Australian Chris Vermeulen was a morale-boosting fifth in Assen riding the Rizla Suzuki and he returns to Laguna where he finished on the podium last year in third place. His team-mate Loris Capirossi is also in good form despite being forced off the track in Assen at the final chicane to finish ninth. The Italian veteran won the 250cc race at Laguna 16 years ago.

The last turn drama at Assen helped James Toseland score a career best equaling sixth place, and the Englishman will be aiming to continue his upward curve this weekend, at a track he has raced at in both WSBK and MotoGP.

It's also an important race for the San Carlo Honda Gresini pair of Tony Elias and Alex de Angelis. Both are fighting for their MotoGP futures following the announcement that current 250cc World Champion Marco Simoncelli will be joining the team next season.

One rider whose MotoGP future looks bleak is Yuki Takahashi who has reportedly been told by the Scot Honda team they will only field one rider for the remainder of the season and he will be former 125cc World Champion Gabor Talmacsi who makes his Laguna debut on Sunday.