Currently sitting in fourth place in the riders' classification behind Australian Casey Stoner, the Italian is happy to be heading to his home country on the back of an excellent finish in France.

"It's nice to be heading to my home race on the back of a podium at Le Mans, a result for which myself and the whole team had worked really hard, Melandri told motogp.com.

"Your home Grand Prix is always exciting but demanding at the same time - in fact, Mugello is one of the most technical circuits on the calendar."

"It will be a tough race but the mere idea of racing in front of the Italian fans is a nice boost."

Yet to win this season after three race victories during 2006, the 24-year-old is not getting too far ahead of himself this week, modestly aiming for another podium finish.

"I still haven't made it to the podium in the premier-class at Mugello, so to make it this time would be fantastic," Melandri said.

At one of the most physically demanding tracks on the calendar, both Melandri and team-mate Toni Elias are expected to use similar tyres to what they used in France but with a slightly different compound.

Casey Stoner believes he is 'lucky' and 'privileged' to be sitting 21 points clear of four-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi but the Australian says he is not ready to give up the Championship lead in a hurry.

Having won three races in 2007, Stoner has currently amassed 102 Championship points compared to Rossi's 82, and the 21-year-old from New South Wales believes Rossi is privately fuming about the situation.

"I don't think he (Rossi) has a very good relationship with me at the moment," Stoner said.

"But it's been a great season so far and to be beating Valentino at this stage of the season is a huge bonus for me."

Rossi has made a relatively poor start to the 2007 season with just one race win and two seconds, but Stoner knows that the Italian is experienced and will be challenging for the title by the end of the season.

"I feel pretty lucky and privileged to be running in front of him at the moment but it's a very long season and everyone knows Valentino can stick it out during the whole season so we will just have to see how we go."

Although admitting that Rossi will be hard to beat at his home Grand Prix on Sunday, Stoner has set himself for the race, and is confident he can end the Italian's streak of five consecutive wins at Mugello.

"This weekend is the one I want to win, we have had good results here in the past and I am normally pretty quick at this track and we'll see how we go but I reckon we can pull it off this weekend."

Sportal