Rossi targets first win in Istanbul

The Fiat Yamaha team rider has never won at the Turkish venue, but he will aim to put that right on Sunday and pull further away from Ducati Marlboro's Casey Stoner in the championship.

"The next two races, Turkey and China, are ones that I don't like so much and I have never won at Istanbul, but it's a great circuit with some very fast corners," said Rossi.

"If the bike works well, then it will be great fun, I think. Last year, I made an error early in the race and it cost me the chance for a podium, but I won't be making the same mistake.

"We are leading the championship, but it's a long season and we have to aim to get on the podium at every race."

Rossi knows that Stoner's Ducati will have the edge in the next two GPs as the layout favours its superior top speed.

"The difficult thing over the next two races is going to be horsepower, because both Istanbul and Shanghai have very long straights," said Rossi.

Ireland's Eugene Lavery goes into the third round of the 250cc series looking to build on his 20th place in the standings on the LCR Honda.

"It's been a steady start to my grand prix career and I was pleased to get my first points with that 14th place at Jerez which was just my second grand prix," said Laverty.

"I'm beginning to understand the 250cc machine and getting to know the team. I'm relishing the challenge of riding at circuits where I've never been before."

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo leads the 250cc series after two race wins so far on the Fortuna Aprilia.

Bradley Smith has ground to make up in the 125cc class after crashing out of the last race in Spain, which has left the Repsol Honda rider lying 18th.

He said: "It's been a long wait since the last race and I can't wait to get racing again. It's just a case of keeping fit and preparing for the very busy schedule ahead."

Fellow Britain Danny Webb is still searching for his first point of the season on the De Graaf Honda as Hungarian Gabor Talmacsi heads the standings on the Bancaja Aprilia.

Webb said: "I've had a good look at the circuit and so I know where it goes. The circuit looks great and the break has given my injured fingers time to heal."

Scottish teenager Kev Coghlan also gets a grand prix chance with a ride in the 125cc race in Turkey in place of Mike Di Meglio on a Honda.

Coghlan, who is joint leader of the British 125cc championship, said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be given a grand prix chance."

Watch Sunday's big race on BBC2 and Eurosport at 12.30pm.