Since the beginning Mugello has proven to be a special track for the 800cc riders and always gets added attention from them, as five of them explained on Thursday ahead of the Gran Premio d’Italia Alice of the MotoGP.

The pre-event press conference held for the Italian round of the MotoGP championship held at Mugello brought five riders out of the pleasant sun present at the track and inside to face the gathered media. Sitting in at the middle of the table was the current World Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo, he was flanked former World Champion Casey Stoner and teammate and the Mugello king Valentino Rossi, as well as the local Italian stars Niccolò Canepa and Marco Melandri.

The group of five had unanimously positive opinions of the track, all riders noted the impressive atmosphere and enjoyable layout of this race track. But even despite all this, not one rider dared to make any predictions on a final result for the big show piece race on Sunday.

Current points leader Lorenzo said “We recovered 24 points in one race at Le Mans, with perhaps a bit of luck. To get a podium here would be great; to fight with Valentino would be amazing, but it’s not my objective,” he also added “I want to finish races and improve my result from last year. I will try not to repeat what happened at Jerez but who knows? It could happen.”

Jorge Lorenzo was justified in his citing Valentino Rossi as a key rival on Italian soil. Valentino has won the past seven visits to Mugello, and Rossi always seems to have extra motivation for his home round.

“This Grand Prix is, from one point of view, more important than the others,” commented World Champion Rossi. “It’s Italy, there’s a huge crowd and a great atmosphere. “But there are 25 points available like at any other race.”

Whilst Ducati rider Casey Stoner dismissed any hopes of Valentino Rossi buckling under any pressure by stating that “he normally performs,” before saying that he is, “confident of a good race –even if a win might be another matter.”

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It is one of the seasons most eagerly awaited rounds on the MotoGP calendar, and the 2009 season is no different, there is a title battle equally as breathtaking as the Mugello scenery. The Gran Premio d’Italia Alice takes place this weekend to mark the fifth race of the 2009 season, with the top three riders in the premier class separated by just a single point.

Currently leading the World Championship standings for the second time in the 2009 season is Jorge Lorenzo with sixty-six points to his name after a smoking start to the season. Victories in Japan and, most recently, France have been the standout results for the Fiat Yamaha rider since the beginning of the season, with a further visit to the podium making up the rest of his total, the only scuff  to date this season was a crash in Jerez that blotted his copybook, something rectified at Le Mans, and the Spaniard is keen to make amends for his 2008 DNF at Mugello with another sterling result.

In second place behind his teammate Jorge Lorenzo by one point is reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi, who's record at the Mugello circuit speaks for itself. Victory at the last seven MotoGP visits to the Italian track give the reigning World Champion an incomparable pedigree at a single circuit. Valentino Rossi has won in all conditions and on a variety of machinery at the outstanding Mugello racetrack, but again a win is never a done deal with the level of high talent at the MotoGP in 2009. The six-time premier class titlist will be aiming for his ninety-ninth triumph and, most importantly, the leadership in the MotoGP standings in front of his home fans. Just incase any further motivation were needed for the Superstar, Rossi arrives in Italy following a disastrous last place finish at the Le Mans Grand Prix.

Then there is Casey Stoner the 2007 World Champion who has been adopted by a section of the Italian crowd as one of their own, Casey Stoner is also close behind Lorenzo, level on points with Rossi in a tightly-packed top three. Just as his rival did Stoner also finished off the podium in France, meaning that no rider has stepped onto the podium at every race in the 2009 season. A win at the Mugello circuit would not only be a huge psychological advantage for Stoner, but would also bring delight to the Italian giants Ducati and their fans at the Italian factory’s home race. Stoner has taken a second place and qualified on pole position with his past two trips to Mugello.

Close behind the leading trio is Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa, he is building confidence and fitness with every race. Pedrosa managed to catch up with and pass teammate Andrea Dovizioso for a third consecutive podium at the last round, and has been one of the few riders to give Rossi problems at the scene of this weekend’s race in recent years.

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With the success of last year the wait is finally over the 11th Annual Gold Coast bike week spectacle promises to be full with a taste of something for all motorcycling enthusiasts, whether you are into dirt bikes, cruisers, trikes,choppers, sports bikes the list is endless.

Since the inception of the very first Gold Coast bike week has been snowballing with a variety of competitions in a variety of classes and fields, from Custom, Miss Bike Week and even the sports bikes, Prizes and trophies are earned by those judged to be the best in there chosen field.

Memorabilia will also be merchandise available to buy as well as DVDs's and much more.

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The new range of BMW products caters for the most discerning motorcycle rider and now offers a series of products that include complete suits, the suits consist of a jacket and trouser to ew gloves,a new one piece suit, functional wear, safety gear and luggage.

New to the 2009 BMW program is the Cover All suit, this suit is waterproof, breathable, windproof and has built in protection and designed to wear over clothing.

Other suits also featured in the 2009 range, replace their highly successful predecessor models, for example the Streetguard 3 suit as the comfortable all-rounder suit, the Trailguard suit as the all-rounder for on-road and off-road use and the ventilated AirFlow suit for hot days. All new models offer significant increases in functionality.

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All manufacturers worldwide have a superstar and at Honda, the holder of that title is without doubt the GL1800 Goldwing motorcycle. The Honda Goldwing motorcycle boasts sporting performance, also long-range luxury converge harmoniously to create the greatest touring bike ever made and not to mention plenty of power.

It all starts with the Honda Goldwing’s amazing flat-six, fuel-injected 1832cc engine, Honda’s high-tech wizardry is able to take long-distance touring comfort and convenience to levels other manufacturers can only dream of.

The outstanding comfort coupled with exceptional carrying capacity are then further enhanced by combining it with strong performance and easy turning, and not to mention a ow centre of gravity, lightweight frame and aerodynamic styling contributing to its incredible agility.

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MotoGp rider Colin Edwards has a total of three pole positions, four second places and six third places to his name which leave Edwards with just one more Grand Prix honour missing from his impressive CV. It may seem like time is running out for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider to take that elusive first win, and the ‘Texas Tornado’ has singled out the upcoming Grand Prix de France as his return to the Last Chance Saloon.

Colin Edwards has this to say “Let’s go to Le Mans. I’m ready,” said Edwards, rubbing his hands with glee. “If I’m going to win a race, then it’s going to be there, as I’ve always gone good at the track. Now that the field has evened out with the tyres I’m really looking forward to the race,” he added, his voice cheering up after reflecting on a disappointing round at Jerez.

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