MotoGP™ heads to Tuscany this weekend for Valentino Rossi’s first home race of the year and the 300th of his career, at the Gran Premio d'Italia TIM.

The race is also a home Grand Prix for the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team itself, being based in Italy at the historic Monza circuit in Gerno di Lesmo.

Rossi prepares to entertain his home fans in good form having been at the sharp end of recent races and having taken a well earned second place on the podium at the last round in France.

The local hero remains the only Grand Prix rider ever to take seven straight wins at his home race, scoring consecutive premier class victories at Mugello from 2002 to 2008.

Prior to this he also had a 125cc win in 1997 and a 250cc win in 1999. He will be determined to forget last year’s unfortunate DNF after crashing on the first lap.

“I am very happy to go to Mugello,” comments The Doctor. “This is a beautiful track and I like it so much. There are always 25 points as the other races, but Mugello is a matter of honour. Jorge (Lorenzo) has won the last three years on the Yamaha, doing fantastic races, and this means that the M1 is very competitive on this track.”

“It will be my 300th GP this weekend and for that I am not very happy because it means that I'm old! But I'm happy because I am in good shape and I can still be very fast.”



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