The World Championship lands in Europe with Rossi, Poggiali and Dani Pedrosa in the lead
The Jerez circuit will be hosting the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend with the Repsol riders as protagonists. Rossi and Nieto get back to the venue of their victory in 2002.
Valentino Rossi and Fonsi Nieto will be returning this weekend to one of the venues where they were able to take the victory last season. For the Italian, it was the second victory of his triumphant 2002 season where he became MotoGP World Champion. For the Spanish rider, Fonsi Nieto, Jerez meant his first victory in the World Championship, in a season where he finished runner-up of the Championship. After Rossi’s second place in South Africa, Jerez will be a new chance for the Repsol rider to fight for victory and outdistance his rivals in the overall standings. His team-mate Nicky Hayden with two seventh places and the overall sixth position, hopes to continue his progress in this new class trying to score some more points.
In 250 GP, both Elias and Nieto arrive in their country hungry for victory. But the injury suffered by Elias in South Africa and the following operation he underwent last week, will hinder the Repsol rider from being in optimal conditions to fight for victory. Nieto, with a problematic season start, will try to repeat the victory in the circuit that saw him raise as a firm title candidate last season. Sebastián Porto, who has been very close to the podium in Japan and South Africa, arrives in Jerez ready to get his first podium finish of the season. Aspars young pupils, Faubel and Olivé, will try to give a surprise in a circuit they know well and where they will be feeling sheltered by the Spanish fans. In the minor category, Pedrosa arrives in Jerez leading the overall standings and as the man to be beaten. His victory in South Africa has reaffirmed him as the most serious candidate to the title. But Pedrosa wont be alone in Jerez; Pablo Nieto and Héctor Barberá, within the structure of Jorge Martínez Aspar, will try to step on a podium that despite getting closer, they havent been able to reach yet.
