Ducati Marlboro competitor Nicky Hayden is thrilled ahead of this weekend’s Iveco Australian Grand Prix, having claimed three stage appearances ‘Down Under’ to date.

Hayden has a top ten place for this season's MotoGP within his reach, having slowly improved with form over the year following a difficult beginning.

He is challenging for another strong placement at Phillip Island after arriving third last season at the track, with the track record to his credit it is the circuit that inspires him.

“Phillip Island is a track and place I really like. The track is great – it’s fast, flowing and a lot of fun,” states Hayden. “I hope we can get some decent weather because the place can be really challenging when it’s cold – there are not so many right-hand corners so it can take a few laps to heat and scuff the right side of the tyre. I also enjoy the flyaways at the end of the year because it’s a little different in terms of atmosphere with all the teams traveling together and staying in the same hotels – you see a different side of people.”

“So we’ve got three more races left before the end of the season and I really hope and need to make another step up toward the front. I really need to dig deep and try to make it happen.”

Livio Suppo, the MotoGP Project boss is also hoping Hayden and his colleague Casey Stoner (who has been victorious at Phillip Island for the past two years), repeat their efforts. The duo challenged an excellent battle last season when Hayden was still racing a Honda.

“It is always nice to go to Philip Island. It is a magical track and it is full of fantastic memories for our team.

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Jorge Lorenzo reduced the margin on his colleague, reigning champion and current leader Valentino Rossi, with a win at Estoril, Rossi could only manage a distant fourth placing as his lead over the Spaniard was reduced from 30 to 18 points with only three events left.

Lorenzo’s victory was the tenth for the Yamaha competitor this season, leaving the manufacturer short of the most successful season ever. Lorenzo and Rossi have swapped victories back and forth since the Italian became victorious in Brno.  A win for either of the duo in Australia will equal the longest of successive wins for Yamaha in the premier class.

In Phillip Island, Rossi will come to a track with fond memories, one of which he has claimed as a personal favourite. With 12 visits to the track, the current world champion has only been unable to place once on the podium, with five consecutive wins from 2001-2005 creating a standout record.

Rossi has not claimed victory in the past three events Down Under, and with main opponent Lorenzo adding to a strong finsih to the year, the pressure is definately on.  Two victories and a runner-up place in the last three events adds to fine form for Lorenzo, who placed fourth last season at Phillip Island in his MotoGP debut on the circuit from second on the grid, he has won twice there in the 250cc session.

Casey Stoner’s return to action in Portugal after an absence of three events adds to an interesting formula, with the Ducati Marlboro competitor placing second behind Lorenzo at Estoril. Stoner’s consistent victories on his home circuit for the last two years means he will be a proven challenger for both Yamaha factory racers, and with only three points behind third placed Dani Pedrosa in the rankings, the Aussie has a goal to achieve.

Honda Repsol competitor Pedrosa has arrived back from his smash and tenth placed finish at Indianapolis by ending up third consecutively in Misano and Estoril, with a DNF deterring his record at Phillip Island last season, he will be sure to challenge the ride that claimed him a 250cc win in 2005.

Pedrosa’s Honda Repsol colleague Andrea Dovizioso came seventh at Phillip Island in his rookie year last season. He won at 125cc level in 2004 – ahead of Lorenzo and Stoner – and will hope to build on an encouraging year in the premier class, which currently has him sitting in fifth overall, eight points in front of Colin Edwards.

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The tiny town of San Bellino has become a congregating area for a mass of Italian spectators as they had the opportunity to meet Repsol Honda competitor Andrea Dovizioso. The Italian appeared at the inauguration event where they were welcomed by the local figures, they then went along to the opening of the Spanish multinational company’s fresh service station in San Bellino.

Dovizioso greeted fans who appeared in numbers to meet him, before mounting a Honda Fireblade CBR 1000 RR which was styled in a similar fashion to his MotoGP engine and rode to the new service station.

Dovizioso then posed for photographs with fans while signing autographs, afterwards he cut the traditional red ribbon to officially open the service station which is the first to be solely designed and erected by Repsol Italy, it definately adds to the extra 150 already in operation in Italy.

“I am impressed by the number of fans that have come to see me and it is always good to meet them face-to-face,” states Dovizioso, who currently sits fifth in the MotoGP World Championship rankings following a seventh place finish in Estoril over the weekend.

“I would like to thank them all for their warm reception, and Repsol and the local authorities for this event. I was already aware that the company was growing in Italy as more and more service stations are opening.

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