MotoGP heads to Barcelona, Spain this weekend for the Gran Premi Aperol de Catalunya – check out the riders looking to impress... 
Gold & Goose/Red Bull Photofiles
Dani Pedrosa (Spain) – Honda
Has enjoyed a seesaw battle for second with team-mate Andrea Dovizioso this season and after an excellent second-place in Assen, Netherlands last time out, enjoys a four-point cushion over the Italian. However, consistency has been a problem for Pedrosa so far this season as bad results have usually followed good. He will hope that isn’t the case on his home track though, where he’s picked up wins in the 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP classes.
Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) – Yamaha
The last few weeks couldn’t have gone much better for the championship leader. Wins at both Silverstone, UK and Assen have given the Spaniard a 47-point lead over Pedrosa in the overall standings as he heads for his home grand prix. Lorenzo was unlucky not to win here last season as he battled team-mate Valentino Rossi right until the end. He will fancy his chances this year as Rossi remains sidelined.
Gold & Goose/Red Bull Photofiles
Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) – Honda
Will want to get back on the podium after a disappointing fifth-place finish in Assen left him four points behind Pedrosa in the overall standings. The Italian arrives in Spain brimming with confidence though after a red-hot season that has seen him land four podiums already. He enjoys racing at the Catalunya circuit too, having finished fourth there in the last two seasons and you’d be brave to bet against him going – at least – one better this year.
Nicky Hayden (USA) – Ducati
Hayden is still looking for his first podium of the season – but after finishing fourth on four occasions already, he feels his time has come. His consistent performances have seen him rise to fourth in the overall standings, level on points with the stricken Rossi. And although he could only finish 10th in Catalunya in his debut season with Ducati last year, he will hope to continue his progress this weekend.
Casey Stoner (AUS) – Ducati
After a difficult start to the season, Stoner grabbed his first podium of 2010 after finishing third at Assen last week. That result was the culmination of a consistent few weeks for the Australian which also included a fifth-place at Silverstone and fourth at Mugello, Italy. Stoner also has fond memories of the Montmeló circuit having won here on his way to the 2007 title.
GEPA pictures
Mika Kallio (Finland) – Pramac
Assen proved to be a positive race for both Kallio and his Pramac team. The Finn finished just outside the top 10, in eleventh, while team-mate Aleix Espargarò finished one place higher. He will be hoping he can continue that improvement this weekend, on a track where he finished ninth last year. He does have some pedigree on the Montmeló circuit too, landing a pole and podium in his 125cc days.
Get more ahead of the GP de Catalunya at motogp.com.
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