Hayden not expecting home advantage

The world champion took his maiden win at the circuit when it first appeared on the calendar in 2005, and he followed it up with another triumph last year while he was leading the championship.

However, after a poor start to 2007, Hayden has said that his knowledge of the circuit is no longer an advantage.

"I would not say that this year I am the favourite, I have not won a race this year," he said.

"Racing on home soil sure helped me out in the first year because nobody knew the track as well as I did. But now everybody knows it and the advantage I had is not so important."

The American added that there is not so much pressure on him heading into this year's race, and he believes that he is riding as well as ever.

"I just want to enjoy myself and have a good time," he said. "I am simply going out to race, work with my team and try to improve.

"I don't think that I have forgotten how to ride or anything like that, I simply think that the problem was that I was not happy with the bike.

"I look at myself in the mirror and I think I have done things well. I still feel like a world champion."