Biaggi's best chance of home glory.

Sete Gibernau may be leading the MotoGP world championship by virtue of two brilliant victories and a third place, but the majority of the expected 75,000 Mugello fans will be cheering for one of the top three Italians at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

Of the trio - Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), Max Biaggi (Honda) and Loris Capirossi (Ducati) - only Biaggi has yet to win his home MotoGP, but the Roman Emperor goes into Mugello with his best chance ever of securing the one race win he most wishes to have on his CV.

With three races of the 2004 season complete, the Camel Honda rider currently sits second in the championship, ten points behind Gibernau, after taking podium finishes in every event so far this year.

Biaggi has actually won three consecutive 250cc grands prix at Mugello, but the premier-class prize has always eluded him. However, a second and two thirds from his last three Mugello appearances have left him more determined than ever to win this time round.

"Of course Mugello is very special to me," he began. "First of all I love the track. Even if it was not my home grand prix I would love it, the layout is one of the best on the calendar... the long fast main straight, corners such as 'Bucine', the section from which leads from 'Casanova Savelli', to the two 'Arrabiatta' are poetry for the riders. And I also like the downhills so much; they give you a real thrill when you ride.

"Last but not least there are the fans, they really make you feel supported, they push you to give your best. With four Italians riders in MotoGP, with Ducati in search of revenge, and all the other riders keen to show they can also run at the front I can predict a new record number of spectators at the track," he enthused.

Biaggi, as so often this year, refused to be drawn into pre-race predictions but following a successful test at Le Mans - where it is rumoured he tried some new 'factory parts' - the Italian was in buoyant mood.

"I feel in good shape, the bike is performing very well indeed so far, even with a few problems at Le Mans we got on the podium," he said. "I'm second in the championship. It's only the fourth race; it's not a case to make too much strategy. We did some good set up tests at Le Mans and we'll see if they also prove useful for Mugello. Anyway, things have not been so bad so far, have they?"

Biaggi is not one for TV and lazy down time between races. In his free time since Le Mans Max has been actively supporting his favourite charities through football and was also a guest of the Renault F1 team at Monte Carlo, where he watched his friend Jarno Trulli take pole position then go on to win the Monaco Grand Prix.

"Mama mia! No I don't watch too much TV especially reality shows such as 'Grande Fratello' (Big Brother). I prefer to live my day rather than watch others doing it. It's like a transfer, like switching on the TV and switching off yourself," he said. "No, I like to follow the news, the sports programmes and a good movie. I like a lot of action movies."

"I went to visit the F1 paddock (in Monaco) and was happy watching Jarno getting his first pole from his pit garage," Max added. "He made a perfect lap on Saturday and a perfect race on Sunday."

Just the sort of performance Biaggi will be seeking this weekend.