Melandri pins hopes on qualifying strategy

The Gresini Honda rider scored his first podium of the season at the French Grand Prix, with his early season results having been hampered by poor qualifying performances that left him too far down the grid to make an impact.

But ahead of his home race in Italy, Melandri thinks that a different approach to qualifying should help him achieve the results that he thinks he is capable of.

"We are going to try and get a very good position on the grid," said the Gresini Honda rider.

"One of my biggest problems has been that I wasn't so fast in qualifying, so I have changed a little bit the strategy. I hope now to be able to start from the first two rows."

Melandri admits, however, that the long straight at Mugello is not ideal for his bike - even though his second-place finish in France has lifted his spirits.

"It was nice to be back on the podium in Le Mans," he said. "We had so many problems in the winter and in the first races, but we are working hard with the team and with Honda. I'm looking forward to this race.

"But it will be a tough weekend for us because we still have to improve some parts of the bike. There is one long straight and that for us is not easy, but on the other parts of the track our bike is good. We have good handling there.

"I have never had a podium in MotoGP (at Mugello), so I am looking to get on the podium. Everyone will be pushing hard, and if you are Italian then you will not get any presents from the other riders."