Mugello is set to host another epic MotoGP campaign this weekend as home hero Valentino Rossi comes to the legendary Italian track as championship leader.
The Yamaha rider is locked in a tight championship battle with his team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, who has claimed back-to-back victories after a difficult start to the season with visor and health issues hindering his first races.
Lorenzo has been able to break away in the last two races, but Rossi will no doubt be even more determined to win in front of his home fans.
The factory Ducati team of Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso completed a private test at Mugello recently and the extra data could give Ducati the boost they need to claim their first win of 2015.
The Le Mans round on May 17 saw Dovizioso return to the podium and claim third, cementing him in third overall in the standings and showing once again that Ducati are back to fighting at the front with the new Desmosedici GP15.
Despite a recently dislocated shoulder, Iannone was involved in a fierce battle at Le Mans with reigning champion Marc Marquez (Honda) as they sparred for fourth. Le Mans was not an ideal weekend for Honda with Marquez achieving their best result in fourth while his team-mate Pedrosa, back from missing a few races due to arm-pump surgery, crashed out.
MotoGP World Championship Classification
1 - Valentino Rossi ITA (YAMAHA) - 102
2 - Jorge Lorenzo SPA (YAMAHA) - 87
3 - Andrea Dovizioso ITA (DUCATI) - 83
4 - Marc Marquez SPA (HONDA) - 69
5 - Andrea Iannone ITA (DUCATI) - 61