Preview - Grand Prix of Bulgaria.

Bulgaria hosts round six of the 2006 Motocross World Championships this weekend, with Stefan Everts comfortably clear in the premier MX1 class - but with MX2 as unpredictable as ever.

The impressive Sevlievo circuit has all the facilities and infrastructure required by a modern motocross venue. The fast and hilly course with 100% views for spectators has apparently been adjusted to comply with FIM rules and to lower the speed ahead of its third World Championship event this weekend.

The inaugural Bulgarian Grand Prix took place in 2002 and was run again in 2003 before vanishing off the calendar for more than two years. Prior to the '02 edition at the regenerated Sevlievo location, the FIM competition had not visited the country for almost two decades.

The course was popular with the riders but perhaps is notoriously remembered for being the track on which the racing career of 250cc grand prix winner Pit Beirer tragically ended 36 months ago.

Bulgaria marks the start of three GPs in a row - with Italy and the England to follow - and comes after the first flyaway race of the year, in Japan, two weeks ago. Nine-times champion Everts, who will retire at the end of this season, won for Yamaha in their home race and now tops the MX1 standings by 61 points over Kawasaki's young star Tanel Leok.

But thing are less clear in MX2, where the top five riders are separated by 46-points, with Kawasaki's Christophe Pourcel now leading the table from KTM's Marc de Reuver after team-mate Tyla Rattray's Sugo misfortune - while reigning champion Antonio Cairoli is now up to fourth and closing fast...