The 2010 FIM MotoGP World Championship resumes this weekend at Jerez, with the Gran Premio bwin de España now the second race of the season following the postponement of last weekend’s race in Japan, due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland. Valentino Rossi arrives at Jerez leading the championship after a victory in Qatar that surprised even The Doctor himself. Rossi has won six times in the premier class at Jerez, but is unsure of a repeat performance this weekend after injuring his shoulder in a bruising motocross crash the week after returning from Qatar. The postponement of the Japanese Grand Prix played into the Italian’s hands, giving him an extra week to recover from the crash before facing his championship rivals once again. “Unfortunately the shoulder is still a problem and there is some pain,” said Rossi during the pre-event press conference. “Normally this injury takes three weeks to heal and it’s two weeks since it happened now, so I really need another seven days to be fully fit again. I was very lucky that Motegi was postponed as it has given me an extra week to work on the shoulder and it has improved very much, but we will only find out how much tomorrow. ” “This is one of the best races of the season,” continued the Italian. “There’s always a big crowd and the track is one of the best of the year.” To succeed on Sunday, Rossi will have to overcome not just his shoulder injury, but also two riders determined to give the crowd a ‘home win’ this weekend. Currently second in the championship, Jorge Lorenzo crashed out of a podium position last year after qualifying on pole, but is back this year to try and deny his Fiat Yamaha teammate his second win of the season. Lorenzo is another rider who has benefitted from the postponed Japanese race, as he is also recovering from an injury, sustained pre-season in a training crash. “The extra week means the hand feels much better now and it’s nice to be here at Jerez,” declared Lorenzo. “This race is very special for Spanish riders, although I haven’t had such good results in MotoGP. I hope this year things can change.” Dani Pedrosa is a former race winner at Jerez, but has struggled to get to grips with the 2010 Repsol Honda during pre-season testing and the first race. Pedrosa will test a revised frame this weekend at Jerez, designed to increase stiffness and improve stability. “Jerez is a special race for the Spanish people and the Spanish riders,” declared Pedrosa at the Thursday press conference. “I need to take some of this energy and push, even if things aren’t perfect with the bike, and focus on the race and a fast lap time.” Earlier in the day, MotoGP riders Randy de Puniet, Colin Edwards, Alvaro Bautista, Mika Kallio and Marco Melandri visited Puerto de Santa María, where they took to the water on jetskis. After de Puniet had showcased his skills on the water and ‘roosted’ the following camera boat, all five riders rendezvoused with a yacht moored in the harbour. A shipboard game of Texas hold ’em poker provided an ideal photo opportunity, with the Cadiz skyline the perfect backdrop. Unsurprisingly, given the nature of the game, the Texas Tornado, Colin Edwards, was the first to go ‘all in’ with the betting! More, from a press release issued by Pramac Racing Team: MOTOGP BACK IN EUROPE FOR THE GRAND PRIX OF SPAIN IN JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA After a below expectations starting of the season, where both riders of the Pramac Racing team have had to withdraw after a fall at the Losail Circuit, the Green Energy Team seeks an immediate surrender in the circuit that was suppose to be the third race of the season, the Spanish Grand Prix to be held at Jerez on may 2nd. The Japanese GP of Motegi was postponed on October 3rd due the ash cloud created by the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull who invaded Europe paralyzing air traffic for 4 days. Spain is the country that hosts a large number of GP during the current season, there will be played 4 of the 18 GP. Jerez will be the first, there will be the Catalunya GP in July, that of the Comunitat Valenciana that will close the season and Grand Prix de Aragon in mid September that was selected after the further defection of the Hungarian Grand Prix. The circuit of Jerez de la Frontera is one of the most popular of the championship, consider that this sunday will be the 74th race that takes place at Jerez, the 24th if considering only the 500 and MotoGP classes. Pramac Racing Team has a fairly good relationship with this track, having scored a podium here when Pramac logo was on Max Biaggi motorbike livery in 2003. Following that season, there were mixed results on the circuit with many withdrawals and placements away from top positions. Last year Pramac Racing Team was ranked sixteenth with Canepa, and a retired for Kallio. From Finn rider is expected a good result, having scored a victory on this track in 2008 driving a 250 and a second place in 2005 125 Paolo Campinoti – Pramac Racing Team Principal “I can not hide a bit of sadness for the Qatar results and for this reason I can not wait to return on the track to have a revise. We have seen the potential of the Ducati Desmosedici GP10 Sat, Kallio has obtained the second top speed rate behind the Ducati of Stoner. Great satisfaction also for Espargarò that had improves steadily throughout the race week-end, often times getting very close to the first eight riders. Sure is a bit of regret, but fortunately this job allows you to quickly redeem a loss. Being able to race the second race on Motegi circuit would regain some confidence in our ability, as we have always obtained excellent results on the track. We have won the second race of our history in 2004 with Tamada.” Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing rider (photo from Dorna pre-event) “The “Zero” attached to my name on the driver’s hits is one thing that I do not like, as I said, this was the worst start of my career. I can not wait to redeem early in the next Spain GP. Jerez is one of my favorites tracks here I had some of the most rewarding moments of my career. On this track, I had won one race in 2008, during my last season of 250cc class, and I also had a second position in 2005 in 125cc class. Last year, unfortunately I had a bit of inexperience in the third race in MotoGP, I was on a back place in the starting grid and I haven’t finished the race. From Losail’s weekend I’ll say to save the result of the second section of practice where I got the sixth overall time and is from this point that we have to start for the second race of the season.” Aleix Espargarò – Pramac Racing rider “Unfortunately, it wasn’t the debut of my dreams, before the fall I got a good position on the grid and during the race I had a good pace that would allow me to fill the gap I had with the riders in front of me. I know quite well Jerez circuit, here I got a decent ninth place in 2008 when I was riding a 250. Will be a good thing for me to get good feelings with the circuit since the Friday free practice in order to try to improve my lap times.”