Considering that all testing this winter has been performed in Malaysia and Qatar, where the track is quite different from the one in Jerez, one might argue that the win will be up for grabs this weekend. Especially since Yamaha have proven very strong here in the past, while Stoner himself hasn't won a race here since he joined the series.
“It's a different kind of tarmac to the two we've been testing on, and the grip levels are quite different so we're definitely interested to get here,” admitted the Australian rider in a preview for the Spanish GP, adding that “this track's going to give us more of a clear idea of how we'll go for the rest of the season at different circuits.”
Stoner will also have a motivation of his own to do well at Jerez, since his best result here is a 3rd place finish in 2009 (when he was riding for Ducati). In the past 5 years, that has been his only podium in the MotoGP at Jerez.
“That motivates me every year coming here – not so much to get that monkey off our back, just to try and turn something around and do something people don't expect. It's nice to come to a track and not have any expectations, and just try and do your best at it,” revealed the Australian rider.
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