His team-mate
Nicky Hayden who makes his first British appearance as World Champion, is having a tough time defending his title and is currently 11th in the Championship. His best result at Donington is a fourth three years ago – he'd probably settle for that on Sunday.
Fourth placed Italian
Marco Melandri is also a previous 250cc Donington winner while the Rizla Suzuki pair of Australian
Chris Vermeulen and Anglo-American
John Hopkins share fifth place. Vermeulen, who secured his first grand prix victory in the French rain last month, knows all about racing in Britain after claiming both the British Supersport and Superstock Championships in 2000.
Former 125 and 250cc World Champion
Loris Capirossi won his very first grand prix at Donington 17 years ago and since then has gone on to win 27 more races including two more at
Donington. He partners Stoner at Ducati and lies eighth in the Championship just six points in front of another veteran, Brazilian Alex Barros who’s returned from the World Superbike Championship to ride the Pramac d’Antin Ducati.
Former double World Superbike Champion American
Colin Edwards has tasted success at Donington en route to those titles. He is team-mate to Rossi at Fiat Yamaha and shares ninth place in the Championship with the Gresini Honda of exciting Spaniard
Toni Elias who is certain to ‘ruffle a few feathers’ over the weekend.
Frenchman
Randy de Puniet has enjoyed the two-week break more than most after his brave ride into fifth at Barcelona on the Kawasaki. Despite a damaged collarbone, two broken toes and a left knee the size of a football he finished fifth and will be looking for at least a repeat on Sunday and certainly less pain.
