The fourth round of the Championship

_{source: moto.racing-live.com - DORNA / CAPSIS International}

After a fantastic Grand Prix of Turkey, the MotoGP tour heads to China on May 14th for the fourth race of an amazingly unpredictable 2006 season.

The Shanghai International Circuit will be hosting MotoGP races for only the second time, following on from a rain-soaked 2005 Grand Prix, but has already established itself as one of the world's top motorsport venues.

Nicky Hayden will arrive in China as the current championship leader with 52 points. The Repsol Honda rider's amazing consistency has given him eight consecutive podium finishes, his most recent being a third place at Istanbul Park. Hayden also leads the standings in the BMW M Award, the competition based on qualifying times over the course of the season.

The American rider will have to be looking over his shoulder in China, with no room for error at the Shanghai International Circuit if he wishes to hold onto the top spot. Ducati Marlboro's Loris Capirossi, the series leader up until the Grand Prix of Turkey, trails Hayden by only one point, off the podium for the first time this season in the race.

Weather forecasts for next week show a high risk of rain, with heavy downpours for the weekend. Last year's race also suffered from wet conditions.

Valentino Rossi was the big hero of 2005, with a brilliant victory over Kawasaki stand- in rider Olivier Jacque. In 250cc, Casey Stoner took the win ahead of Andrea Dovizioso and Hiroshi Aoyama, whilst in 125cc Mattia Pasini and Fabrizio Lai fought tooth and nail to the finish.

The time difference for China is GMT+8.

The track itself is one of the most impressive in the world. Vast grandstands overlook an equally impressive pits and paddock complex adjacent to the high-speed 5.451km/3.387 mile circuit. The track includes two very fast straights where bikes exceed 320kmh/199mph and a series of tight corners, including two long right-handers that almost takes the riders through 360 degrees. Shanghai is one of the most modern and technologically advanced cities in the world, and now it has an impressive race circuit to match.

The Polini Grand Prix of China takes place on May 14th at the Shanghai International Circuit.