It’s a largely two-wheeled Easter weekend, with MotoGP getting under way in Qatar on Sunday, and British Superbikes on Monday from Brands Hatch.

I’ve already written about this year’s MotoGP, but the news is that Dani Pedrosa will be racing this weekend. He’s missed out on testing and training though, so any points he scores should probably be considered a bonus.

Incidentally, the BBC’s Steve Parrish fancies Casey Stoner over Valentino Rossi, for both this weekend’s race and the championship as a whole. I’m a big fan of Stoner, and enjoy seeing Rossi lose – just for variety – but my feeling is it’s Rossi’s year again.

I’ve also commented before on how British Superbikes is shaping up, but again there are updates.

Most significant is that Australian Josh Brookes has visa problems, so taking his place on the HM Plant Honda will be the team’s Supersport rider, Steve Plater. That’s probably not too great a problem for the team, but Brookes is obviously going to be at a disadvantage for the championship.

The other news is that Airwaves Yamaha still hasn’t tested. At all. Yet the team isn’t worried, assuming that everything will be fine, because the Yamaha is doing well in World Superbikes.

I rather fancy that Airwaves Yamaha will come unstuck at Brands Hatch. Sylvain Guintoli’s Worx Crescent Suzuki, the North West 200 Yamaha of Michael Rutter, the two Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha bikes, and of course HM Plant Honda will all prove tricky opponents for the team trying to defend its title with a new bike. Which they haven’t tested. At all.

It’s madness.