MotoGP world champions Casey Stoner and Ducati Marlboro return to Shanghai this weekend determined to repeat their success of last year and get their 2008 campaign back on track.
The ability of Stoner, the sheer speed of the Desmosedici down the huge 1.2km back straight and the consistent grip from his Bridgestone tyres blew away the opposition -headed by seven times world champion Valentino Rossi - one year ago.
But this year has been a very different story and the 22 lap race on Sunday could indicate if Ducati's recent troubles are just a temporary blip or something more serious.
22 year old Stoner currently lies fourth in the championship, despite victory in the opening round in Qatar. He trails joint championship leaders Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa by 21 points with Rossi in third place, seven points in front of the Australian.
Bitter rivals Lorenzo and Pedrosa have both tasted success in Shanghai and arrive for another classic encounter full of confidence.
Lorenzo has been nothing short of sensational in his first three MotoGP races, riding for Fiat Yamaha. He has started all three from pole, finished all three on the podium and scored his first MotoGP win at the last round in Estoril.
The double 250cc world champion, who is recovering from an operation to prevent 'arm pump', also won the 250cc Shanghai race last year. He celebrates his 21st birthday on Sunday, so it could be some party.
22 year old Pedrosa has an equally impressive record in Shanghai and shares the lead with Lorenzo after winning at Jerez in Spain. The Repsol Honda rider won his first MotoGP race in China two years ago and is in tremendous form this year despite missing most of pre-season testing with a hand injury.
Contradicting rumours continue to circulate about whether Pedrosa and team-mate Nicky Hayden will get to try the latest version of Honda's troubled pneumatic-valve engine this weekend or will continue to stick with the 'old' valve-spring design.
Rossi looks to be enjoying life again and now has his sights set firmly on his first Bridgestone victory. The Fiat Yamaha star finished second in Spain and third in Portugal but will be looking for a repeat of last season's pole and his 2005 win to reinstate his authority over the two Spaniard's at the front.
American John Hopkins finished third last year for Suzuki and rode well to finish fifth in Estoril on his new-for-2008 Kawasaki. He is overcoming a groin injury and getting to grips with his new bike. Another American, Colin Edwards is enjoying a revitalised season with Tech 3 Yamaha. He was fourth in Estoril and finished third in China two years ago.
Edwards' rookie team-mate James Toseland has already been signed up for 2009. The 27 year old has made a superb start to his MotoGP career and lies fifth in the championship just 11 points behind Stoner. There are six races in the next two months and Toseland has not ridden at three of the venues but he has already shown he's very capable of learning quickly.
Toseland and Edwards received the latest pneumatic-valve Yamaha engine at Estoril and so should have little to fear from the long Shanghai straights.
Despite crashing out in Estoril, Italian Andrea Dovizioso has also made a big impression in his MotoGP debut season, while 2006 world champion Nicky Hayden will be aiming for his first podium of the season this weekend.
The Rizla Suzuki pairing of Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen are yet to challenge the frontrunners, but both will be eager to repeat Hopkins' form on the GSV-R of one year ago.
Finnish KTM star Mika Kallio grabbed the lead in the 250cc World Championship for the first time after finishing third in Estoril He won the 125cc race in Shanghai two years ago and will be pushed hard in the 21 lap race by Estoril winner Alvaro Bautista, Qatar winner Mattia Pasini and Hector Barbara who secured his one and only 250cc victory in China two years ago.
Italian Simone Corsi has made a tremendous start in the 125cc World Championship. He's won two of the opening three rounds and leads team-mate Nicolas Terol by 17 points with Spaniard Joan Olive in third place.
