Last year Australian
Chris Vermeulen took pole position in the rain at Istanbul Park on just his third
MotoGP appearance on the Rizla Suzuki. He returns hoping for a repeat, after two poor qualifying sessions, while team-mate
John Hopkins has made a blistering start to the season despite riding with an injured hand. The Anglo-American was fourth in Qatar and was pushing for a podium finish in Jerez when he crashed out. The four-week break should have helped his wrist, although he is likely to suffer some pain for the remainder of the season after turning down surgery - due to the six week recovery period.
Melandri’s team-mate
Toni Elias finished an impressive fourth in Jerez and set the lap record at Istanbul last year on his way to was fifth, while the likes of Stoner's factory Ducati team-mate Capirossi, Konica Minolta Honda's
Shinya Nakano and former world champion
Kenny Roberts, riding for Team Roberts, will be looking to score serious points after a slow start to the season.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Spaniard
Jorge Lorenzo arrives in Istanbul with a full house of 250cc points after victories in both Qatar and Jerez on the Fortuna Aprilia. However, both races have been absolute crackers and the world champion can expect another rough ride in the 20-lap race on Sunday.
The Master-MVA Aspar Aprilia pair of Alex De Angelis and World 125cc Champion Alvaro Bautista have both claimed second places while the ever consistent Italian Andre Dovizioso is third riding the Scott Racing Honda. Throw in the likes of Hiroshi Aoyama who gave KTM their maiden 250cc win in Turkey last year, his brother Shuhei who brought down pole setter Lorenzo at the first bend last year and Hector Barbara and it could be a repeat of last year where six tenths of a second separated the first four riders.
The 125cc championship is the closest after two rounds with Hungarian Gabor Talmacsi leading team-mate Hector Faubel by just four points. Both have won a race on their Bancaja Aspar Aprilias but Spaniard Faubel will be favourite on Sunday after winning the race last year. All eyes will be on 15 year-old Spaniard Pol Espargaro who finished a brilliant fourth in
Jerez.
