By Steve Parrish BBC motorbikes commentator

We go into the Estoril MotoGP with three rookies in the top six of the standings, which is extraordinary.

He is not the most popular of riders because he is such a misery Steve Parrish on Dani Pedrosa

Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso and James Toseland have injected a real spark onto the grid.

So much so that I imagine some of the old stagers will be thinking: "I don't like these kids coming through."

I have been mightily impressed with all of them and in particular Mr Toseland.

I know he got a rollicking from some of the other riders in Jerez for riding too forcefully, but I have always said, 'it's not a knitting competition, it's motorcycle racing' and that is what it is all about.

Also I do not think people realised just how ill he was before and during the race.

In the build-up he had to have a nurse visit his motorhome throughout the night and he was on the verge of being sent to hospital as his temperature was dangerously high.

To then go and finish sixth was a stunning performance and shows just what adrenaline can do for you if you are hungry enough for something.

He is back to full fitness and he will be further buoyed this weekend by having Yamaha's upgraded pneumatic valve engine, which is in theory equivalent to having Valentino Rossi's and Lorenzo's machine.

It will not completely bridge the gap as the factory team will move on again with their development, but it should definitely help him have more horsepower.

ESTORIL MOTOGP Qualifying Saturday, BBCi and BBC Sport website, 1350-1505 250cc race live: Sunday, BBCi and BBC Sport website, 1115-1230 Race live: Sunday, BBC TWO, 1230-1400 MotoGP Extra: Sunday, BBCi and BBC Sport website 1400-1430 125cc race live: Sunday, BBCi and BBC Sport website, 1430-1545 Coverage of BBCi can be found by Freeview viewers on channel 302 Coverage on the BBC Sport website is available for UK users only MotoGP on the BBC

The pneumatic valve engine was developed in Formula One in the mid 1980s as a way of letting the engines rev more.

The valve is returned to its seated position by an air canister rather than a metal spring, meaning it does not wear out as quickly.

Springs tend to lose their tension and they cannot control the valve as well as a pneumatic system can, so it is far more constant.

Toseland's Yamaha team-mate Rossi is returning to the track where he last won a MotoGP.

His current six-race drought is the longest he has gone without a win since his debut season in the premier class way back in 2000.

It is ridiculous he has gone so long without success. However, we saw in Jerez that he is not done yet and Portugal is one of his most successful tracks.

I am sure he will be there or thereabouts, but it is going to be tough as Dani Pedrosa is looking fast.

He was very impressive last time out, winning in Jerez, but he is not the most popular of riders because he is such a misery.

It is such a shame that he does not show any emotion and as a result he often does not come across very well. That is just how he is and perhaps it is because he is so incredibly focused.

It is a pity though for the general public and everyone involved that we do not get any reaction from him.

Mind you, you do not lose any points for being miserable and he is a genuine title contender this season now Honda have seemingly sorted the problems that blighted their bikes last year.

Estoril is one of the slowest and most demanding tracks on the circuit, yet it always seems to produce very close races.

My only concern for Sunday is, because they have brought the race forward from round nine to round three, the weather might have a say.

The track is right by the Atlantic and it can blow up a bit, so with a forecast of low pressure it could make things a little interesting.

Estoril prediction: 1. Stoner 2. Rossi 3. Pedrosa

Steve Parrish was talking to Paul Birch