While the lunar Qatar landscape was something of a lonely experience for the riders, the first European round will see them surrounded by some of
MotoGP's most passionate fans - and a lot of them. 132,168 spectators visited the circuit on race day last year, with a staggering total of 244,461 present at some time during the weekend.
Stoner will undoubtedly be the pre-event favourite, although
Jerez has thrown up mixed results for the Australian in the past. Last year, the Ducati Marlboro star finished in fifth position, his joint worst dry result of the season, and he also injured his shoulder at the circuit while testing in late November. Nevertheless, his most recent memory is far more pleasant; Stoner won a brand new
BMW during a rain-soaked 40 minute 'qualifying' session at the official pre-season test.
While Stoner ultimately romped to a convincing Qatar victory, he had to overcome several highly impressive rookies along the way. To the delight of the Spanish fans, it was their reigning double 250cc world champion
Jorge Lorenzo who finished second to the Australian, having qualified on pole during a brilliant MotoGP debut.
That performance means that the 20-year-old Fiat Yamaha rider heads for his first ever home round as a MotoGP rider with expectations through the roof, but two of the other three class rookies will also have their eyes on the podium.
Lorenzo's former 250cc sparring partner Andre Dovizioso took fourth in Qatar on his MotoGP debut for JiR Scot Team Honda, having overtaking
Valentino Rossi in the closing stages. Double World Superbike champion
James Toseland put his satellite spec YZR-M1 second on the grid - during his first grand prix appearance of any kind - and was also lining Rossi's more powerful pneumatic-valve factory Yamaha up for a late pass, before settling for sixth.
