GP of Lombardia marks penultimate round of 2009 this weekend at Ottobiano

Making its comeback to Ottobiano after a four year absence the FIM SuperMoto World Championship will see the penultimate Grand Prix of the season get underway this weekend in the Lombardia region (Italy) as Van Den Bosch leads the S1 class and Adrien Chareyre the S2.

A tough Greek outing cost VDB a few points, while GP winner Thomas Chareyre has moved up to third in the Championship behind Hermunen.

In the S2 class Delepine took his first season's win in Greece ahead of Gozzini and Adrien Chareyre-the duo ended level in points.

Karanyotov still tops the S3 European Championship while Porfiri is the new leader of the Open class courtesy of a fruitful Greek round.

S1
Husqvarna CH Racing's Thomas Chareyre has proved to be the fastest Superider of the moment by winning the three consecutive GP's after his return to racing in Latina - a crash ruled the Frenchman out of the British GP. A strong Greek outing paid Chareyre with the third spot in the Championship but with two more Grand Prix's to go the youngster will be looking for more.

Team mate and runner up in the Championship Hermunen is just seven points ahead as he missed the podium last weekend in Greece for the first time this season. The Finn now feels the threat of a quick Chareyre and will need to give his best for this action packed Championship finale.

747 Motorsport - TM Racing Factory's Van Den Bosch also missed the podium in Greece but managed to retain the red plate courtesy of an 18 point advantage over Hermunen. The three time World Champion dominated in Ottobiano in 2004 as he won the Superfinal.

Despite making his podium comeback in Thessaloniki, HM Honda Racing's Lazzarini was taken off the top three in the Championship but the arrival of his home round gives the Italian further motivation to join the leaders again.

Seel, winner of two heats in Ottobiano in 2004, completes the top five in the series ahead of Bussei, a strong contender at the Greek GP.

Coming back to the GP scene in Greece, Hiemer has not yet decided whether he will be in Ottobiano or not due to issues connected with his wrist injury. The Grand Prix at the South Milano race track would be a special moment for the German as that was the track where he injured over the winter, missing his Title defence season.

S2
Having won four Grand Prix's out of five, Husqvarna CH Racing's Adrien Chareyre showed no concern after missing out on the Greek GP win as he salvaged a tough weekend with third on the podium. Ending level in points with runner up in the Championship Gozzini, Chareyre's advantage remaining of 27 points.

Racing at home this weekend, 747 Motorsport - TM Racing Factory's Gozzini hopes to chip away at that gap, keeping his Title hopes alive until the end of the season set for Salou, Spain, in mid November. Gozzini last GP experience in Ottobiano was a good one, courtesy of pole and a podium finish in the Superfinal.

Delepine of Husqvarna Cross 2R is a close third behind Gozzini after he took his first season's GP win at Thessaloniki. The result was a confidence booster for Delepine, being just 14 points adrift.

Being an excellent Ottobiano connoisseur Italian Gaspardone looks for a strong performance this weekend. The 25 year old is bitterly disappointed about having missed out on last weekend's podium. He collected two third place finishes but missed his maiden rostrum by three points.

With Gaspardone being fourth in the Championship, Italy fellow rider Borella completes the top five ahead of injured Mariani.

Being contracted by KTM Motoracing to race the final two GP's of 2009, American Burkhart will make his first appearance in the series this weekend.