The Italian's closest rivals in the 2008 championship, Tyla Rattray and Tommy Searle, both of
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, completed the Bulgarian rostrum last year, sitting second and third respectively.
This weekend Rattray will be on a mission to get the red plate back as the South African lead the Championship from his Valkenswaard's victory until the last round. On the other hand Searle has not collected a win yet but he keeps going for it since his maiden success at his home in
Donington Park last year.
The hard fought 2008 season has seen a third GP winner - alongside Rattray and Cairoli - in the form of Ricci Racing Yamaha's Davide Guarneri. After his triumph in wet Spain, the Italian is currently fourth but he is ready to work his way up through his consistency.
This weekend will also see the opening round of the FIM Women's Motocross World Championship, marking the first edition of the series as the incredibly popular Women's World Cup was upgraded to world championship status at the end of 2007. Kiwi Yamaha mounted Katherine Prumm enters Sevlievo as the defending champion.
