The European
MotoGP season kicks off in dramatic style with this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, where 250,000 fans are expected to make their annual pilgrimage to the electric atmosphere of
Jerez.
21-year-old Australian
Casey Stoner jumps headfirst into this melting pot of noise and emotion by leading the MotoGP World Championship for the first time, following a brilliant debut victory at the first round in Qatar two weeks ago. Stoner simply brushed aside all opposition, headed by seven times world champion
Valentino Rossi no less, to complete a memorable winning debut for Ducati Marlboro. Stoner did his job perfectly as a rider, but was helped by the awesome speed of his machine - which simply annihilated Rossi's Yamaha along the main straight.
But Sunday's 27 lap-race will provide a very different challenge for Stoner, his team-mate
Loris Capirossi - who won the race last year, but crashed early in Qatar - and their
Bridgestone tyres. Last month Rossi, riding the Fiat Yamaha, and
Dani Pedrosa, riding the Repsol Honda, dominated the official test session at Jerez and they return hoping for a repeat performance on their Michelin-shod factory machines, after finishing second and third respectively behind Stoner in Qatar.
Rossi has experienced mixed fortunes at Jerez, winning four of the premier-class races in the last six years, but being brought down at turn one by Toni Elias last season - while Pedrosa made a stunning MotoGP debut by finishing second in 2006. Their team-mates, Americans
Colin Edwards and reigning world champion
Nicky Hayden, did not fare well in Qatar; Edwards recovered from a bad start to finish sixth with Hayden a disappointed eighth in the first round of his title defence.
Another American,
John Hopkins, delivered a brave ride in Qatar - fighting through the pain barrier to finish fourth after a race long battle with Pedrosa. Two more weeks have given his injured wrist time to heal, while the confidence gained from that ride and the performance of the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R make Hopkins a real podium contender this weekend - while team-mate
Chris Vermeulen will looking to build on his seventh place in Qatar.
Marco Melandri had a steady first ride on Bridgestone tyres in Qatar, finishing fifth for Gresini Honda, but his team-mate
Toni Elias, who won the 250cc race at Jerez four years ago, will be looking for a big improvement after finishing 14th despite a brilliant fourth in qualifying. Pramac d'Antin Ducati team-mates Alex Barros and Alex Hoffman will also be looking to prove their claimed potential after a steady start, while Carlos Checa and Randy De Puniet need to open their accounts after crashing out in Qatar.
Kenny Roberts won the 500cc race at Jerez on his way to the world title seven years ago and he returns riding for his father's Oxfordshire-based KR team after a tough start to the season as both he and the team learn all about the new 800cc Honda engine. The French-based Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 team has also had a difficult start with
Sylvain Guintoli and Makoto Tamada 15th and 16th respectively in Qatar.
Jeremy Mc
Williams and Andrew Pitt will be missing from the Jerez grid after the Ilmor team announced they will be temporarily suspending their involvement in the MotoGP World Championship until key financial partners have been secured.
Meanwhile,
Jorge Lorenzo started the defence of his 250cc world title with a typically assertive victory in Qatar. Riding for Fortuna Aprilia, the Spanish teenager dominated the race and returns to Jerez where he won the opening round of his championship winning season, last year.
