Friday, 25 September: For the second year in a row France’s Jeremy Poret is facing a stiff challenge to his title hopes, one immediate challenge coming from older brother Mickael, with  the relative veterans at 27 and 28 both facing a challenge to the title that one or other has held since 2010.

Looking to unseat them are two relative youngsters, Spain’s Nacho Armillas, 22 and Austria’s Kevin Reiterer, 23.

Jeremy Poret heads to China where he has a good track record and on a roll after a productive summer, winning the Jet Cross World Cup in England after beating off some formidable competition, America’s Chris MacClugage and tour rivals Reiterer and Valentin Dardillat.

A successful run in the French Championship gave him a fourth title, with Poret confirming that he is in great shape physically and that his team and mechanics have worked hard on his bike which he says is now quicker and more efficient.

And whilst the top four have each won heats this season it is Armillas and Reiterer who have taken Grand Prix titles; Armillas trading heat wins with Jeremy Poret in Qatar to take the title, Reiterer trading wins with Mickael Poret in Italy to take the title.

To keep his crown and protect his slender six point lead, Poret [Jeremy] is going to have to reproduce the form that has propelled him to three titles in four years, but a resurgent and now nearly fully fit Mickael [Poret], tied in second spot on 65 points with Armillas is an ever present threat whilst both the young pretenders to the title have made it clear and shown that they fear neither of the Poret brothers.

Armillas, like the Poret’s, is a China GP winner and very much in form winning the GP2 European title and missing out by one point to Poret (Mickael) in GP1, something that he is not pleased about and intends to make amends.

Of the three Reiterer is the season ‘new boy’ and has made a big impact and despite the loss of his bike in Qatar and forced to run a second string underpowered machine he has his first tour GP win and is a real threat and title contender.

Despite a limited summer programme Reiterer has made his mark, winning in Europe and in the Nordic Championship as well as training hard in Austria with his team [of riders], Jonna Borgström and Daniel Andersen as well as the new European Champion Beatriz Curtinhal.

Rieterer is fired up and looking forward to China and taking on the best knowing that he will be back on his number one machine.