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Rizla Suzuki MotoGP will be in Italy next weekend for the San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix hoping to continue with both its recent good run of results and to follow on from the impressive performance there last year.

Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen have recorded consecutive podiums between them from the last three Grands Prix, and both riders will be looking to continue with that good run of form on a circuit that the Suzuki GSV-R scored a double podium in 2007.

Capirossi will be going all out to make the weekend a double celebration as he breaks the record for most Grand prix appearances when he takes to the track for Sunday's race.

“We had a good test at Brno and now I go to my second home race after a podium, and after finding some really positive things in the test that will help us for the rest of the season and in the future. It was great for me to get a podium, but I know we can start pushing for more and that must be the next step!”, said the Italian. “Everybody is working hard and now that I am back to full fitness I can push as hard as possible to try to make it happen. I am really looking forward to racing for Suzuki so close to my home town, and I know we will see many people in the Rizla Suzuki blue around the circuit cheering the team on!”

Team-mate Vermeulen - second at the Misano circuit last year - will certainly be wanting to push for another podium to close the gap on the top five in the championship. Both racers are in good spirits and head to Italy with high hopes following a successful two-day test after the last race at Brno, where they made good progress with a fully comprehensive assessment of many new parts for the ever-improving Suzuki GSV-R.

“I really like the Misano circuit and know that I can go well there - as I showed last year with a second place. We found quite a few things at Brno both during the race weekend and certainly during the test. We were really pleased with the results from the test and now we must translate them to a race. I still need to keep pushing as I know I can be competitive and my crew and Suzuki are doing everything they can to make sure we are challenging the front guys from the start of every weekend”, he said.

The 4,226m Misano circuit is situated just outside the city of Rimini – probably the most well-known seaside resort on Italy's famous Adriatic Riviera. It is approximately 130km/s from Capirossi's home town of Bologna, so the popular Italian will certainly enjoy plenty of local support at his second home GP of the season.

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