Checa eager to emerge from Rossi's shadow.

Viewers new to MotoGP may well have questioned if Carlos Checa was on the same team as Valentino Rossi at Welkom, and not just because of the different livery; Checa finished the Africa's Grand Prix nine places and 40secs behind his team-mate.

The Spaniard claimed his African problems were centred around a lack of mid-race traction - although he'd also been 1.2secs slower than Rossi in qualifying - and hopes a post-Welkom meeting will help him perform in front of his adoring home crowd at Jerez this weekend.

"Valentino's result in Welkom proved that the bike can go faster and, although I don't want to say I can do the same as him straight away, this provides me with some encouragement," said Carlos. "It is in our hands to improve our position and it is my biggest wish to be at a point in Jerez where I can fight at the front.

"After the Welkom race I had a meeting with my mechanics and we discussed the reasons behind the problems I had over the weekend. They will decide what the best way forward is and we will work together to make the necessary changes," he added.

The recent IRTA tests at Jerez may offer some valuable data for Checa's back-up crew, as he attempts to overturn his recent form.

"In Spain we will start with one bike with the same set-up as we used during the last Jerez test," revealed Carlos. "We will then work from there to find the best race setting. We used a different set-up in South Africa which we won't use this time. I have had bad luck for the last two years in Jerez and have been unable to finish the races due to problems over which I had no control, so I hope that this time things will be better!"

"Carlos has not had the start to the year we were hoping for, but we have every confidence in him for Jerez. His IRTA test times were good there and we expect to see him fighting at the top in front of his home fans on Sunday," declared Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha team director Davide Brivio.

As well as Yamaha expectation, a sell out Jerez crowd are sure to be cheering Checa throughout the three days. A strong result on Sunday would please both parties and give the 31-year-old some firm foundations for the rest of the season.

"Spain is a bit different; there are friends everywhere and many fans," commented Carlos. "It is a track I know well and the fans there give me a strong feeling of encouragement; I hope I can give them a good show. I am comfortable at this track and I know the corners and the braking points well."