Preview - Grand Prix of Italy.

After Sugo (Japan) and Matchams Park (Great Britain) the 2005 FIM Motocross World Championship arrives at Castiglione del Lago, Italy, for the eighth round of the 2005 series.

The third consecutive grand prix in as many weeks will be demanding for riders and teams alike, with the riders facing a 'traditional' hard-pack track compared to more softer recent events.

"It's really nice to have different types of tracks - a world championship must mix all conditions. I want to race some hard tracks now," said British GP podium finisher Josh Coppins last weekend. Indeed, most of the world championship riders have raced at some stage in the past at Castiglione, even if no grand prix has been organised there since 2002.

Most of the Italian fans will be carefully watching the MX2 class (formerly named 125cc) as that category has traditionally been the best for native riders. Michele Rinaldi (1984), Alessandro Puzar (1995) and Alessio Chiodi (1997, 1998, 1999) all clinched 125cc world titles - and that's where the Tifosi can most expect a GP win this weekend.

Much more open than last year - after seven rounds the top four riders were separated by 85 points, while after seven rounds this year the top four riders are separated by just 13 points - the 2005 MX2 series has already seen six different heat winners and no less than fourteen different riders on the podium.

Some of those have been the usual contenders, but there has been a lot of new faces with Christophe Pourcel, Billy Mackenzie, David Philippaerts and Davide Guarneri who have taken their first ever GP top three.

Winner of three rounds so far this season is Australian Andrew McFarlane, who took the series lead - for the first time in his GP career - after his British win last time out. However, his nearest challengers are Italians Antonio Cairoli and Alessio Chiodi - both of whom only scored points in one heat last weekend and will be looking for revenge on their home ground.

Youngster Cairoli is suffering from a wrist injury, while veteran Chiodi was sick during the last two weeks but will lead the hoe charge alongside David Philippaerts - starting his third race aboard the factory 250 KTM - and Davide Guarneri - winner of the second heat in Teutschenthal.

Meanwhile, among the fifty riders entering the MX2 event one of them will have some extra-attention: Stefy Bau (lower pic) the first woman to ever race a grand prix.

In the MX1 class Stefan Everts now strongly leads the series after his fifth GP win in Great Britain. Nearest title rival Mickael Pichon had a really bad day in Matchams Park and is now closely followed in the standings by Coppins and Joel Smets.

"I felt so tired last weekend that I wasn't able to race as usual," Pichon explained in the week. "I had some blood tests to understand what's happening, but unfortunately I got these problems at the worst period with three GPs in a row including Japan.

"Matchams was physically really demanding and I couldn't take many points, let's hope that it will be better in Castiglione," added the Frenchman who will have his Repsol Honda team-mate Javier Garcia Vico alongside him for the second race in a row after England.

Coppins, Smets and KTM's Ben Townley will be the strongest opponents to Everts and Pichon, while Antti Pyrhonen and Antoine Meo will probably feel some pressure.

Both racing for an Italian brands (respectively TM and Husqvarna) the Finn and the Frenchman will be under the microscope, especially Antoine who will debut new Husqvarna colours during the weekend.