Repsol Honda aims to reign in Spain

From Repsol Honda

The 2008 MotoGP World Championship moves to Europe following its Middle East kick-off with Repsol Honda RC212V riders Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden determined to shine at the Spanish GP, arguably the most spectacular event of the MotoGP year.

Repsol Honda has a rich history of success at Jerez, with six wins recorded by Mick Doohan (1996), Alex Crivillé (1997, 1998 and 1999) and Valentino Rossi (2002 and 2003). Last year Pedrosa qualified on pole position and finished the race a close second. Hayden claimed a Spanish GP podium finish in 2006, his title-wining year.

Jerez is the first of local hero Pedrosa’s three races on home tarmac this season, and the former 125 and 250 World Champion will be doing everything in his power to go one better than his 2007 Jerez result. Although he likes Jerez, Pedrosa has had mixed fortunes at the track – he won the 250 GP in 2005 but never made the podium in his three 125 GPs at Jerez.

This time he knows he will be in the hunt again – earlier this month he electrified the Qatar GP with a spirited ride to third place from the third row of the grid, despite struggling with his recently broken right hand. At Jerez he’s sure the hand will be close to 100 per cent.

Hayden is looking forward to getting back up front at Jerez, where last month he topped preseason tests with a stunning 1:38.848 lap. The American, who rode to a determined 10th-place finish in Qatar, will run 2008 RC212Vs with a revised chassis at the Spanish round. Like his teammate, Hayden loves the Spanish GP because it’s one of the most atmospheric races on the MotoGP calendar, with a noisy and knowledgeable crowd.

Last year 244,461 fans watched the action at Jerez, making it the second best-attended MotoGP event, after Brno, which attracted 245,039 spectators.