After four podiums in the last five rounds, including one victory, Dunlop is raising its targets for this weekend’s British Motocross Grand Prix at Matterley Basin, round 13 of 15.

Dunlop’s 2011 MX1 return has been a story of growing success. Together with Honda World Motocross star Evgeny Bobryshev, Dunlop claimed a first rostrum of the year at round three (USA), followed by another third place at round six (Portugal).

Second overall in Sweden followed, before Dunlop helped Bobryshev to his first ever grand prix victory with a perfect double-moto win at Teutschenthal in Germany (round nine). The young Russian then claimed his fifth rostrum in Latvia and arrives at Matterley Basin fourth in the world championship.

And with Bobryshev’s team-mate Rui Goncalves – sixth in the championship – taking his first MX1 podium last time out at Loket, Dunlop has a new target in mind this weekend.

“After a short break, I am looking forward to the British GP,” said Dunlop’s Motocross Race Coordinator Eddy Seel. “I am very confident we will see Dunlop on the podium again. It has become almost normal now. But this time I hope for more and believe we could see two yellow caps on the rostrum, including one on the top step.”

The Motocross-mad British fans missed out on a home grand prix last season, but the UK is back on the world championship calendar for 2011, as the event returns to Matterley Basin (Winchester) for the first time since 2006.

The former Motocross of Nations venue is popular with riders and fans alike, thanks to its natural amphitheatre location, which allows gradient and camber to be incorporated into the track layout, while fans can see much of the circuit from any one place.

In terms of terrain, the Matterley dirt is naturally hard-packed, but some softer sections are likely to be created by track designers and the notorious British weather could change track conditions in an instant.

Dunlop is ready for anything and will have its latest prototype tyres – soft, intermediate and hard – alongside the adaptable, and commercially available, MX51 and MX31 range.

“We are well prepared and will have the best tyres for the track, whatever happens,” said Seel. “We have made a very detailed plan with our tyre development department in order to beat the unpredictable British weather.”

Qualifying for the British Motocross Grand Prix takes place on Saturday, with the grand prix – featuring two motos each for the MX1 (450cc) and MX2 (250cc) classes – on Sunday (August 21).