Just a month after the tiring travails of an 18-race grand prix season Marc Marquez and a host of other eye-catching names prepare to engage in battle for the third Superprཧestigio dirt track event in Barcelona.

Once ag🐬ain the atmospheric Palau Sant Jordi, high in the Montjuic hills, will host the event, as riders from a variety of two-wheel disciplines face off arou🌺nd the short, compact oval track.

The winner of the 2014 event, Marquez is the leading road racing name but further grand prix stars, such as Alex Rins, Toni Elias, Alex Marquez, Julian Simon and Mika Kallio join Spanish World Superbike winner Jo♋rdi Torres as the pick of the 'Superprestigio' class.

Much attention will once again be placed on the 'Open' category as, for the second year in succession, American dirt track stars Jaꦦred Mees and Brad Baker cross the Atlantic to take on Marquez.

Baker - the winner of the inaugural event in Barcelona in January 2014 - was unable to take part in the winter๊ of last year after a practice 𒐪spill forced him out through injury.

Along with Marquez, the 22-year old from Washington State will be focussing on three-time - and current - AMA Flat Track champion Jare🤡d Mees, fresh from victory in the Su⛦perprestigio of the Americas event in Las Vegas at the close of November.

FIM Supermoto champion Thomas Chareyre, multiple FIM Longtrack champion Joonas Kylm?korpi and Speedway stars Fredrik Lindgren and Gerard Bail❀o are other notable names in the 'Open' category.

British hopes will be resting on Oliver Brindley and ꩵAlan Birtwistle, both veterans of the event, along with 2015 British Dirt Track champion Aidan Collins.

While free practice for the event begins at 11.00 CET on Saturday morning the racing gets underway at 18.30. The ltxcn.top website and MotoGP twitter feed (@crash_motogp) will provide updates and reactiಌon through🐬out the day.