Cataluña GP. Previous Info

Repsol Riders Nieto, Elías, Pedrosa and Olivé meet their fans once again
The World Championship returns for the second time to Spanish territory, this time on the occasion of the Gran Premi de Catalunya, which will be held at the Circuit de Catalunya, with its new main grandstand of spectacular dimensions, located in front of the finish line. With the championship’s arrival in Barcelona and the holding of the sixth round of a season full of news and exciting contends, a massive spectator attendance is expected at the Catalan circuit in order to see the performance of the local riders. In MotoGP Valentino Rossi, who has fans wherever he goes, sees a new opportunity to increase his advantage even more. On a fast track like the one in Catalunya, with its long main straight, the Italian rider and his Repsol Honda RC211V will fight for their fifth victory of the season, while his team-mate Tohru Ukawa will be trying to stop him and reduce the distance in the overall classification, where they are occupying the first and second place, respectively. In the 250cc the leader of the overall classification, Repsol rider Fonsi Nieto, will arrive ready to maintain his place in the classification and to increase his 15-point advantage over the second classified, Marco Melandri, an Aprilia rider as well. A further protagonist on the track on which last year Fonsi finished fifth and Melandri on the gravel while being third, will be with no doubt the local rider Toni Elias, who lives only about 50 kms away from the circuit. After his performance in Italy and his fourth place, the rider from the Catalan town of Manresa, will be looking for continuity in Barcelona, while his fans will be expecting his first podium of this first season in the new category. In Italy he actually proved that he has got what he needs to achieve this goal this weekend. In the minor category Daniel Pedrosa and Joan Olivé will keep on trying to get as much points as possible in this category, that right now is being the most contended of the championship. In Barcelona, Pedrosa has got the possibility, with the support of his fans, to reduce the 20-point difference to the provisional leader, the Gilera rider Manuel Poggiali. His team-mate Olivé, who didn’t have much luck in the last two races, crashing out, will try to repeat at least the result he achieved in Jerez, where he finished ninth.