IRTA (International Road Racing Teams Association) has assigned the “Best Grand Prix 2011″ to the Mugello circuit for hosting the Gran Premio d’Italia TIM last July 3rd, won by Jorge Lorenzo.

This is the fifth time that the Italian circuit has won the award and the Tuscan circuit will continue to host MotoGP events up to 2016 after signing a five year deal with the organizers last season.

IRTA President Herve Poncharal said: “The best Grand Prix is voted by the teams, and the teams talk to the riders, mechanics and press officers. So it’s not only the track, it’s everything, how everybody feels about the Grand Prix and how everybody feels at home there. So I’m personally very happy that they’ve won it for the fifth time. I’m delighted to think we’re going to go back there quite soon and this is well-deserved.”

“I consider this award recognition of Italian excellence around the world. This is proof that Italy is able to answer – with the strength of tradition and innovation – to global challenges defining this difficult historical period,” said Mugello Circuit CEO Paolo Poli. “The Italian Grand Prix will remain the most important event of our sporting calendar in years to come. In addition, we will continue our positive relationship with Dorna and IRTA, whose professionalism has allowed motorcycle racing to be more successful and popular than ever.”

In 2010 the ‘Best Grand Prix’ went to the September 19th MotorLand Aragon GP.

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Development work on the Ducati GP12 is going full speed ahead as Nicky Hayden after his 4th place at Silverstone headed straight to Italy on Tuesday to get another day of testing, his second on the new machine, putting in 83 laps on the newly asphalted Mugello circuit.

“It was a positive day even if the track conditions this morning weren’t great because of the rain last night. That caused us to get started a bit late, but we worked on the setup and some new changes that have been made to the GP12. I only started having better feeling after the lunch break, when the sun made the track conditions better. The new asphalt is definitely a big improvement, especially in some spots, like the two Arrabbiate corners, which are really fun now. I’m satisfied with the steps forward that have been made with the bike since the first time I tried it, at Jerez. Thanks to Filippo (Preziosi) for giving me the opportunity to ride it again.”

Valentino Rossi will be getting is third test on the GP12 today, after the previous one at Jerez in April and the one at the Mugello last month, while the Ducati test team has also continued working on the GP11.

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The Mugello circuit has come up with this original idea for it’s turnstiles in one of Italy’s biggest motorcycle racing events of season, the Gran Premio D’Italia Alice.

Odd thing about this helmet-turnstile, it’s a Suomy replica, identical to the one that Max Biaggi was wearing for first two races in the WSBK championship this year.

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