We are heading the right direction - Schumi - 3rd May 20:27pm GMT

Two days of testing, one day of shooting for sponsor Voadafone: Michael had a busy week following the GP-weekend at Imola. So the world champion is now taking his time at home to prepare for the next big challenge: the race at Barcelona, home-circuit of championship leader Fernando Alonso.

Michael is completing his daily fitness routine just as focused as his test programme on the race track, because slowing down is not an option. It's never an option - but especially not now that the race at Imola has rekindled hope of regaining the old strength again. "The Grand Prix of San Marino was just what the doctor ordered for all of us," the defending world champion said, "Of course we had seen that we're heading in the right direction before at Bahrain, but Imola showed that we're capable of winning again. That gave us hope and encouragement for the next leg of the season, and has pushed our motivation even further. We managed to keep our spirits up even during the messed up start of this year's season, and our performance at Imola proved that we were right in doing so."

The Grand Prix of Spain starts off the next part of the season this weekend. A race that will see Michael and Ferrari as the fancied winners following the impressive comeback? "Fernando is still the first driver that has to be mentioned in this context, because his performance at Imola was highly impressive, he has already won three races and he is still leading the championship by far. And that makes him a hot contender for winning the race," is Michael's statement. "But I also think that McLaren Mercedes and BAR will be strong. I think that Barcelona will be a close race, and of course I'm convinced that we'll also have some say in who wins it."

The first appearance at the Circuit de Catalunya will be the launch of a new road safety campaign initiated by Bridgestone and the FIA Foundation. "Think before you drive" is the simple and convincing message that Michael will be introducing along with Rubens Barrichello on Thursday at 14:30 GMT. A soccer event for Vodafone in the evening will conclude the day and on Friday it will finally be racing-time again.