MotoGP machines haven't ridden at Estoril, venue for round three of 18, since last September - when
Dani Pedrosa, currently leading the MotoGP World Championship for the first time ever following his
Jerez victory, finished a close second to
Valentino Rossi.
Due to delays with the '08 Repsol Honda engine, Pedrosa's spring-valve powerplant hasn't been substantially changed since that race - and is thus tipped to suffer along the Estoril main straight this weekend - but the Spaniard has already defied a pre-season hand injury and set-up issues with the RC212V to take third and first in the two opening rounds.
Rossi hasn't won a race since that September victory, but returns fresh from a best-yet second place on his new
Bridgestone tyres and hoping it'll be a case of third time lucky for his new tyre partnership. Victory for the Italian would also end a six race losing streak - at a circuit Rossi has already won at five times in the premier class.
Between Pedrosa and Rossi in the championship standings sits The Doctor's Fiat Yamaha team-mate and MotoGP star rookie
Jorge Lorenzo, who lurks just five points behind arch-rival Pedrosa after a dramatic start to his premier-class career.
Lorenzo has taken two pole positions and two podiums from his first two MotoGP events, but - like Pedrosa - has never previously won at Estoril in any class. Being a rookie, Lorenzo will also face the additional challenge of 'relearning' the bumpy layout on an 800cc machine.
But the man to beat could well be world champion
Casey Stoner, fired-up to reassert his authority after a Ducati-worst eleventh at Jerez and having finished a close third in the 2007 Estoril race - despite a clutch problem. The 22-year-old Australian is just one point behind Rossi in the points and won the 250cc race in Estoril three years ago.
