Steve Parrish's MotoGP column

By Steve Parrish BBC motorbikes commentator

Off we go to California a mere week after the Dutch GP in Assen, and it is always refreshing to see year-on-year that MotoGP is getting bigger and bigger now in the United States.

Rossi is the superstar that helps sell MotoGP to the masses

They love their motorbikes over here, but they are starting to realise the world doesn't end at American shores - word is spreading that MotoGP is the premier class in motorcycling.

It has become a massive sport worldwide and I think they have started to adopt it over the years thanks to the Laguna Seca and Indianapolis GPs.

I think also that Valentino Rossi has had a large part to play in the sport's profile being raised.

They also had a world champion three years ago in Nicky Hayden, plus Ben Spies is now doing well in World Superbikes and they are spreading themselves out a bit.

It is slightly odd that there isn't more than a week's gap between Assen and Laguna Seca.

I assume that the dates are fixed in the calendar and can't be changed, but it makes it a huge rush for all concerned.

All the teams have to fly everything out to the States which is a logistical nightmare.

The bikes and equipment will have been packed up on Saturday night and transported via trucks to probably Amsterdam or maybe Frankfurt, then on Sunday they will have departed arriving in San Francisco on the Monday morning.

By Tuesday they will have been at the circuit and everything will have been well underway by Wednesday!

It is an extremely quick turnaround, but it's a well oiled machine that seems to work efficiently.

One man who will be on a high this weekend is the great Rossi, who notched up the 100th Grand Prix win of his career win in Assen.

LAGUNA SECA MOTOGP Saturday 4 July Qualifying: 2145-2300, BBC Red Button/online Sunday 5 July Race live: 2200-2300, BBC Two/online

Regardless of him reaching this milestone, I already rated him as the best rider of all time.

Giacomo Agostini may have more race wins, as he used to ride two classes each day, but for me Rossi is the king.

Making it to 100 wins is an amazing feat and who knows where it might end? He seems just as keen, just as hungry and just as fast.

It's the enthusiasm for competition that he seems to still love. The youngsters come along and give him a hard time and it seems to inspire him to greater heights.

The Italian continues to prove he isn't too old at 30 and he's got the same amount of enthusiasm and fire in his belly as he ever had.

He is inspired by the youth in his team and wants to carry on beating all and sundry.

And he was Mr Perfection again in Assen, he got a good start, took off and controlled the race from the front.

His win means they are all spread out points wise, which will increase competition in Laguna Seca.

Stoner has been struggling with a stomach complaint

We are all hoping Rossi's big rival Casey Stoner is back to full fitness after his struggles with the stomach complaint that has been hampering him.

No one really knows whether it's a virus, but I'm sure that Ducati will be doing everything in their powers to help him sort it out.

Last year, Jorge Lorenzo left Laguna Seca in an ambulance because he did another one of his spectacular jump offs, so look out for him.

Great Britain's James Toseland scored his best result of the season in Assen. He lucked in a little bit but he deserved it after his trials and tribulations so far this season.

Having Masahiko Nakajima, the designer of his Tech Yamaha bike, in the garage has helped him hugely so from a confidence point of view he is buoyant.

He will have learnt a lot from that race and his season might be starting now.

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Laguna Seca prediction:

1) Valentino Rossi 2) Jorge Lorenzo 3) Casey Stoner

Steve Parrish was talking to BBC Sport's Paul Birch.