Having been on the calendar for just two years, the popular track has proven a happy hunting ground for Melandri, with the 24-year-old claiming wins in 2005 and 2006.

However, after an indifferent start to the 2007 MotoGP season which has seen him finish fifth behind Australian Casey Stoner in Qatar and eighth behind Valentino Rossi in Spain, Melandri does not have high hopes of registering a hat-trick of victories in Turkey.

"I definitely can't think about winning at Istanbul, I see that as being very difficult," Melandri told motogp.com.

"We have to improve the fine tuning of the bike a lot, and this is something that is worrying me at the present time."

The Turkish MotoGP begins on April 22, with Melandri currently sitting in fifth position on the title standings behind seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi.

Sportal