PEDROSA READY FOR CRITICAL CLASH WITH LORENZO This is a key race. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V) is tied on points at the top of the table with his arch-rival Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) and with just a two week breather after this Grand Prix before a series of five races in just over six weeks across Europe this encounter is of paramount importance. Tied at the top with 61 points apiece are the Spanish hotshots Pedrosa and Lorenzo, both so far eclipsing the established former World Champion Valentino Rossi and the current title-holder Casey Stoner (Ducati). Rossi is in touch with 47 points, Stoner still in the mix with 40 after three rounds of this 18-race series. But if things don’t pan out podium-wise in Shanghai the trailing two could soon feel the further effects of the Iberian domination of the title race so far. Rossi won here in 2005 and Stoner last season, Dani taking the victory for Honda in 2006. Lorenzo has won here on a 250. The stage is thus set for an enthralling encounter. And aside from the top four there are a host of Honda riders ready to hit better form as this title race starts to take shape. The dogged Andrea Dovizioso (JiR Scot Honda RC212V) has demonstrated ample pace and is due a podium. This could be the place where he matches the second and third places he has scored here previously on a 250cc machine. Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC212V) has got down to the task of revitalising his title credentials as a former World Champion after notching a fourth at Jerez and sliding off while challenging for a podium at Estoril. The Kentucky Kid is ripe for a big score here in China. He might even settle for the second place he achieved in 2006 as he reacquaints himself with the success he sorely missed in 2007. Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda RC212V) is full of fight, Alex de Angelis (San Carlo Honda Gresini RC212V) has recovered from the bout of tonsillitis that hampered him in Portugal and Shinya Nakano (San Carlo Honda Gresini RC212V) is fully rested after a trip to his native Japan prior to this race. After an intense test session after the Estoril race, most riders are buoyed by the work they did evaluating tyres and the set-up improvements made after sampling the latest rubber. After this race the Grands Prix come thick and fast and there will be little time for major adjustments. The Shanghai International Circuit is situated 40km outside Shanghai and was designed by Hermann Tilke, also responsible for Istanbul Park in Turkey. Shanghai may not be quite as challenging as Istanbul Park, but it makes its own particular set of demands on riders. At 5.281km in length it is among the longer tracks and at 14.4m wide the tarmac leaves plenty of room for imagination when taking racing lines on entry and exit to the 14 turns, seven of which are lefts and seven right-hand corners. The main straight is the longest in MotoGP at 1202m and this puts a premium on top speed. But acceleration out of the many tight turns is equally vital, as well as stability under the exceptionally heavy braking on the entries. Couple this with turns one and two that double back on themselves at almost 300 degrees and here is a track that requires the utmost work in set-up. Dani Pedrosa said: “We’ve had quite a good start to the season on the podium at each of the first three races and one victory and we are working hard to stay very competitive. The tests we did at Estoril were useful, we worked on a few things that should help us in China, like improving front-end feeling and stability on the brakes. What I like the most about Shanghai is the width of the track. The surface is of good quality, but a bit rough, probably due to the Formula 1 cars. The circuit layout isn’t that great, it features some very strange corners and the balance between the straights, the tight corners and the faster corners isn’t very good.” Hayden said: “It seems like we’re making progress, Honda’s working hard, the Michelin tyres are working good and I really enjoyed the bike at Estoril. We were up there all weekend, so we’ve just got to put the crash behind us and move on. Shanghai is a strange track, I like the surface, seems like it’s always good and consistent. The track has got two big straights, the back straight is the highest top speed of the year and right after you’ve got one of the slowest corners in MotoGP, so it’s really important to be stable on the brakes, so we worked on that testing at Estoril. The facilities are amazing, it’s probably the most over-the-top facility I’ve seen in my life.” Dovi said: “I’m heading to China with a real awareness of my potential. The last race at Estoril finished early for me, but running so near the front confirmed to me the good start to the season we had shown before. The Monday after the Estoril test was very important for us and it gave us much-needed crucial data. The Shanghai circuit is quite particular and difficult with plenty of technical points. There are two long straights, but also some fast and slow corners. We’re going there with a new bike, so there are plenty of unknowns, but I’m heading east full of optimism.” De Puniet said: “I don’t like this track very much because it’s more suited to F1 races. The straight is very long and we’ll struggle a bit with top speed but, after the positive test in Portugal, I feel confident. After the last two races I need to get a good result and the evolution with tyres and suspension we tested in Estoril after the Grand Prix improved my feeling on the bike. Last year my pace on this track was fast and I finished eighth so I think we have the chance to repeat that result thanks to Honda and Michelin support.” De Angelis said: “Shanghai won’t be an easy circuit, there’s a long straight and at the moment we’re a little down on horsepower, as shown by our top speed at the last couple of races. In any case, Bridgestone have always gone well in China so that gives us confidence even more so after the great test we had in Portugal. In China there is always the risk of rain but considering that in the wet warm-up at Estoril I was second fastest we should be able to hold our own. Physically I’m in good shape I’ve recovered 100% from the illness in Portugal. I’ve trained hard and I’m ready to give my best. The target is a top ten finish.” His team-mate Nakano said: “At Estoril we tested a few Bridgestone fronts and found a good compound and construction. If we can combine those two factors I think we can be very competitive at Shanghai. The circuit is a lot of fun the main characteristic is the long straight followed by a tight and slow hairpin, which is a really difficult place to master. Last year another rider didn’t manage to get the bike stopped there on the first lap and he knocked into me, forcing me to crash, so the first objective this year is to get through the first lap! Joking aside I like the track and I qualified well here last year.” 250cc In the quarter-litre class Yuki Takahashi (JiR Scot Honda RS250RW) has found the speed and confidence he lost after a series of unfortunate and damaging injuries that plagued his 2007 season. Ratthapark Wilairot (Stop And Go Racing RS250RW), the only other Honda representative in the class continues his second full season with gusto. Takahashi said: “The first three races have been pretty positive for us. This will be another chance to put in a good result. Looking at the track, I’ll have to use the slipstream down those two long straights as they represent a very crucial part of the circuit for us. Meanwhile, in the corners we will be more equally balanced with the other machines. To finish here with a good result will be important, as it will give us a good base and Championship position for the next six European races. I think that together as a team we will get a good result this weekend.” Wilairot said: “After the Grand Prix of Portugal I flew to Bangkok where I spent several days at home with family and friends. It’s been great, I haven’t been back to my country for three months and I really wanted to see everyone. I’ve had fun and relaxed, and now I go to Shanghai with reinforced hopes for a good weekend and to get a good result.” 125cc Either Louis Rossi (FFM Racing Honda RS125R), if he has recovered sufficiently from an ankle injury, or Cyril Carrillo (if Rossi has not fully recuperated) will ride the lone factory-supported machine in the junior class this weekend.