For the first time since his debut 2000 season,
Valentino Rossi heads to round two of the
MotoGP World Championship without the points lead - and has mixed memories of his 'comeback' venue.
Rossi arrives for Saturday's Qatar Grand Prix desperate to get back to winning ways after finishing a lowly 14th, following a first turn fall triggered by
Toni Elias, at the season opening Spanish Grand Prix nearly two week's ago.
However, the accident was something of a red herring, with Rossi doubting he had the pace to fight for victory anyway - after constant chatter problems 'infected' the Camel Yamaha M1s at
Jerez.
Fortunately for Rossi and team-mate
Colin Edwards, pre-season testing indicates that the vibration issue will be less significant at Qatar, but the 27 year old Italian has mixed memories of the 3.343 mile hot and sandy Losail circuit.
Two years ago at the very first grand prix in Qatar, a furious Rossi crashed out after having to start from the back of the grid following a grid cleaning penalty, but then last year he won a superb battle with
Marco Melandri and he will be looking for a repeat of that performance in Sunday's 22 lap race.
Standing between Rossi and victory will be current world championship leader
Loris Capirossi, who started last October's Qatar Grand Prix on pole and is brimming with confidence after his dominant opening round victory at Jerez. The former 125 and 250cc World Champion will be hoping that his
Bridgestone tyres can cope as well in the very different conditions in Qatar - if they can, a title challenge looks increasingly likely.
Capirossi's new Ducati Marlboro team-mate Sete Gibernau won that controversial Qatar race two years ago, while riding for Honda, but arrives at the desert venue without a point after retiring with mechanical problems early on at Jerez.
