Round eight of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship, the British Grand Prix at Donington Park, takes place this weekend.

2008 MotoGP World Championship leader Valentino Rossi heads to Donington Park - one of his favourite and most successful circuits - looking to defend a slim seven-point lead over Dani Pedrosa in this weekend's British Grand Prix.

Rossi has won seven times at Donington, including five premier class victories and has won three races already this season - but couldn't match Pedrosa last time out in Barcelona.

But, just one day after clinching his second victory of the season, Pedrosa crashed heavily in testing at the same circuit - badly hampering his efforts to evaluate the latest Honda engine - although he should be 100 per cent fit for this weekend's race, at a circuit where he has tasted both 250 and MotoGP success.

Last year's wet event saw Casey Stoner storm to victory, one of ten during his title winning season. The 22-year-old, who left Australia eight years ago to start his road racing career in Britain because he was too young to race at home, was involved in a superb battle with Rossi for second place last time out in Barcelona and is desperate to add to his sole Qatar 2008 victory to close the 50 point gap to Rossi.

Sandwiched between Stoner and Pedrosa in the championship is another past Donington winner, 21 year old Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo. The double 250cc world champion has made a sensational start to his MotoGP career, riding alongside Rossi at Fiat Yamaha, and shared the championship lead with his bitter rival Pedrosa after his maiden MotoGP victory in Portugal.

But since then things have not gone so smoothly. He crashed out in Italy and then missed the race in Barcelona due to severe concussion following a Friday practice fall. The two week rest means he should be ready and able to continue the battle at Donington, although he admits he will probably appro0ach the weekend with a little extra caution.

Fifth and sixth respectively in the championship are two more previous Donington winners. American Colin Edwards, who started the race from pole and finished second last year, has won World Superbike races at the track while Italian Andrea Dovizioso won the 250cc race last year.

Home support will be centered around Edwards' Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate James Toseland, riding in his very first British Grand Prix and aiming to reward the patriotic home crowd with a debut MotoGP podium.

Toseland's best finish so far this year is sixth position, but all events after the opening Qatar round have been held on unfamiliar ground for the #52. At Qatar, which - like Donington - he had raced at in WSBK, Toseland qualified a stunning second on his MotoGP debut.

Previous Donington winner Loris Capirossi misses the race through injury and his place will be taken by American star 23 year old Ben Spies who makes his MotoGP debut on the Rizla Suzuki. He will look to team-mate Australian Chris Vermeulen to show him the way round after the Australian finished third in the MotoGP race last year and has a wealth of experience at Donington from his British Championship days.

Former world champion Nicky Hayden arrives in the midst of a miserable season but has been buoyed by his testing pace with the new pneumatic-valve Honda = which he may or may not be able to use this weekend. Anglo-American John Hopkins is fighting to get fit after a practice crash in Barcelona damaged his back while his Kawasaki team-mate Australian Anthony West may be praying for rain to improve on his ten points haul.

Just five points separate Mika Kallio and Marco Simoncelli at the top of the 250cc Championship. Italian Simoncelli, riding the Gilera, has won the last two grands prix to slash Kallio's lead. The Finnish KTM rider was forced to retire in Barcelona with mechanical problems and so the pressure is on. Watch out also for third placed Mattia Pasini who won the 125 cc race last year.

Frenchman Mike Di Meglio won his second grand prix of the season in Barcelona to open up a 14 point lead in the 125cc World Championship over Italian Simone Corsi who's won three grands prix this season.

But British eyes will be focused on talented teenagers Bradley Smith, Danny Webb and Scott Redding - all sure to be gunning for home glory.