After seeing his domination of the 2011 125cc World Championship ended at Le Mans, Nicolas Terol will be determined to return to winning ways as the series returns to Spain.
The Circuit de Catalunya plays host to round five of the championship and 16 year old wonderkid Maverick Vinales is guaranteed a hero's reception after his dramatic victory two weeks ago.
His stunning move at the final corner made him the third youngest Grand Prix winner ever and as Spanish 125cc Champion, he is sure to be familiar with the challenge facing him this weekend.
Terol doesn't have the greatest of records at Barcelona either. The Bankia Aspar rider has never won around the 4.727km circuit and crashed out on the final lap last year while battling for a podium finish.
The Spaniard's nearest challenger in the championship is German rider Sandro Cortese. The Intact–Racing Team Germany man could only manage seventh at Le Mans and now would be the perfect time to secure his first Grand Prix win.
Johann Zarco is six points further back and has been a model of consistency so far this term. The Frenchman has never been outside the top six this year but will be disappointed after failing to make the podium at his home event. He will be out to put that right here.
Avant–AirAsia–Ajo teammate Efren Vazquez seemed to be the man most likely to challenge Terol in France after shining through Free Practice. The 24-ear-ld could only qualify ninth though and although he recovered to finish on the podium, he will hope to make life a little easier this weekend.
Hector Faubel was many pundits' pre-season tip to challenge Terol for the title but so far that has failed to materialise. With the exception of Jerez, Faubel has been unable to keep up with his younger teammate and already trails him by 72 points. He is one man in need of a good weekend.
Danny Kent has been forced to come from behind in recent weeks as he continues his consistent start to the season. A jump start in Portugal was followed by a slow getaway in France and the Chippenham rider will be hoping for a trouble free weekend this time.
Danny Webb will simply be hoping for reliability from the improving Mahindra while Taylor Mackenzie and Harry Stafford will be glad to have shaken off recent injuries as they continue to progress in their debut seasons.
They will also be joined in the 125cc class by a fifth Briton this weekend. Scottish teenager John McPhee, a winner in the British championship in 2010, has been competing in the Spanish Championship this year and will gain valuable World Championship experience this weekend.
