Just one week after the Grand Prix of Spain, Portugal will host the third round of the 2007 Motocross world championships this weekend, where Josh Coppins and Antonio Cairoli will aim to claim a perfect hattrick.
In MX1, Coppins has only lost one of the four motos held so far this season - to Jonathan Barragan - but Suzuki factory rider Kevin Strijbos could provide the Kiwi's biggest opposition on Sunday, having returned to fitness following knee surgery to take second last weekend. The Belgian will now try to go one better on the red soil of Agueda and claim just his second ever victory.
Factory KTM rider Barragan, who rode to fourth with a badly bruised shoulder in Spain, will hope to repeat his 2006 Portuguese podium on Sunday, while Sarholz KTM rider Max Nagl is chasing two podiums in a row after a brilliant third last weekend.
Strijbos' team,-mate Steve Ramon dropped down to fifth in the points standings after an unfortunate Spanish round, in which he collected just ninth overall, while Kawasaki riders Tanel Leok and Billy Mackenzie showed signs of improvement in Spain, with Leok clocking pole position and 'Billy Mac' chasing Coppins for 14 laps in moto two.
In MX2 the action at the front has been much closer, with both of last Sunday's races decided by last gasp passes. Reigning world champion Christophe Pourcel was victorious in race one after fending off a furious attack from former champion Antonio Cairoli, but the Italian kept his perfect start to 2007 alive with a brilliant come-from-behind victory over the Frenchman in race two. But Pourcel is only third in the standings, one point behind consistent KTM star Tyla Rattray, who in turn sits 15 from Cairoli.
Meanwhile, the home fans will have Rui Goncalves to support when the first MX2 race gets underway on Sunday.
