World championship leader Jorge Lorenzo will be looking to continue his excellent start to the 2010 season when the MotoGP series heads to 'the best circuit in the world' for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.
The Spaniard has been outstanding so far this campaign. He finished a solid second in the season opener in Qatar before producing two consummate rides as he came through the field to win in Spain before leading from the front for his second victory of the year in France.
Those successes have left the 23-year-old nine points clear of legendary team-mate Valentino Rossi as they prepare for the nine-time world champion's home race.
From 2002 to 2008 Rossi won seven races on the trot at Mugello, but Lorenzo is not intimidated by his Fiat Yamaha colleague's record, and rates the Tuscan circuit as one of his strongest of the year.
He said: "Last year Mugello was one of my best races. I crashed in the warm-up lap, but otherwise it was almost perfect and I was so happy to get on the podium."
"The sessions and the race were amazing because the weather kept changing."
"For me, Mugello is the best circuit in the world, joint with Phillip Island (in Australia)."
"It's a classic circuit with many ups and downs and an incredible atmosphere."
"I have had a great start to the season and once again our aim will be to be strong from the first day and get on the podium."
Ducati's Casey Stoner is a man at the opposite end of the spectrum from Lorenzo, having only managed one fifth-placed finish from the first three races.
Problems with the front-end of his GP10 led to crashes at Losail and Le Mans, and the Australia's primary focus this weekend will be to try and solve those problems, rather than attempting to get himself back into the title race.
"Obviously Mugello hasn't come at a positive moment for us but this is our situation and we have to try and look forward, taking things race-by-race and not worrying too much about the championship," he said.
"We want to get the bottom of this problem we're having with the front end. We have a few things to try at Mugello and we will be working as hard as always to achieve our goals."
"Generally the bike is working well and we have the pace to fight with the guys at the front so it is just a case of continuing to work hard to solve this issue."