The rider sometimes called ‘The Wizard' - Alstare Suzuki's Michel Fabrizio - is heading to a circuit he favours most of all, Brno in the Czech Republic. Even as a lowly privateer in years gone by he produced some magical moments at Brno, storming through to barge Noriyuki Haga out of the way on the final chicane on one memorable occasion.

In recent times he has scored seven podiums in ten races there, and having only taken one podium this year, at Monza in May, he is keen to get back into the top three places at the track he has the closest affinity with.

Said Michel, "I like Brno circuit very much because it is a real racetrack - full of ups and downs and many fast corners. I particularly like the fast corners and I think my bike will go very well there. It's been a bit of a time since my last podium, but I think Brno is the kind of track where I could get on the podium. Of course my raceday plans would be helped if I could actually qualify on the front two rows of the grid. This has been a problem for me this season and it is very hard to get a good result if you have to start a race from rows three or four. I would be happy if qualifying tyres were scrapped because that would get rid of the element of luck in the three Superpoles. I think, if the qualifying tyres were scrapped, I would have a much better chance of qualifying on the first two rows of the grid. However, this is not going to change this season, so the team and I just have to manage the situation and qualify better. It is as simple as that."

He continued, "I am really looking forward to Brno and am thinking of at least one podium. If things go well on Friday and Saturday then who knows what could happen on Sunday. But whatever happens in practice and qualifying, I shall be doing my very best to get on the podium on Sunday."