The winners at Losail:

As the riders are about to hit the track, let’s do one last lap of the paddock: "are nominated for the 2008 MotoGP World Championship title …"

Team Ducati Marlboro – Bridgestone

1. Casey Stoner: ze niou "Number One"

The 2007 world champion is undoubtedly the big favorite for this new season. The Ducati – which Casey seems to be the only one to know how to handle – has evolved smoothly: imperial riding the GP7 with which he won ten victories, we can hardly see Casey struggling at the controls of the GP8 !

"This winter Ducati engineers made a few small modifications to the bike which produced a noticeable general improvement.", even warns the new" Number One "… According to him, the low revs and the behavior of the Italian at the end of the curve, in particular, would have been improved.

When it comes to tires, Stoner is just as confident: "the Bridgestones performed well on all the tracks where we tested, including the night ones in Qatar, so from that point of view I’m also very happy".

It is perhaps only in qualifying that Stoner will have to spit in the gloves to dislodge Repsol Honda and a Fiat (the Michelin of Lorenzo) particularly fast during the winter tests … but on only one lap !

As for the fact that the opening GP is played at night, that does not terrify him too much: "I already competed in a few night speedway and dirt-track races when I was a junior in Australia", recalls the 22-year-old pilot.

33. Marco Melandri: the hedgehog of Ravenna

Finally, the pressure within the official Ducati team could be exerted more on Casey’s teammate: Marco Melandri! He replaces Loris Capirossi, who, if he never managed to adapt to the 800, still wrote the most beautiful pages of Ducati on the Desmo 990.

Disembarking from the Honda Gresini satellite team, Marco was finally entrusted in 2008 with the orders of a factory machine … And the world champion machine, moreover: the whole of Italy was waiting for him at the turn. !

Capable of the best – we remember his superb end of the 2005 season – like the less good, the Ravenna Hedgehog will therefore have to live up to the challenge, especially as other Italian stars reach the top category this year and could well eclipse it…

"We have worked hard this winter to try to improve my feeling on the bike and although we still have work to do, I feel better.", assures n ° 33.

Even his poor 15th place in the night tests and his disappointing results in all the winter tests do not dampen his optimism: "we were focusing on the racing rubber settings, not on a simple running lap", retorts Melandri. Could he" do his Stoner "on Sunday night? ?

Team Honda Repsol – Michelin

2. Dani Pedrosa: "Asimo"

The only team not to have undergone a change of pilots, the HRC Repsol team is paradoxically the team on which it is the most difficult to decide! Second in the 2007 championship thanks to his victory in Valencia (and the retirement of Rossi, read), Dani Pedrosa nevertheless remains a serious contender for the title !

Sporting the n ° 2 on his Honda, the young Spaniard undoubtedly did not digest the success of the n ° 27 last year, his favorite enemy in the 250 … But he would like to clarify that he is indeed the vice champion. and that he only has one step left to climb … This year ?

It is far from being won in advance for the little protege of Honda. Firstly because Dani injured his right hand during the Sepang tests at the end of January. He was unable to take part in the next two tests and his performance suffered again last week..

However, we remember the honorable 3rd place of the Catalan at the Malaysian GP in 2006, when he had opened his knee two days earlier … Only if the Clinica Mobile had succeeded in shooting Dani so that he no longer feel the pain during the 45 minutes of running, boosting the RRS for the new season seems to be a much more difficult exercise !

The second handicap Pedrosa will have to face – at least at the start of the season – will be … his bike! "The 2008 RC212V’s engine development issues affected recent months of hard work", admits publicly the HRC.

So much so that the two official pilots should line up in Qatar with the 2007 engines (conventional valve return and non-pneumatic) housed in a 2008 chassis and another from 2007, just to compare … As a reminder, Pedro had signed with the RCV 2007 the last four poles of the year. Will he continue his streak? Answer Saturday evening after qualifying…

69. Nicky Hayden: "The Kentucky Kid"

On the other side of the box he occupies for the sixth consecutive year, Nicky Hayden will try to forget a very dull 2007 season: not a victory, only three podiums, 127 points collected for an 8th place in the 2007 standings … The 2006 world champion can do much better!

Always so diligent – relentless? -, the n ° 69 was again this winter the driver to have accumulated the most kilometers. A guarantee of motivation and commitment, but not necessarily of success! However, it would take more to bring down the American, delighted to return to serious business…

"The track is superb, the passageways incredible, the grip is good, it’s a safe circuit with lots of clearances and everything you need", ignites the Honda rider!"The only thing I miss: the 100,000 spectators who cheer like crazy for their favorite pilot" !

With two stops in the United States this year (in Laguna Seca where he has a revenge to take after his mowing by Hopkins, then in Indianapolis, read), Nicky will have many other opportunities to hear his name chanted by the public. .. Provided he succeeds at the start of the season !

Team Honda Jir Scot – Michelin

4. Andrea Dovizioso: the other vice world champion

While in 2007, Sylvain Guintoli was the only "rookie", the premier category welcomes no less than four newcomers this year. Among them is Andrea Dovizioso, 125 world champion in 2004 then a true "Poulidor" of the 250….

Riding a Honda slower than the Aprilia – well, only Lorenzo’s for the past two years – the Italian has really not been unworthy in the quarter-liter category. And it is only logical that Dovi finds himself at the controls of a satellite RCV within the Jir Scot team. !

As for the test results, however, we did not expect to see him so quickly so well placed! Surprised at first by the performance of the 800, especially on qualifying tires, Andrea nonetheless remained stuck in the top 5 over all the winter tests..

Moreover, Dovizioso himself did not think he would appear so quickly at the forefront. But gradually he gained confidence: "I think our tests have shown our true worth on the track which is why I expect to fight with the best riders this weekend", declared the n ° 4 yesterday.

Team Yamaha Tech3 – Michelin

5. Colin Edwards: "Texas Tornado" 2: the return ?

The former official Yamaha rider seems to have found a second wind within the Tech3 team! Always well placed at the end of each winter test, the two-time Superbike world champion (2000 and 2002) is today one of the most experienced riders on the field … To watch closely !

And from this weekend, the n ° 5 could well raise high the colors (blue and yellow) of the French team of Herve Poncharal, as let hope its last sessions on worn tires. !

"I am excited for the first race. The Tech3, Yamaha and Michelin team worked very hard and the whole team did a good job this winter", says Colin, literally fallen"lover"of his front tire during the last tests (read).

So let’s hope for the friendly Texan – and for our "national" team! – may this excellent form last until next fall … At least !

52. James Toseland: "DjiTi" from Superbike

Alongside Colin will evolve another World Superbike champion: James Toseland. Titled for the second time in this category last October (read our), the Englishman decided to leave Honda for Yamaha…

So he landed this winter with a new team, riding a new bike equipped with new tires. He thus went from a single manufacturer, Pirelli, to a Michelin eager for revenge. And it is clear that for now, James has done very well !

It was even in 2nd position in practice last week … Be careful, however, since this is a circuit which also serves as the opening track for the Superbike ball … Edwards, Xaus and Bayliss won there podiums but never reached a level high enough to seek the title at the end of the season…

Only Nicky Hayden, from the American Superbike championship, has achieved this feat … What do Nicky and James have in common? They are young, athletic and know how to handle pressure perfectly, whether in the race or throughout a championship. So, why not ?

Team Suzuki Rizla – Bridgestone

7. Chris Vermeulen: Lucky Number Seven

In 2006, a certain Chris Vermeulen had already escaped from Team Honda Ten Kate. He was then vice world champion and had also preferred to change brands to go up to MotoGP, rather than wait for a possible RCV handlebars to become free..

At Suzuki for two years, the Australian clinched his first victory in the premier class last year (on the occasion of a particularly lively French GP, read) and currently has "only" five podiums..

"Do I Look Like I Give A Fuck, Mate ?"(in the language of Molière:" Do I seem to have something to ‘biiip’, man? "), retorts for him the inscription present on the seat back of his Suzuki GSV-R. .. As a good Australian, Chris does not take the lead and wants above all to run: "it’s my job"he recalls !

After all, Vermeulen still allowed Team Rizla Suzuki – with the help of his ex-teammate Hopkins – to secure 3rd place in the team championship behind the official Ducati and Honda! Sporting this year the glorious n ° 7 "crossed out" of Barry Sheene, his mentor, he will personally seek to do better: he was 6th in the drivers classification.

"I am sure this race will create excitement and a lot of people will follow it to see what comes out. The hardest part for me will be staying awake, I’m an early eater, but I’m sure I will be fine"Chris joked yesterday.

65. Loris Capirossi: the phoenix "Capirex"

Seventh in the championship, one place behind his new teammate, Loris Capirossi obtained four podiums last year. And it owes its victory in Japan (read) more to good management of weather conditions than to its suitability for the Ducati GP7. While at the same time, the young Stoner was collecting victories !

Transferred this winter to Suzuki, the famous n ° 65 therefore intends to take advantage of this change of mount to bounce back and recover his best level. A wish that was not directly reflected in his results during the offseason testing…

Sailing in the middle of the table, Loris has not once achieved real "gun time" on the handlebars of his official Suzuki. "We did a lot of testing before heading into the first race and we’re almost ready. We’ll use the test days to sort out a few things, but I’m sure by race night we’ll be 100% ready.", nevertheless affirmed yesterday Capirex.

Team Kawasaki – Bridgestone

13. Anthony West: The Ant "Ant"

Parachuted in MotoGP in place of Olivier Jacque in the middle of the 2007 season (read), Anthony West did not have the same success there as at the Mondial Supersport. Replacing Kevin Curtain at a moment’s notice on the official R6, the Australian had won two out of three races … last year too !

The 2008 season will be much less disjointed for this driver, which should allow him to make better progress. Fortunately, because the young "Aussie" starts from the bottom of the standings: not quite at his ease on the ZX-RR, Anthony admits to having been disappointed by his lap times this winter..

And unfortunately for the Kawa rider, the opening GP should not make it easy for him: "I am quite worried about the night temperatures in Qatar because it is so cold there that it affects the tires more than I can handle", noted West, left at fault during the tests…

21. John Hopkins: Grass- "Hopper"

Also at fault – but in Australia – John Hopkins used to shine during winter testing and then go more unnoticed during the year. In 2007, however, the Anglo-American showed more consistency than in the past and obtained a remarkable 4th place in the championship..

A performance that allowed him to jump from Suzuki to Kawasaki in 2008! Rather well placed during the first tests, the n ° 21 unfortunately saw its progress slowed down by a violent high side at Phillip Island. "I feel that my injury shouldn’t be too much of a problem, as the pain has decreased a lot since last week", reassures John.

This weekend, "Hopper" will therefore pilot the official Ninja for the first time and he may well surprise his world: "we made great strides with racing gums and other parts in testing"even warns Hopkins !

Team Honda LCR – Michelin

14. Randy de Puniet: la gaaagne !

"Considering the potential of Stoner, the velocity of Rossi, the equipment available to Hayden and Pedrosa (…), we hope to finish the 2008 season in the top five in the championship by fighting for the podium every time the set "tuning and tires" will allow us", immediately announces Lucio Cecchinello on the official website of his LCR team.

For his part, Randy is more shy: "I don’t like to give a precise figure for the final position I need to reach in the championship, because my opponents are very sharp and aggressive, but we are working hard to interfere with an honorable place among the protagonists of MotoGP".

As proof, the French driver and his team did not count the number of laps made during the tests … But we did: 1354 laps completed in Valence, Jerez, Sepang and Losail! A number of laps that only Hayden should be able to exceed !

All this to find "a good base of adjustments for the bike, so that we did not make any major modifications during the last tests", rejoices our national n ° 14, international n ° 11 in 2007 on the official Kawa.

Very fast in qualifying, Randy still needs to improve his skills in the race and above all not to confuse speed and haste – easier said than done! – during the first rounds. However in his last statement, the Parisian pilot suggests that he has a good pace on racing tires. Patience, therefore !

"The Honda / Michelin duo is working well and my results are rather positive, especially my pace in race tires. I’m really looking forward to racing in Qatar as the new conditions suit me quite well with rather cool temperatures. And I don’t have a particular problem with the shadows on the track", declared Randy de Puniet yesterday. Roll on Sunday, as the other would say…

Team Ducati Alice – Bridgestone

24. Toni Elias: the Spanish shooting star

At the end of 2006, Toni Elias had won one of the most beautiful battles ever contested in MotoGP, during the Estoril GP (read). 2 thousandths ahead of Valentino Rossi on the finish line, the Spaniard had just saved his place in Team Honda Gresini !

A season later – barely marked by two podiums – Toni found refuge with D’Antin. With the two Alex (Barros and Hofmann) pushed towards the exit, the Italian-Spanish team indeed wanted to align with two young outsiders…

Often relegated to the bottom of the table this winter, the n ° 24 believes a lot in his team, in Ducati and Bridgestone. After all, there’s no reason Stoner should be the only one to win with this gear. !

"I am sure that thanks to the practice on Friday and Saturday we will be able to find the right balance on the bike in order to get a good place on the grid and have a nice race.", hopes Toni. After beating the" big "Rossi on a regular basis, could he now add the" big "Stoner to his hunting roster? !

50. Sylvain Guintoli: the "Frenchie"

Residing in England with his small family, Sylvain Guintoli is nonetheless French! It was also on the occasion of the French GP that the odds of the "best private driver of 250" skyrocketed, both among spectators and senior officials of the Intercontinental Circus….

For his first full MotoGP season in 2007, the French rider used an M1 fitted with Dunlop tires. Persevering, the pilot will be noticed several times during qualifying sessions and will even finish at the foot of the Japanese podium at Motegi !

In the end, he finished in 16th position with 50 points, 12 more than his teammate Makoto Tamada! It did not take more to arouse the interest of the Antin team, which will provide it this year with a Ducati GP8 fitted with Bridgestone….

World champion equipment for our favorite n ° 50, unfortunately injured … "I don’t know yet if I’ll be completely up to speed, but I didn’t want to start the season by missing the first Grand Prix", remarked yesterday the Drômois.

"I’m extremely happy to be back in the race and can’t wait to sit on the bike on the starting grid! At that point, smiles will fade from all faces and things will get serious", pawing Guintoli.

Team Yamaha Fiat – Bridg ‘and Mich’

46. ​​Valentino Rossi: The Doctor

Two years that Valentino Rossi runs after "his" crown! After being stung by the "metronome" Nicky Hayden in 2006, it is the "unbeatable" Casey Stoner who, in 2007, stole it from him … And to make matters worse, his Yamaha breaks down during the final in Valencia and made him lose "his" 2nd place overall in favor of Pedrosa…

Pique – a second time, therefore – in his pride, the one who remains for many the fastest driver on the grid decided to ride in 2008 on the same tires as the new world champion. The Italian therefore discovered Japanese gums this winter, but proved unable to beat Stoner…

"Yamaha worked really hard this winter and our bike is very good", insisted n ° 46 again yesterday, even if"of course, there are still a few things to fine-tune". Little things that translate into a few hundredths here and there, and lead to times slightly behind the best drivers this winter … and this season ?

48. Jorge Lorenzo: "Por Fuera"

On the other side of the box – split in two since the two official Yam ‘riders no longer run with the same tires – Jorge Lorenzo is also preparing to take up a major challenge. Crowned twice in a row world champion in 250 cc (2006 and 2007), the Spaniard arrives in the premier category with the firm intention of succeeding … And he can. !

Since testing at home in Jerez at the end of November, the No. 48 has not fallen from the top three. Better, last week, he was the one who set the best time in practice, breaking Rossi’s official record by almost half a second.

A great admirer of Max Biaggi, could Lorenzo imitate the Roman Emperor and win his very first GP in the premier class? As a reminder, his compatriot and counterpart (Spanish and double 250 world champion too), Dani Pedrosa, had almost achieved the feat in 2006. !

A driver who wins his first GP from his first participation in the first GP "by night"? The victory would be for Lorenzo three times beautiful! But he doesn’t even think about it: "this is new to me and i dont know what to expect for this first race i just want to do my best".

Team Honda Gresini San Carlo – Bridgestone

15. Alex de Angelis: the real surprise ?

Fourth and final rookie of the year, Alex de Angelis has not been as fast as his little comrades this winter, but he has remained in the top 10 since the Australian tests. Third in the 250 championship last year, he is one of the young wolves with – very – long teeth that will have to be watched closely … And this, from this weekend !

"I am satisfied with the race pace that we maintained at the start of the last session", unveiled last weekend the young San Marinese, before tempering his joy:"the problem is that from 10 p.m. it starts to get really cold and humid".

Surprised by these sudden changes in temperature and humidity, the n ° 15 of Fausto Gresini’s team made a mistake, fortunately without seriousness. "I am optimistic for the race although we will have to be particularly careful in the first laps as the tires take a little time to heat up", notes Alex cautiously..

56. Shinya Nakano: "Super Shinya"

Finally, decked out in his inseparable n ° 56, Shinya Nakano will try, like Capirossi or Edwards, to show the kids of the "two and a half" or the Superbike that experience can make the difference….

Not always, it is true, since the Japanese pilot was also surprised by the changing track conditions during the last tests in Qatar! Forced to stop his tests earlier than expected, Shinya fortunately did not get injured and will be back for his 8th season in the premier class at 100% of his capacity..

We can bet that Nakano will act according to the good advice of his teammate! Let us also hope that all 16 other pilots do the same, otherwise entering the points would become a simple formality: "stay on your wheels and wait for three pilots to fall …" !