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News, Views & Racing Results ....
 Sinopec Great Wall Lubricants Grand Prix of China - Monday 30th April - 01-05-2007
With the thrilling Grand Prix of Turkey fresh in the memory, the MotoGP world tour stops in China on May 6th for the fourth race of the 2007 season. The opening three rounds have provided exciting action every step of the way in all three categories, and the Shanghai International Circuit will only encourage the same kind of activity at the Sinopec Great Wall Lubricants Grand Prix of China.
Casey Stoner leads the way in MotoGP in his first season with the factory Ducati team, having taken victory at two of the first three races this year. The Australian was the runaway leader at Istanbul Park in the previous round which, combined with a fifth place at Jerez, takes him up to 61 points with a ten point cushion ahead of Valentino Rossi. The Australian has triumphed at Shanghai before, winning the 250cc race in 2005, and will be keen to build on last year’s fifth position on Chinese soil.
Five-time MotoGP World Champion Rossi is in a stronger position than he was this time last year, but was perhaps not counting on the superb form of Stoner as he attempts to reclaim the title he lost. The Yamaha factory team rider dropped down the field in Turkey after suffering tyre problems, something he will definitely not want a repeat of in his return to Shanghai. Last year he was forced to retire from the race after tyre problems left him adrift in the overall standings, however the Italian won a wet race at the inaugural Chinese GP back in 2005.
Returning to the scene of his first MotoGP victory, Dani Pedrosa currently lies third in the overall classification. Unable to finish at the last round, the former 125cc and 250cc World Champion is sore after his crash in Turkey but scans revealed he should be ready to ride in China. Favoured to lead the Spanish charge for the title in 2007, Pedrosa now faces stiff competition from Toni Elias for a place in the Mediterranean fans’ affections. The Gresini Honda rider has had two highly impressive races since the start of the season, winning plaudits for the all-out riding style which most recently earned him a second place at Istanbul.
Marco Melandri has yet to take a podium since the switch to 800cc bikes, even at his favourite track in the last round. However, on his day the Italian is always in with a shot of the top step of the podium, and is by no means out of the title running at such an early stage in the season.
The American duo of Colin Edwards and Nicky Hayden are level on 26 points, with the latter still to step onto the rostrum in defence of his world title. Post-race testing after Turkey saw progress for the ‘Kentucky Kid’, and he will be hoping that he can get his season into top gear before the championship leaders begin to break away.
Alex Barros and John Hopkins both have momentum in their favour, after strong performances where they could conceivably have finished amongst the top three. Hopkins was on the front row in China last year, and took fourth in the race itself. His Suzuki team-mate Australian star Chris Vermeulen completes the top ten in the MotoGP class.
Practice for the Sinopec Great Wall Lubricants Grand Prix of China begins on Friday May 4th, with the race itself taking place on Sunday May 6th
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