Champion Rossi hoping for a dry Jerez

World champion Valentino Rossi has an account to settle with the Jerez circuit this weekend when MotoGP's best attended race takes on a new role as the season opener.

More than 125,000 fans are expected at the Andalucian circuit for tomorrow's Spanish Grand Prix and Rossi hopes they will be basking in spring sunshine as he opens his bid for a fifth successive world title.

Last year, Sete Gibernau took advantage of a rainstorm to steer his Honda to victory in what was the second race of the season - two weeks after Rossi had sensationally claimed the first for Yamaha in South Africa.

"Jerez is one of my favourite tracks. It suits my riding style well (and) I almost always have a good race," said Rossi, who has won five times in Jerez at all levels.

"However, after last year I have an account to settle with the circuit. I was very fast in the dry, with pole position, but then the rain ruined it on race day."

Gibernau is looking forward to a race on home soil he hopes will kick off a season that will turn two successive second places into a first world title.

"This year the Spanish Grand Prix will be an extraordinary event," said Gibernau. "Jerez has always been an incredible place, especially because of the spectators.

"This year it will be even more incredible as it is the first race of a challenging championship season."

Max Biaggi would certainly agree with that as the number one rider in the factory team for Honda, whose riders have won all but two of the last 11 titles.

However, after encouraging early tests, everything fell apart for the Italian at the final round of testing at Jerez last month.

"I'll come to the grand prix to give my best and I hope the bike works well because I cannot be fighting against the bike," the 33-year-old said.

Biaggi's team-mate Nicky Hayden would seem to be the pick of the young guns after posting the best times in that Jerez session although his fellow young American John Hopkins is spearheading a revival at Suzuki.

Ducati will have both riders on the starting grid as Carlos Checa has recovered from a bad fall in testing to take his place alongside Italian Loris Capirossi at his home race.

2005 calendar

Tomorrow - Spanish GP; April 17 - Portuguese GP; May 1 - Chinese GP; May 15 - French GP; June 5 - Italian GP; June 12 - Catalan GP; June 25 - Dutch GP; July 10 - US GP; July 24 - British GP; July 31 - German GP; Aug. 28 - Czech GP; Sept. 18 - Japanese GP; Sept. 25 - Malaysian GP; Oct. 1 - Qatar GP; Oct. 16 - Australian GP; Oct. 23 - Turkish GP; Oct. 31 - Valencia GP.