Australian motorcyclist Troy Bayliss is brimming with confidence ahead of this weekend's MotoGP race in Portugal after he placed sixth in last week's opening round in Spain.

Racing his first season for Honda, after switching from Ducati, his new boss Sito Pons was optimistic the Australian will improve his performance as he gets used to his new Honda bike.

Bayliss switched to Honda from Ducati last year after placing eighth at Estoril last year.

The battle will also resume this weekend between Italian world championship leader Valentino Rossi and his Spanish rival Sete Gibernau, with Gibernau suffering from a muscular injury to his right shoulder from a last-turn clash with Rossi at Jerez in Spain.

Estoril is on the outskirts of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, and consists of a 4.182 kilometre twisting circuit with the lowest average lap speed on the GP calendar.

It has the slowest and one of the fastest corners in MotoGP, and is buffeted by winds from the Atlantic, which often blow bikes and riders off course.

Bayliss said he was looking forward to putting his Honda to the test on the new track.

"We haven't tested in Portugal this year but I've ridden there a couple of times and the track isn't too bad," Bayliss said.

"The Honda has always gone well there and I can't wait to get back on it.

"I want to make another step forward with the RC211V. I'm getting more and more comfortable in the saddle and I'm sure were going to have a few great races during this season."

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