MotoGP preview: Mugello

As MotoGP heads to Mugello on June 1 for what is always one of the most anticipated rounds on the calendar, Valentino Rossi is all set for his 300th grand prix appearance -- having achieved his 150th premier class podium last time out at Le Mans.

Following the race in France, where Rossi finished second behind Marc Marquez, he was already looking forward to Mugello for another chance to battle with the in-form world champion, this time in front of the passionate Italian crowd.

With his victory at the French GP, Marquez became first rider to win the opening five races of the year, all from pole position, since Giacomo Agostini in the 500cc class in 1971. Marquez leads the standings by 42 points from Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa, and will aim to extend his winning run at round six – at a venue where he crashed out last year.

Marquez will know, however, that Pedrosa will be hungry for his first win since Malaysia last year and that Rossi will be doing everything in his power to add to his nine victories at Mugello, seven of which have come in the premier class. It is fair to say that a win for Rossi in his 300th GP would certainly be popular with the home crowd.

Another strong contender for maximum points in Tuscany will be Rossi’s Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team-mate Jorge Lorenzo. Although the 2010 and 2012 MotoGP world champion is not currently in his best form Lorenzo has won the race at Mugello for the last three years, enjoying a circuit where Yamaha has a solid record.

Just ahead of Lorenzo in the standings in fourth place is Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso, who is sure to enjoy massive support this weekend. Thousands of faithful Ducatisti fans will gather at Correntaio corner once again to will Dovizioso towards the podium and to support his colleague Cal Crutchlow as the Englishman strives to move up the standings from 16th.

The likes of Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda MotoGP) and Alvaro Bautista (GO&FUN Honda Gresini) go in search of further top five results from sixth and 10th respectively in the championship table. Bautista arrives at Mugello on a high, having recovered from his early season dip by racing to third at Le Mans.

Another excellent performer at Le Mans was Pol Espargaro and the rookie will aim to build on his fourth place in France with another solid performance in Italy. Having adapted quickly to MotoGP in the first five rounds, Moto2 world champion Espargaro is just ahead of his brother Aleix Espargaro (NGM Forward Racing) and Monster Yamaha Tech 3 teammate Bradley Smith in the overall classification.

Just outside the top 10 in the standings is another Italian in Andrea Iannone. The Pramac Racing rider looks to bounce back from two consecutive DNFs after showing his speed in practice and in the opening three races of the year.

Iannone’s compatriot Danilo Petrucci (IodaRacing Project) makes a welcome return at Mugello, having missed the trip to France with the fractured left wrist he sustained at Jerez.

Australia’s Broc Parkes (Paul Bird Motorsport) will also be in action.

This weekend’s event is the 29th occasion that a GP has been held at Mugello, including 24 times in the consecutive years from 1991.

Moto2
With his consecutive victories at Jerez and Le Mans, Mika Kallio has pegged back his Marc VDS Racing Team teammate Tito Rabat in the championship standings, with the gap now just seven points.

Last year at Mugello Rabat finished in 13th position and he is yet to step onto the podium at the picturesque Italian venue in his grand prix career.

Like Rabat, Kallio has never been a rostrum finisher at Mugello, though it would be a surprise if neither of that pair can achieve a top three finish this time around in Italy given the strength of the team’s start to the year.

There are just four riders who have scored points in all of the first five Moto2 races of 2014. Rabat and Kallio are two of them of course, with Sandro Cortese (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Australian Anthony West (QMMF Racing Team) having done so from further down the field – currently in 10th and 11th places respectively in the standings.

Moto3
Australia’s Jack Miller has been the standout performer over the opening five rounds. His season started with a bang as he collected two wins at the first two races, but he then saw his standings lead pegged back as Romano Fenati responded with two victories of his own, before Miller made a statement of intent with a brilliant win at Le Mans.

Whilst SKY Racing Team VR46’s Fenati was unable to finish the race in France due to electronics issues, Miller took control of the championship chase as he came out on top of a last lap battle with eight riders in contention for the podium in the final stages.

Fenati therefore dropped to 30 points behind Miller in the standings, with Efren Vazquez (SAXOPRINT RTG) and Alex Rins (Estrella Galicia 0,0) respectively two and three points in arrears of Fenati.