Having had nearly a month to recuperate,
Troy Bayliss and Ducati Xerox team-mate
Michel Fabrizio are fit and ready for battle at Valencia this weekend.
During the previous Phillip Island round Bayliss - who had fractured his collarbone at the Australian circuit during pre-season testing - was left with stitches in his left elbow after high-siding during practice, while Fabrizio suffered contusions to his right calf during a start-line collision.
Both were forced to withdraw from the recent Valencia test as a result but Bayliss, winner of three of the four races so far held, heads to the scene of his 2006
MotoGP triumph in much better physical shape.
"We've had such a long break since Phillip Island, added to by the fact we didn't test here in Valencia a couple of weeks ago, so I'm definitely ready to get back on the bike now," began Troy. Who holds a 27-point lead over Alstare Suzuki's
Fonsi Nieto.
"I've put in some serious training during the last few weeks and feel like I'm now in really good shape - the collarbone feels stronger than ever and the elbow is pretty much back to normal too.
"I expect nearly everyone to go better at this track and I'm sure that those teams that were perhaps a little behind with getting ready for the championship will now start to show results.
"I'm really looking forward to the weekend. It's quite a physical track and you don't get much rest but this means that it's great for the spectator and makes for real racing - there's normally a good battle there!"
Fabrizio, who scored his first podium finish with Ducati Xerox in race one at Phillip Island, also knows the Valencia track well.
"Physically I am now feeling much better and it only helps matters that my family are finally able to be at the track with me," said the Italian. "Unfortunately my training has been limited in these last few weeks to swimming, according to the doctors' recommendations, so I agree with Troy that a month away from the racing has felt like a very long time!
