo will be battling for second place for the 2014 season with that extra determination that comes only from having your teammate standing in your way.

Photograph: ©2014 by Scott Jones / PHOTO.GP – All Rights Reserved

[mgallery keyword=”Team Movistar Yamaha”]

Camera Info: Nikon D4 with Nikon 500mm f/4.0