The 'real' 2008 MotoGP World Championship will only get underway from round three at Estoril - that's the view of San Carlo Honda Gresini team manager Fausto Gresini.
Following the Qatar night race on March 9, Jerez will host round two this weekend - but with both circuits having been used for pre-season testing Gresini thinks the true picture will only emerge during the Portuguese Grand Prix.
"In general, I think we'll see the real world championship get underway at the Grand Prix of Portugal, on the 13th April. Estoril will be the first track where nobody has tested, so we'll really get to see what everybody has to offer," explained Gresini.
Honda Gresini, the leading satellite team in recent seasons, suffered a tough time in Qatar, with Shinya Nakano crossing the finish line in 13th and rookie team-mate Alex de Angelis crashing out.
"Without doubt the results in the opening grand prix of 2008 did not reflect our true potential: Shinya didn't get much out of it and Alex, starting from the back, paid for a little nervousness when he couldn't get past some slower riders in front of him," said Fausto. "In any case it's all part of the game and I'm sure the experience will help him improve.
"The IRTA test at Jerez in February went well so hopefully we should get more out of this weekend. Alex definitely has the talent to fight with the front guys and I'm sure that we'll soon see him as a protagonist like the other MotoGP rookies. Last week Shinya moved to Italy, close to the team: he's really happy, he feels comfortable and he's really looking forward to the next race," added the Italian.
"In a way you could say that my 2008 season starts properly at the grand prix of Spain!" said Nakano. "Racing at night in Qatar was enjoyable but it was a special Grand Prix, difficult to really understand. The track conditions were very different to normal and my feeling with the bike wasn't 100%, which was also partly to do with the crash in practice.
"Thirteenth place wasn't the result we were expecting but Jerez will be another story: I like the circuit because it is so technical and in the past I have performed well in qualifying and in the races. I won't deny it, my objective is to finish in the top six. Since Qatar I've spent my first days in Italy in an apartment the team have made available to me - it's close to the team, the Misano circuit and the beach: in a word it's perfect! I've also visited the team's racing department and I was really impressed - I understand even more now that Gresini Racing really is a big family," said the Japanese.
de Angelis was the only MotoGP rookie to leave Qatar without a strong result under his belt - with former 250cc rivals Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso claiming second and fourth while James Toseland collected sixth. Nevertheless, the San Marinese insists it wasn't all bad.
"As far as my crash in the first grand prix is concerned, it was obviously a bit disappointing but it would have been much worse if we hadn't shown that we can go fast," said Alex. "In Qatar, during the test and the weekend of the race, I was always just outside the top five and that's important. The crash is behind me now."
