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.

MotoGP free testing at the Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini begins at 1.55pm local time on Friday 4th September.