The new breed of MotoGP young guns arrive at Istanbul ready to take on
Valentino Rossi and
Loris Capirossi in Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix, round three of the 2006 world championship.
Reigning world champion Rossi and current championship leader Capirossi have each taken victory in the first two rounds of the season - but the performances of
Nicky Hayden,
Dani Pedrosa,
Casey Stoner and
Toni Elias have been a revelation - and Sunday's 22 lap race around the 3.318 mile Istanbul Park circuit will provide them with a further opportunity to inflict more grief on the established stars.
The circuit staged its very first MotoGP race last year - and was an instant hit with riders and fans alike. In contrast to many of the new featureless
Formula One circuits, Istanbul Park provides a variety of bends and gradients which tests both man and machine to the maximum.
The main talking point is the right hand corner, just before the start and finish complex, which is now the fastest corner in
MotoGP. Riders go through it at around 160mph, in fifth gear, before shifting into sixth at nearly 190 mph on the short bumpy straight - and then violently braking to 50mph for the three first-gear bends that bring them back to the short start and finish straight.
But one rider yet to experience those challenges is Capirossi, who missed last October's race through injury. Victory for Ducati Marlboro in the opening round in
Jerez and a third place in Qatar have given the 33-year-old former 125 and 250cc World Champion a slender five-point lead over Hayden prior to Turkey.
Repsol Honda rider Hayden arrives at Istanbul with sky high confidence, having finished third and second in the two races held so far this year - and collected third in Istanbul behind
Marco Melandri and world champion Rossi. Both Hayden and superstar rookie team-mate Dani Pedrosa have found strong early season pace - which they will need to keep Rossi at bay after the Italian’s recent victory in Qatar.
