Stoner looking to get back on track in Spain

After a three-week break in which the Grand Prix of Japan was rescheduled for later in the year due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland, the 2010 MotoGP world title resumes at Jerez in Spain this weekend.

The GP will provide Australia's Casey Stoner (Ducati) with the opportunity to get his campaign back on track after he crashed out at the opening round in Qatar while leading. Stoner finished third at Jerez last season, and a podium will be the only result he will have his eyes this time around on as he looks to make up the early points deficit on factory Yamaha team-mates Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

Jerez has in recent seasons been a favourite of Rossi, who won there in 2007 and 2009 and finished second in the year in between. Lorenzo's pace at the track is also beyond question  - he has secured pole position there in his two MotoGP races to date, but is yet to win in the premier class at Jerez. The pair arrives in Spain first and second respectively in the 2010 standings after the opening round in Qatar.

Despite being on a high from his brilliant win in Qatar, Rossi was perhaps more grateful than most for the volcano's eruptions as he slightly damaged his shoulder muscles in a motocross training accident ten days ago. The cancelled race has given him unexpected extra time to recover and he hopes to be in good enough shape to put up a fight in Jerez.

"Of course it was a pity not to go to Japan, Yamaha's home race, but we will go in October now and for me it was quite lucky to have this extra week," said Rossi. "I didn't hurt myself badly in the motocross fall, but my shoulder was quite sore so it was good to give it more time to recover.

"I don't know yet how much it will affect me this weekend, I hope not too much. The win in Qatar was fantastic but we saw there that we are lacking in some areas compared to our rivals so we have work to do. I love to race at Jerez, the atmosphere is amazing and I have fantastic fans in Spain. Last year I had a great win and I hope we can challenge again this time."

Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) got his season off to a thrilling start by beating Nicky Hayden (Marlboro) to the final podium spot in Qatar, and the duo will both be looking to at least consolidate if not better their respective results at Jerez.

Displaying his lightning pace off the starting grid in round one was Dani Pedrosa (Honda), and the Spaniard will want to carry that through to race distance at Jerez where he won in 2008 and finished second last year, while Colin Edwards (Yamaha) and Loris Capirossi (Suzuki) are still striving to get the most out of their bikes. The veteran Italian won the race in 2006, while Edwards finished on the podium in 2007.

Randy de Puniet (Honda) team will seek to build on his solid start in Qatar where he finished sixth, and having taken fourth at Jerez last season the Frenchman will no doubt be eyeing another impressive result.

Ben Spies (Yamaha) announced his arrival as a full-time member of the MotoGP grid in style with a fifth-placed finish in Qatar, and the American now heads to a track he does not know.

Spies was the highest finisher of the rookies in round one, but Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda), Álvaro Bautista (Suzuki) and Marco Simoncelli (Honda) will all look to capitalise on their experiences of winning in the 250cc or 125cc classes at Jerez.

Meanwhile, Australians Josh Hook, Arthur Sissis and Brody Nowlan will all be representing their country when the 2010 Red Bull Rookies Cup kicks off with a doubler-header at Jerez.

It will certainly be a baptism of fire for those who are first-timers, with more than 100,000 spectators expected to pack the grandstands.

Live coverage from Jerez begins at 6.45pm on ONE this Sunday, with the premier MotoGP race pencilled in for a 9.30pm start.