Nicky Hayden arrives at
Donington Park for this Sunday's British Grand Prix just a week after taking his second ever
MotoGP victory - and increasing his world championship lead to an impressive 42 points.
The Dutch TT at Assen proved a dramatic event in many ways - Hayden only winning after a last turn showdown with countryman
Colin Edwards - while three 2006 race winners -
Loris Capirossi,
Marco Melandri and
Valentino Rossi - were forced to ride badly injured to keep their title dreams alive.
Capirossi and Melandri had suffered upper body injuries a week earlier at Barcelona, with Rossi then fracturing his hand and ankle after a highside on Thursday morning at Assen. When the chequered flag was waved three days later, Capirossi had limped home in 15th place with reigning champion Rossi a brave eighth and Melandri seventh after benefiting from a strong start.
All three will have just five days of rest and treatment before Donington practice starts on Friday morning - but the championship damage will arguably hurt more: A third place at Assen for Hayden's Repsol Honda team-mate
Dani Pedrosa means the Spaniard has moved ahead of all three Italians to sit second in the title chase - with Capirossi third (44 points from Hayden) and Rossi and Melandri joint fourth (46 points from Hayden).
As such, how fit Capirossi, Rossi and Melandri will be on Sunday will be vital for not only the outcome of the British Grand Prix but also the 17 round championship. Rossi has won seven times at the East Midland track but needs number eight more badly than ever, while Capirossi is a four times Donington winner - two 125s and two 250s -with Melandri the 250 victor four years ago.
Sixth in the championship, and with no injury worries, is 20-year-old Australian
Casey Stoner. The 20-year-old Honda LCR rider came to England to gain experience early in his racing career and will want to do well on a track he knows so well. Casey is currently 20 points from Rossi/Melandri and 15 ahead of Edwards.
The Camel Yamaha rider heads to Donington still fuming at losing what would have been a debut MotoGP victory after falling with the finish line in sight in Holland. However, the Texan knows Donington well from his WSBK days and can count on British support around a racetrack where he finished second two years ago.
Another rider receiving Donington support will be
Kenny Roberts, who rode his father's Oxfordshire-built machine to a breakthrough podium at Barcelona, then took a hard fought fifth at Assen. KR Jr was second for Suzuki in the soaking wet 2005 race and will hope that his Honda powered racer is similarly competitive in what looks like being a dry 2006 event.
