Spaniard
Dani Pedrosa could be the spoiler on Sunday. The former 125 and 250cc World Champion secured his first win for a year in Germany and is just 20 points behind Rossi in the championship standings. He has a good track record at Laguna where he finished second to Hayden last year and also set the fastest lap of the race.
Australian
Chris Vermeulen took full advantage of the distressed track surface last year to secure a superb pole position on the Rizla Suzuki and he is looking for a change of fortune after a run of though races.
Veteran
Loris Capirossi bounced back to his usual front running form with a second place in Germany on the Ducati while Brazilian Alex Barros hopes his right hand will be fit after a double crash pounding in Germany.
The 125 and 250cc riders have started their summer break as they don’t race in America and they will be joined by the
MotoGP riders after the Laguna Seca race.
Tyre choice could once again be critical if the weather is as blisteringly hot as it has been for the last two years. The track has been re-surfaced and should produce a real battle between the home-based Americans the marauding Australian and European pirates.
