MotoGP heads to Shanghai for round four of the World Championship, the Pramac Grand Prix of China, on May 4th 2008.

Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa are currently the top two riders tied at the top of the MotoGP standing. With 61 points to their name, the battle should be a tight and exciting one. Both riders have been in China before, although this will be Lorenz’s maiden voyage on the MotoGP bike in China. Pedrosa on the other hand had his first triumph at the 2006 Chinese visit. Rival Dani Pedrosa, also has a winning at the Shanghai circuit, with his first triumph on a four-stroke coming at the 2006 Chinese visit.

However, all is not easy for the two top contenders. The five-time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi is right behind and is within easy reach of the top position. He is definitely going to put up a fight, now with his new Bridgetstone tires!. Although we all know that just having new tires isn’t going to win him the race, so he will have to find it in his genius to pull ahead and leave everyone behind, which we know he is quite capable of.  The Italian is currently on his longest, winless streak since his first MotoGP victory in 2000. So if Rossi is to make a move he needs to do it in China!

Catch this event on Ten Sports India, on 4th May, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Rerun of MotoGP 2008 China will be shown on the same day at 8:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Further Reading on this event:
Rossi pinpoints Shanghai for first Bridgestone victory
Lorenzo realises dream with maiden MotoGP victory
MotoGP rostrum riders review Estoril race
Champion Stoner looking for solution to pace problems
Tech 3 announce Toseland and Yamaha contract extensions

The latest Association Tennis Professionals doubles’ rankings are in. And Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes have both climbed up two spots to 11th and 22nd respectively.

Finishing at runners-up at the Monte Carlo Masters Sunday night, Mahesh Bhupathi has garnered 3325 points for himself. Paes, the Indian Davis Cup captain on the other hand is left with just 1920 points.

But what about our sweet Sania? She remains stagnant with the 32nd position on the Women’s Tennis Association rankings. A point to note however is that she is holding this position (and her 19th place in the doubles list) despite her wrist injury which he got in her recent game in the US. She should be well enough in a month’s time and we should see her comeback in the rankings at the French Open next month.

Force India’s Giancarlo Fisichella recorded the best time during private practice on Tuesday morning at the Montmelo circuit, which will host the fourth Grand Prix of the season on April 27.

The Italian managed 1min 19.721 seconds on this track near Barcelona, about half a second faster than second-placed Felipe Massa of Ferrari, who won the last Formula One Grand Prix in Bahrain on April 6.

Third was the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton, ahead of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso in a Renault, a good result for the French team which has been trying to improve its R28 following a disappointing start of the season.

Tuesday’s times: 1. Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA/Force India) 1.19.721 (45 laps), 2. Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari) 1.20.326 (60), 3. Lewis Hamilton (ENG/McLaren) 1.20.452 (53), 4. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Renault) 1.20.632 (72), 5. Nico Rosberg (GER/Williams-Toyota) 1.20.800 (48), 6. Nick Heidfeld (GER/BMW-Sauber) 1.21.391 (55), 7. David Coulthard (GBR/Red Bull-Renault) 1.21.474 (24), 8. Rubens Barrichello (BRA/Honda) 1.21.711 (42), 9. Timo Glock (GER/Toyota) 1.21.731 (49).

Match airs: 26-04-08 at 17.30 on Star Sports.