Valentino Rossi will take on former tyre supplier Michelin in the French company's home event this weekend, as Le Mans opens a critical period of seven races in nine weeks.
Rossi's new Bridgestone relationship yielded its first MotoGP victory last time out in Shanghai, but Michelin's 2008 resurgence means it holds first and second in the world championship standings heading into round five of the series.
Honda's Dani Pedrosa is on top the world by seven points over Rossi's rookie Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, with Rossi a further two points back and reigning world champion Casey Stoner fourth for Ducati.
All four have taken a win each this season, making MotoGP 2008 is about as open as it could get, but the true title contenders are likely to be much clearer by the time the summer break begins on July 21 - by which time 175 of the remaining 350 points will have been allocated.
Rossi has scored five podium finishes in the premier-class at Le Mans, with Michelin, including two victories - although last year's wet weather event saw the Italian finish just sixth, as Bridgestone claimed a memorable 1-2-3.
"Last year Le Mans was incredibly disappointing for us - we were hoping for a good result in the dry but the rain came and things didn't go as planned," admitted Rossi. "This year however we're going there on a real high after the fantastic result in China and I am confident that we can have a good weekend.
"China was a very important boost for everyone and a great result for all the hard work that everyone has put in so far this season to get us to this point, and now we have to make the most of this moment and keep pushing like this. Yamaha usually goes very well at Le Mans and, although it's obviously the first time we've been there with Bridgestone, I am confident that we will be strong there.
"We are nine points from the top of the championship but our rivals are very motivated too so there is no let-up and we must go for the maximum points again. This is the start of the busiest phase of the championship and it's always hard work but also great fun. Let's hope we can get this run of races off to the best possible start in France!" he concluded.
Team manager Davide Brivio is also aware of just how important the next two months will be in terms of the world championship, but is confident Rossi can be the first repeat winner of 2008.
"Le Mans is the start to a very busy period for the championship but on the evidence of the race in China we are ready!" he said. "Shanghai was a very important race for us because it showed how much progress we have made since Qatar. With seven races over the next ten weeks this is the core of the championship so the timing of Valentino's first win of the season couldn't have been better.
"Four different winners from the first four races is fantastic so now let's see who can be the first to repeat. We all feel positive it can be us and we can't wait to fight for it," he declared. "In 2006 we almost won at Le Mans but for a technical problem and last year we were denied by the rain so we feel we have unfinished business there and we look forward to fighting again."
Rossi's success in China was his 89th in all classes of grand prix racing, taking him to within just one victory of Angel Nieto, who lies second in the all-time winners' list behind Giacomo Agostini.
