After last year's mud bath, the Motocross World Championship returns to Bellpuig in Spain this weekend thankfully expecting more favourable conditions for the sixth round of 2009.

Despite competing in his first full season in the MX1 class, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli's Antonio Cairoli is already pulling away at the front of the championship, winning at least one moto at the last three GPs to sit 25 points clear of Ken de Dycker, now the sole Teka Suzuki rider after a neck injury for last year's Spanish GP winner Steve Ramon.

Spanish MX1 ace Jonathan Barragan will once again carry home hopes this weekend, but the KTM rider has dropped down to third in the championship after a troublesome left shoulder hampered his results in Agueda last weekend.

The local favourite, who has not yet added a home success to his tally of five GP wins, might not yet be fully fit for the hard packed course but he is sure to give his all.

Showing good form in Portugal courtesy of his second podium of the season, LS Motors Honda's Clement Desalle needs another strong result to improve on his seventh place in the championship standings.

Leading the first two laps of his career in Agueda, Desalle had a slight taste of success which should have made the 19-year-old hungry for more.

Yamaha riders Josh Coppins and Tanel Leok are other potential candidates for victory at Bellpuig, where last year they rounded off the top five.

On the other hand reigning MX1 world champion David Philippaerts looks set to struggle this weekend after he broke his left index at Agueda after contact with Italian countryman Cairoli.

In the MX2 class, current championship leader Gautier Paulin of Kawasaki Bud Racing PSM is facing a strong opposition from the likes of GP winners Marvin Musquin, Davide Guarneri and Rui Goncalves who are making up ground on the 19 year old.