Factory Yamaha's Valentino Rossi is under no illusions about how tough this weekend's Mugello MotoGP is going to be of a home crowd with the knowledge he isn't yet fast enough to challenge team-mate Jorge Lorenzo and the two Repsol Hondas.
Rossi has taken some remarkable victories at the track, and suffered his first bad accident at Casanova/Savelli, but if The Doctor can turn it around anywhere, it will be at the Florentine circuit.
“I am very happy that we go to Mugello. I love this track and I'm really happy to go back there with Yamaha. This is a track that I really like and a good result is important. Unfortunately we are still not fast enough so we need to improve, especially in dry conditions," said the nine-time world champion.
"We must work hard and improve the bike. The Mugello race will be difficult, but we will try to do everything to get the best result. A podium would be really nice. I believe that there will be many people at Mugello so I'm happy and the heat in Mugello is always good.”