Having prevented an all-Spanish podium with his victory last year, British teenager Bradley Smith returns to Mugello this weekend looking for a repeat result to kick-start his 2010 title quest. The unique challenges of the Tuscan track, which include the second longest straight on the calendar (at 1.141km compared to the 1.326km of the new Circuito Motorland in Aragón), will provide another stern test for the minor category machines and riders.

Smith and his Bancaja Aspar team-mate Nico Terol are ready for challenge, with the Spaniard looking to continue a consistent start to the season that sees him leading the championship standings after three rounds. Terol finished second here last year behind Smith, who in France returned to the kind of form that saw him take the runner-up spot in the 2009 championship. The Brit, who holds the pole record at Mugello with a time of 1’58.134, is looking for his first podium of 2010.

Nico Terol: “I am feeling highly motivated and in good form going to Mugello, which is a circuit I love. I feel strong, the Aprilia is working really well, the relationship with the team is ideal and the results are coming. At the last race I set my first pole position and fought right to the end for the win, so my confidence is just growing on a daily basis. We’ll have to race smart on Sunday to make the most of the slipstreams and have a clear strategy from the moment we’re on the grid. Personally I think Mugello is one of the most difficult circuits on the calendar because it has fast, technical corners and if you are not committed they can catch you out. It will be important to get our references early and make sure I know my lines. I’ll be giving it 100%, like I have in the last three races, and hopefully win again.”

Bradley Smith: “I am looking forward to going to Mugello, a circuit where I know I can be fast. I always enjoy riding there and I have good memories from the last two seasons. I’m excited because at Le Mans we took a big step forward with my bike, I got my feeling for it back and we were competitive again. For me it is almost as if the season starts here because I’m back on the pace I showed last year. Mugello is a technical circuit with a lot of bumps and elevation changes, so you need a stable bike to cope with that. I always enjoy racing in Italy because it feels like a second home to me so hopefully this year it will be good to me again and I can be fighting for the podium.”