With their main workshop in Milan, Italy just a few hours away, Trentino has become known as the ‘home’ GP for the Honda HRC PETRONAS team, and with all four riders fit, healthy and raring to go, this year’s edition should be a must-watch for all fans.

Honda HRC PETRONAS prepare for ‘home’ GP in Trentino

While there were a lot of positives to take-away from the previous round in Sardinia, there was also a feeling that points were left on the table, and as such, the short week between the races gives the riders the perfect opportunity to right those wrongs and get themselves back to where they want to be.

Probably the happiest rider on the team leaving the small Italian island was Ruben Fernandez, who finally got to show his prowess in the sand when he put together a very impressive pair of fifth place finishes. At a track which hasn’t been kind to the Spaniard, he got good starts and rode mistake-free motocross against some real specialists to score solid points and prove once again he is at the highest level on any terrain.

While Jeffrey Herlings did score 54-points over the three races, there was definitely some disappointment, to narrowly miss out on the overall victory by just over a second in that second moto. While it was still only his fourth GP on his Honda CRF450RW, the #84 sets extremely high standards for himself and the pair of second place finishes didn’t seat easy with the Dutchman after the racing. While Trentino isn’t his favourite venue, he knows with his improved starts, he stands a good chance of getting back in the win column this weekend.

For the majority of the two motos, Tom Vialle was very close to getting on the podium in Riola Sardo, however some small errors in the tough conditions near the end of both motos meant that slipped through his fingers and now he’ll be returning to the scene of his 2020 MX2 world title coronation, and a track that he enjoys riding to try and put that right. The #16 grabbed the holeshot in race one, and if he does the same in Trentino, he could very well add to his victory in Switzerland and get himself right back into title contention in what is his first season in the MXGP class and on-board Honda machinery.

Probably the most excited team member is Valerio Lata, who had a Sardinian experience to forget but now gets to race his favourite track on the calendar. The Italian will be supported by a lot of friends and family at the picturesque circuit and will be hoping to get back to the form that he showed in Switzerland, with perhaps even more speed that could see him challenging for the podium positions.

Already after four rounds there have been a lot of good moments for the Honda HRC PETRONAS team, but this home GP in Pietramurata, Trentino has the potential for even more.

Jeffrey Herlings: Trentino isn’t my favourite track, but I know I’ve got to go out there and get the best result possible. Last week was a tough one and although it was my best points for the weekend, I know if I want to win this championship, I need to win races. Still, there is plenty of racing left to go and I’m in a good spot and I’m enjoying racing this Honda CRF450RW so I look at each round as a new challenge.

Rubén Fernández: Sardinia hasn’t been a good track to me in the past, so it was very nice to score a pair of fifth-place finishes. I think it shows my sand riding has improved because to be consistent in both races, with no mistakes isn’t easy and it is something I’ve struggled with before. Now I want to bring that same energy into Trentino and try and be a bit closer to the front guys and challenge for those podium spots.

Tom Vialle: Mistakes in each race last weekend dropped me down the standings, but my riding was still good and it was good to know that my speed in the sand is there. Now we have the hard-pack in Trentino and I’m looking forward to going there. I won my 2020 title there and it is just a spectacular location and a track that I enjoy riding. Hoping to get some more good starts because it isn’t easy to pass on, and if I can do that, I think I can get some good results.

Valerio Lata: This weekend is my favourite on the calendar. Trentino is my favourite track and I am really hoping to do well there. A lot of friends and family come to this round, and it is just a cool location in a really nice area. I like the layout and the terrain and I’m excited to try and challenge at the front of the field once again.

Marcus Pereira de Freitas - Honda HRC Team Manager: Trentino is always a race that the team look forward to when it is announced on the calendar. It is our ‘home’ GP and one where we have a lot of extra friends, family and extra guests that come along and support the team. Last time out in Sardinia was a good round, but there was also some disappointment, so it is good to have a race this weekend to try and get everyone back to feeling good and going out there in the best frame of mind.