Even though World Champion Valentino Rossi has a strong association with Mugello, this rounds event at his home in Misano has the track situated only 14km from his hometown of Tavullia. The Italian hero will surely gain much support from the home spectators as he tries to re-claim his win of last year at this event and take his title defence back on track following his Indianapolis smash.

Rossi’s Indiannapolis DNF was the sole ever time he has not been able to end a MotoGP event since Valencia in 2007, but surely he will not dwell on the smash as he now prepares to focus on gaining a lead on his current 25 point advantage he claims over his colleague Fiat Yamaha Jorge Lorenzo, with only five races remaining.

Lorenzo's championship dream has been exceeded by the outcome at Indianapolis, with the Spaniard coming back with fine form two consecutive DNFs at the prior rounds to claim a brilliant win and halve the deficit at the head of the rankings. The youngster from Majorca was victorious in the 250cc event at Misano two years ago from pole position and last season he placed second in the MotoGP event.

With the remaining absence of Ducati’s Casey Stoner, who is planning to come back after Misano in Estoril, the Fiat Yamaha squad will again see the threat from Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa, who current places fourth in the rankings, 71 points after Rossi and 46 after Lorenzo. Pedrosa was brilliant over the Indianapolis weekend, until a smash when in the lead, ended his progress and he placed tenth, however his record is not great at Misano.

There is an interesting challenge for fifth place in the rankings with Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Colin Edwards and Repsol Honda’s Andrea Dovizioso, the US man currently ahead by only three points. Misano is not a favourite circuit for Edwards and he is fully aware that Dovizioso has an opportunity for a good result on Italian turf, so he will be trying his best to not let it happen.

One competitor heading into this round on a hugh high is San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Alex de Angelis, who takes to the circuit at home following a deserving sole MotoGP stage appearance at Indianapolis. The result comes at a good time for the San Marino racer who is still looking to associated with a team next year.

The spectators will also be looking at the likes of Rizla Suzuki’s Loris Capirossi and Hayate Racing’s Marco Melandri, who current place eighth and tenth respective in the rankings, while ninth position belongs to LCR Honda’s Randy de Puniet who is still battling ankle injuries, he will be endeavouring to gain decent points for his manager's Lucio Cecchinello home event.

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Following Saturday’s World Championship events at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix there was a special guest showing on the circuit by a very popular champion, 1993 premier class title victor Kevin Schwantz who lapped around the circuit at the historic US track on a BQR Moto2 prototype.

The previous Suzuki hero set a good lap time and later offered his thoughts on the fresh 600cc engine stating, “It’s a new project, it needs a little bit of work with settings as far as suspension goes, but as far as how nicely the bike goes and the power it delivers I think it is an amazing package right now. I’m convinced Moto2 is going to be great for the sport.”

He adds, “For me it was all just for fun, but the new Moto2 bike should make for some interesting racing. I think whether you are a bigger guy like me, or whether you are smaller like Dani Pedrosa or Marco Melandri, if you are good enough you can make up for your size on a bike like this.”

As an extra, test racer Shogo Moriwaki also underwent laps on the Moriwaki MD600 motorbike which was initially released this year at the Polini Grand Prix of Japan, as the Japanese company continue with their arrangements to take part in the upcoming Moto2 session next year.

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Colin Edwards 15th placing at the 2008 Indianapolis event was a disappointment but not repeated at this seasons race, however after placing fifth on Saturday and ending up in fifth position in Sunday’s event, the Texan competitor was not happy with his overall performance on M1 Yamaha at round twelve.

Edwards is clad with the number five on his leathers and is fifth in the overall rankings, normally he would be pleased with a top five effort, but with Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa smashing out right in front of him, the experienced rider required more than what he ended up achieving.

“It wasn’t as much fun as thought it was going to be, to be honest with you, I had hopes of better result at my home race,” he states. “I did the same times I did all weekend but I struggled with some grip issues, it just felt like everything was pivoting on the rear, it was like speedway, as soon as I got the bike on the side the rear came around and that is not the fast way. I couldn’t put any load on the rear.”

Edwards adds, “At the end of the day we had the same tyres as the guy who won the race so whether it was so messing with our set-up or riding style, I don't know. All I could do was watch Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso walk away from me and I took some big risks on the brakes.

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Two trips to Indianapolis and two stage appearances has given Nicky Hayden much enjoyment following another fantastic performance on his home land.

The Kentuckian competitor loves competing on US turf having gained many excellent results, however round 12 of the year will be memorised as one significant event, as he claimed his initial Ducati stage result amid home spectators.

After some tough moments in his career following the 2006 World Championship victory, Hayden states that the 2009 campaign has been a very challenging time in his career.

With a bright mood following his third placing behind Jorge Lorenzo and Alex de Angelis at The Brickyard, Hayden explains, “It is great to be on the podium. I am really happy. Everybody knows what a hard season it has been and to be honest it has been the biggest challenge of my life. We have hung in there and caught a couple of breaks today, and I was able to get on the podium again.”

The 28 year-old adds, “I am happy to be up here spraying a little bubbly (champagne)! I have to say a big thanks to all my team, all my family and all my supporters for sticking behind me.”

After challenging a storming shove from Italian opponent Andrea Dovizioso in the remaining stages Hayden states, “He was all over me and I was getting a lot of heat so I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to hold on.

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The second sole event of the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix arrives this weekend and Thursday’s first proceedings in the twelfth round of the year sees Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Colin Edwards, Dani Pedrosa and Toni Elías all talking to the media in The Brickyard’s impressive media arena.

Rossi, last season's victor of the sole Indy MotoGP event, which was influenced by Hurricane Ike, says, “It is very good to be back here, especially with some better weather and of course this place is full of history. I was on the track having another look today and it is a good circuit. We have some important data from last year, when we were fast in the dry and the wet, so we are ready to start our hard work on Friday.”

Commenting on the confirmation of colleague and championship opponent Jorge Lorenzo staying with Fiat Yamaha next year, Rossi adds, “I think he has made the right choice because our bike is very good. It is not the fastest on the straight, but it is very good on corners and it is very well balanced, we have good settings and in the end he has made the correct decision.”

Hayden speaks of his pride in competing with Ducati for the initial time at his home land circuit, three hours drive away from his home in Kentucky. The previous World hero joked about rumours that Lorenzo had been close to signing with Ducati, he says of his own future, “The biggest news is that Jorge is not taking my bike! The due date is next week for our 2010 decision so maybe we'll know something more then.”

Edwards mentions his dream to stay with his current squad Monster Yamaha Tech 3 for another season, while adding of the Indianapolis event, “To come here and race motorcycles is something really special. To run over the famous bricks is amazing and the track configuration has worked out well even though this is just such a huge stadium arena.”

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