We’re back! The long-awaited home date has finally arrived for Team Fortuna Honda, who are ready to tackle one of the most beautiful circuits on the World Championship calendar, Mugello. Spurred on by the unique atmosphere of this circuit and the support of the Italian fans, Marco Melandri heads into his home race lying second in the championship thanks to victories in Turkey and France with the objective of repeating his result at Le Mans two weeks ago. Mugello is also an important date for his team-mate Toni Elias, who arrives in Italy looking to finally pick up the result he has promised on so many occasions this season but has yet to achieve. Marco Melandri : “The victory at Le Mans was a huge emotion, the best possible ‘antipasto’ before my home race. To head back to Italy straight after a win is fantastic even though Mugello will be a completely different story. My home GP in front of so many supporters will be difficult because there are so many potential winners but I am one of them and I am ready to fight for the podium. The idea of racing in front of so many Italian fans is nice but I have to be careful not to get carried away. Mugello has come at an incredible time because at Le Mans we almost had an entirely Italian podium. I’m sure, like every year, it will be a great party!” TONI ELIAS : “Mugello is a very technical track that requires good physical preparation because of the frequent changes in direction. In terms of riding it is one of the most difficult tracks on the calendar. This year will be my first time there with a MotoGP bike – last year I was unable to take part because of the broken wrist I sustained at Le Mans. I don’t have any references so hopefully I can find a good base setting quickly and adapt well to Mugello.” THE TRACK: Based in the hills of Mugello, just a few kilometres away from the city of Florence, this is one of the most beautiful race circuits in the world: spectacular and extremely technical, where rider skill can make the biggest difference. It is a difficult circuit, characterised by gradient changes, fast “esses”, changes in speed, off camber corners and an extremely long straight. INTERESTING FACT: MICHELIN, the leading French tyre manufacturer and providers to the RC211V machines of Marco and Toni, has won 14 of the 15 premier-class GPs staged at the track since 1976, including a clean sweep of all 11 races since Mugello became the Italian GP’s full-time home in 1994. TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS Inaugurated: 1974 Latest modification: 1999 Length: 5,245 m Width: 14 m Pole position: right Right corners: 9 Left corners: 6 Longest straight: 1141 m Race: 23 laps = 120.635 km RECORD: Circuit record: 2005 Biaggi (Honda) 1’50″117 Pole position: 2005 Rossi (Yamaha) 1’49″223 Race 2005 : 1st Rossi (Yamaha) 2nd Biaggi (Honda) 3rd Capirossi (Ducati)