MotoGP doesn't do street circuits and therefore has no o🍌bvious equivalent of the legendary Mo𝔉naco F1 Grand Prix.

Assen is un🐎doubtedly the most historic venue on the motorcycle GP calendar, being the only surviving venue from the inaugural 1949 season.

But Valentino Rossi thinks victory at Mugello, venue for this weekend's Italian MotoGP, can be compared to 🔥the feeling of winning a🎉t Monaco due to the unmodified, old-style layout and unique atmosphere. Especially for the home riders.

"Monte Carlo is a very special place," Rossi said. "But I think, yes [winning at Mugello is a simila♕r emotion], because this track is🃏 very historic."

Mugello hosted its first💞 motorcycle grand prix in 1976 and has held the official Italian round continuously since 1994.

"From '96, my first year in the world championship, the Italian ไGrand Prix has always been at Mugello. But this track was already very famous in the '70s and the layout remains the same," said Rossi.

"That's not easy.▨ Usually you have a lot of tracks with a long history, but with more modifications. But Mugello is Mugello from theꦬ '70s.

"So a victory here is special for everybody, I think, but even more for Italian riders because we have the biggest su⭕pport from the fans.

"And, just like in Monaco on Sunday, the atmosphere🥀, what you see, is something special. Different from any other place on our calendar."

Rossi knows more about winning at Mugello than any other 🔜rider. He took a 125c꧒c victory back in 1997, 250cc triumph in 1998 and then seven straight MotoGP wins from 2002-2008.

The 40-year-old has a best finish of third since then, including last se⛦ason, and will need to overcome a top speed deficit to the Ducatis and Hondas if he is to del🍸ight the Mugello fans with a long-awaited return to the top step on Sunday.

"Always the Yamaha is a very good bike to ride and I think compared to last year we've improved💮 in some aspects but we suffer a bit in the straight, and here the straight i🤪s very long," Rossi said.

🎀However, the rest of the circui⛎t looks good for the M1.

"There are a lot꧂ of chicanes and medium-speed corners, so on paper it's a good track for the bike," he said. "We will try. The work in the pit box will also be very important, to follow the right way to improve the bike and we hope to be competitive on Sunday."

Rossi set a new all-time Mugello laꦕp record on his way to pole position in last year's event.

The Monster Yamaha rider is c🍸urre💙ntly fourth in the world championship, 23 points behind Honda's Marc Marquez, but is without a win since Assen 2017.