Terol returns to 125cc title chase at Brno

After missing the previous round of the 2010 125cc World Championship at Sachsenring, Bancaja Aspar rider Nico Terol will make his return to the track this weekend at the Cardion ab Grand Prix Czech Republic.

The young Spaniard crashed towards the end of the race at Catalunya when battling for a podium finish, sustaining injuries that meant he missed the following round in Germany. Despite not scoring points in the last two rounds Terol remains just 39 points off Championship leader Márquez, and with nine rounds remaining the Championship is still far from decided.

"It is a long while since I rode my bike so I can't wait to return to action this weekend. The rehab work we've done has helped me improve day by day and I'm ready to return. I feel mentally strong and even though I'm not in perfect physical shape I don't think it will slow me down,” said Terol, who has used the four-week summer break to his advantage.

“I did four sessions on a motorcycle last week - two on a short circuit and two on a motocross track without jumps - and they were very positive. I felt good on the bike, I recovered my confidence and I think I'm ready to get back on track.”

Terol won last year’s race at Brno so knows exactly what to expect from the Czech circuit. He continued: “Brno is a circuit that I love, I go well there and I won last year so I hope to be on the podium if possible. I was leading the Championship up until the crash (at Catalunya) so that means we were doing a good job. We just have to pick it up again and I'm sure we'll be back to top form."

Also keen to get back on track is team-mate Bradley Smith, who as another rider still in the hunt for the title is aiming for a strong latter half of the campaign.

“My main objective is to close the gap that Terol, Márquez and Espargaró have over me - the second half of the season tends to be better for me because there are a lot of tracks I like,” said the British rider, currently fourth overall. “There is a tough run of races between August and November so it's time for us to get back to action and tackle it as best we can."