Rossi: I’ll have to grit my teeth at Jerez

After suffering his worst MotoGP result since 2009, in the form of seventh place on his Ducati race debut at Qatar earlier this month, Valentino Rossi is determined to 'do better' this Sunday in Spain.

Round two at Jerez marks the start of the European season and has been a happy hunting ground for seven-time MotoGP champion Rossi, who has won at the circuit five times in the premier-class.

Last year Rossi was a close third for Yamaha, in his first race since damaging shoulder tendons in a motocross training crash.

The legacy of that accident continues to haunt the Italian superstar, who finally underwent corrective surgery at the end of 2010, and shoulder strength remains his biggest concern heading into this weekend.

“Qatar, with its many hard corner entries and areas where we brake to the right, was difficult for my shoulder. We'll see if Jerez is a little easier from that point of view, although I think I'll still have to grit my teeth for a while,” he admitted.

Spies: I have unfinished business at Jerez

Ben Spies, sixth on his factory Yamaha MotoGP debut at Qatar earlier this month, has unfinished business at Jerez - venue for this weekend's second round of the 2011 world championship.

After qualifying seventh for last year's Spanish Grand Prix, the Texan went on to suffer his very first MotoGP non-finish when he retired due to a front-tyre problem in the race.

“I have unfinished business here at Jerez,” said Spies. “I really enjoyed riding here last year and was disappointed not to be able to take some points from the race. Now I'm back with a full factory machine so I believe the outcome should be a little different!

“We have track knowledge from last year so we can focus straight away on getting the 2011 M1 set up and we'll see what we can do. It's my team-mate's home race so I'm expecting a great atmosphere.”

New Factory Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli, who also guided Spies to the 2009 World Superbike title, believes everything is in place for a strong weekend.

“Last year was unfortunate for Ben during the race, but during the practice and qualifying the times weren't so bad,” he said. “For sure he knows the circuit so he can be immediately focused on finding the right set up and concentrating on a decent tyre choice. The fast corners of Jerez are good for us, our bike works well and we have always had good results here with the M1.”

After losing time early in the Losail race, Spies finished ten seconds from race winner Casey Stoner and seven seconds behind team-mate and reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo, who finished runner-up.

Hopkins ready for Rizla Suzuki return

John Hopkins will be rolling back the years as he makes a return to the Rizla Suzuki team at this weekend’s Gran Premio bwin de España in Jerez.

John Hopkins will make a return to MotoGP racing this weekend at the Gran Premio bwin de España, where he will be reunited with the Rizla Suzuki team for whom he finished fourth in the 2007 MotoGP World Championship.
The American rides as a replacement for the injured Álvaro Bautista on the team, having now fully recovered himself from a wrist injury that threatened his career last season. Hopkins is currently in the middle of pre-season testing for British Superbikes with the Samsung Crescent Racing team, and will start his Jerez experience with the opening practice session on Friday morning.

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The 2011 MotoGP World Championship season is now underway and, with major rider and team changes over the winter, it could prove one of the most exciting and unpredictable Championship battles of recent years.

Certainly, the racing at Qatar showed that anything is possible in 2011.

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Next stop Jerez for MotoGP class

The second round of the 2011 World Championship calls on the Spanish circuit, with early pacesetter Casey Stoner closely pursued by reigning Champion Jorge Lorenzo, team-mate Dani Pedrosa and the rest of the premier class field.

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                             Europe welcomes the MotoGP battle

Jerez de la Frontera is the first European stop on the 2011 MotoGP World Championship calendar this weekend, as the famed Spanish circuit hosts the second round of the season. With crowds regularly in excess of 120,000 on GP race day at the Andalucian track, the Gran Premio bwin de España promises a weekend packed full of atmosphere and on-track entertainment.