Capirossi aiming for hat-trick

Italy's Loris Capirossi will be hoping to step out of the shadows cast by his younger compatriot Valentino Rossi with a third win in a row at the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend.

The Ducati rider's back-to-back victories were inevitably overshadowed by Yamaha rider Rossi's successful quest for a fifth successive world title but with that out of the way the focus now shifts to the battle for second place.

Clearly the form rider after wins in Japan and Malaysia, Capirossi looks the most likely to pip Honda rider Max Biaggi to the 'best of the rest' title.

"It was great to have won the last two races. I'm pretty excited about the prospect of a hat-trick by winning here," said Capirossi, who has 142 points to Biaggi's 159.

"Winning in Doha can be a little difficult because it's a dusty track," added the 32-year-old, who will be taking part in his 230th grand prix tomorrow.

"The practice could be chaotic on a dusty track. The weather too is hot. Of course, it was hot in Malaysia too but it's hotter here."

Rossi's motivation will be the memory of last year's inaugural race when an infringement meant he was forced to start from the back of the grid and slid out while trying to make up ground.

"To be honest I don't really like the circuit," Rossi said. "Last year it was like a motocross track, there was so much sand out there.

"I don't know whether it will be better this year but I hope so. I've also got really bad memories of last season. You could say I have a score to settle with the circuit."

It was the reporting of Rossi's team for preparing his grid spot at the Losail circuit last year that caused a falling out between Rossi and his then main championship rival Sete Gibernau.

Change of luck

The Spanish Honda rider is hoping for a change of luck in the desert outside Doha tomorrow as he has failed to top the podium since winning the first Qatar Grand Prix last year and is eighth in the riders' standings.

"It seems that when things go bad, they go really bad," says Gibernau.

"But mentally I believe in myself more than ever. We just need a change of luck, so I'm hoping for a win this weekend.

"A repeat win in Qatar would be pleasing. I have only good memories of the Losail track and I am ready and mentally prepared for the battle."

Rossi's American team-mate Colin Edwards finished second in Qatar last year and will be looking for his first MotoGP victory at his 46th attempt to keep him in the hunt for the runners-up spot.

"It'll be a tough race," said the Texan, who trails Capirossi by just three points in the standings. "The track is a bit dusty and it's hot out there. The faster you go the harder it gets, it's like a blow drier."

Australian Casey Stoner will hope to further close the 38-point gap on 250cc championship leader Dani Pedrosa with his second victory in a row.

There has not been a back-to-back winner in the 125cc class for 51 races but with Swiss championship leader Thomas Luthi and Finn Mika Kallio having split the last four races between them, that should end soon. Luthi leads Kallio by eight points.