Jerez : Michelin – PreviewMichelin riders will be out to score their first victory of the year at Jerez, the second race of MotoGP's first 800cc season. In Qatar two weeks ago former World Champion Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha Team YZR-M1-Michelin) finished a close second,
while Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team RC212V-Michelin) won a fierce duel for third place.
The two Michelin men have high hopes of success on March 25 because they dominated last month's preseason Jerez tests, lap record holder Rossi riding the fastest-ever lap of the Andalucian circuit, a fraction ahead of local hero Pedrosa. Colin Edwards (Fiat Yamaha Team YZR-M1-Michelin) and reigning World Champion Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda Team RC212V-Michelin) completed the French tyre brand's domination of the event with third and fourth fastest lap times.
Michelin has won all but one of the 20 premier-class races held at Jerez since the track hosted its first GP in 1987, including the fastest-ever Jerez race in 2005.
The company was beaten at the circuit for the first time last year and is determined to avenge that defeat this weekend -- just as it returned to its winning ways at Sepang last September after suffering a rare defeat at the Malaysian track in 2005.
Michelin
