Despite winning 25 MotoGP races since its 2003 debut, Ducati has never won its home Italian Grand Prix at Mugello.
Instead, the home factory has had to settle for three second places and one third, out of six visits to a race won by Valentino Rossi ever since 2002.
But the performance of the 800cc Desmosedici is on an upward curve at Mugello, where it crossed the line third in 2007 with Alex Barros and then second last year with Casey Stoner. Could it go one better this weekend and finally end Rossi’s reign?
It will be a shock if anyone other than Stoner leads the Ducati attack and the Australian arrives at Mugello knowing that victory would also hand him the world championship lead.
“I can’t wait to race again at Mugello - a circuit where I’ve had good results and some unforgettable moments, such as my first ever pole position in 2003 [125cc] and my first pole for Ducati in 2007, even though we just missed out on the podium in that race,” recalled Stoner. Yahoo! Eurosports
And the 2007 world champion is just as fired up as Rossi about the prospect of this weekend’s race.
“I can’t wait to race again at Mugello - a circuit where I’ve had good results and some unforgettable moments, such as my first ever pole position in 2003 (125cc) and my first pole for Ducati in 2007, even though we just missed out on the podium in that race,” said the Australian.
“Last year I finished second and considering the progress we’ve made since then, I’m sure we can be fighting for it again this time.” BBC Sport
| 
|