BBC Sport motorsport

By Steve Parrish BBC motorbikes commentator

We've all been waiting for a season like this for ages.

Last year it turned into a one-horse race but now, like buses, serious challengers have all turned up at once.

I've never seen Rossi celebrate as much as he has after the last couple of wins in China and France Steve Parrish on Valentino Rossi

This season it's a genuine four-way battle between Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo.

I've never seen Rossi celebrate as much as he has after the last couple of wins in China and France.

That's because they've come after such a drought.

He's won six times on the trot at this weekend's location, Mugello, and he seems to own the place.

His current momentum comes from the fact he's so happy with his bike - the Yamaha team have done what he asked, and now there's even talk about him signing for another two years.

But he knows that if Lorenzo had been fit in the last two races, he would have been under a lot more pressure as he has the same toys in the toy box as Rossi and is just as hungry.

Lorenzo has come into the championship as a great 250cc champion but I don't think he can believe how easily MotoGP has come to him.

But he has been firing himself into the scenery a bit - even at Le Mans when he was injured, he crashed.

He seems indestructible, but we've seen a lot of people who seemed indestructible before, and then sooner or later, something snaps.

If he's not careful, it'll be something that will put him out of races, rather than just slow him down.

He's got the skill, ability and staying power but he's a young kid racing against the best there is, so he has to be on the limit and sometimes he goes beyond it.

To do what he does, you have to be on the knife edge and I think it's going to cut him soon if he's not careful.

MUGELLO MOTOGP Qualifying live: Saturday, BBCi (Freeview channel 302) and BBC Sport website, 1250-1400 125 and 250cc races live: Sunday, BBCi (Freeview channel 301) and BBC Sport website, 0945-1215 Race live: Sunday, BBC Two and BBC Sport website, 1230-1400 MotoGP Extra : Sunday, BBCi and BBC Sport website (not available on Freeview) 1400-1430 Coverage on the BBC Sport website is available for UK users only MotoGP on the BBC

Being at home in Italy puts Ducati in the spotlight a lot more.

They're under a lot of pressure and it was most unusual for Casey Stoner's bike to pack up like it did last time in France.

It was a mechanical failure but I still think it's very competitive and so is Stoner.

Everyone's feeling sorry for his team-mate Marco Melandri, though.

Obviously he can ride a bike, as he was 250cc world champion, but something has happened dramatically to his confidence.

I don't see him being there that much longer - I don't think Ducati can continue giving a bike which can be up at the sharp end to someone who's at the blunt end.

It's embarrassing to everyone, including him, and I don't think he'd have any qualms if he was given the push.

Pedrosa looks like he thinks he can win it and he is a lot more aggressive and purposeful this year.

He doesn't inspire you to want him to do well as he doesn't even smile on the podium, but he can ride a motorbike very, very fast - I think this is one of his best years.

It's very easy to be very focused and quite glum on race days, but I think sometimes you have to make the effort, especially if you're on the podium or pole position!

To do what he does, you have to be on the knife edge and I think it's going to cut him soon if he's not careful Steve Parrish on Jorge Lorenzo

Mugello is another circuit where James Toseland hasn't raced before, but he has tested Superbikes there, so he does know it.

James has set himself incredibly high standards by being in the hunt early on and has already done far more than I expected this year as he has to learn not just the circuits, but also the new environment of MotoGP.

He's very mature and I think he's going about it in a very methodical way.

He knows this is his apprenticeship year, but I think he can get a podium before the end of it, maybe at somewhere he knows, like Phillip Island in Australia - which happens to be on his birthday.

June and July are busy months but I think the race for the title will go all the way to the wire.

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With four riders in the running, there might be one or two who will go by the wayside but it won't all be decided just yet.

Unlike last year when Stoner stormed away, this year I think we'll be seeing a race for the championship until the final race in Valencia.

Mugello has one of the longest straits around, but it's a two-part track.

The strait won't do Stoner any harm, or Pedrosa, but the twisty part favours Rossi as it's his home ground - and we don't know what Lorenzo will do, but I can't imagine him being slow.

So it won't suit any one of them more than the other three this weekend.

Mugello prediction 1. Rossi 2. Pedrosa 3. Stoner

Steve Parrish was talking to Julian Shea