MotoGP world champion
Valentino Rossi will continue hunting 2006 points leader
Nicky Hayden in this weekend's Australian - and is now almost close enough to smell blood.
The Italian has won the premier-class race at the magnificent 2.764 miles Phillip Island circuit for the last five years and, following his brilliant victory last weekend in Malaysia, the Camel Yamaha rider is just 26 points adrift of the American with four rounds and 100 points remaining in which to retain his title.
However, there is the small matter of Spaniard
Dani Pedrosa between them. The 20 year Repsol Honda rider, team-mate of Hayden, is four points in front of Rossi following his brave third place in Malaysia. He suffered a deep cut under his right knee in a practice accident but fought through the pain to finish on the podium. The short rest between races will give the cut more time to heal and he has a good record in Australia, winning the 250cc race to clinch the world title last year.
Hayden was desperately disappointed to finish off the podium in Malaysia but he still holds the lead and must stay mentally strong as the pressure mounts at the race weekend in which cold, windy, weather is forecast.
Loris Capirossi left Phillip Island in a helicopter last year after a big practice accident at turn one, but returns in high spirits to ride the Marlboro backed factory Ducati. The Italian finished second to Rossi in the classic Sepang duel and won the previous race at Brno in the Czech Republic to retain a slim championship chance. Loris is currently fourth in the standings and 46 points behind Hayden.
However, fellow Italian
Marco Melandri dropped to fifth after a disappointing ninth in Malaysia and the Fortuna Honda rider's title hopes now seem to have been all but extinguished. One place in front of him in Sepang was 20 year old Australian
Casey Stoner who will ride a MotoGP bike for the first time in front of the home crowd this weekend.
