Rossi leads the charge into new MotoGP era
A new era dawns for grand prix motorcycling at the weekend when the 2002 MotoGP season opens and the new four-stroke 990cc machines take to the Suzuka track for the Japanese Grand Prix.
The machines may be faster and louder than ever, but one factor will remain constant from the 500cc championship that drew to a close after 53 years in Brazil last November -- Valentino Rossi will be the man to beat.
The 23-year-old Italian phenomenon saw off the challenge of compatriot Max Biaggi to win the championship and 11 grands prix last season -- only his second at the top level.
Rossi then signed a new two-year contract with Honda worth a reported 10 million pounds ($14.38 million) after protracted negotiations, but immediately set about proving his worth by setting the best times in official testing on the new 900cc Honda RCV.
"From what we've seen Rossi will be the guy to beat...he's consistent and fast," Biaggi's Yamaha teammate Carlos Checa conceded.
Despite his intimidating times in testing at Suzuka, where only his team mate Tohru Ukawa got within a second of him on the final day, Rossi is not as confident as many observers that he might run away with the first MotoGP title.
"It's not going to be as easy as some people have been saying...this is still a new project and the two-strokes are a proven package," Rossi told British weekly Motorcycle News.
NECK AND NECK
If the testing times are anything to go by, the Italian may be proved correct as the 500cc bikes put up a good showing alongside some of the bigger machines, such as the four-stroke Yamaha YZR that Biaggi and Checa will ride this season.
Biaggi and Rossi were neck-and-neck for the early part of 2001 and contested some extraordinary races, most notably at the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island where Rossi pipped him by 0.013 seconds to win the race and claim the title.
But the 30-year-old Roman, world champion in the 250cc category from 1994 to 1997, has made it clear he would have been happier to take his chances on the smaller machine he raced on last year.
"We've been trying to find out what we can do to make my bike work better," Biaggi said. "I'm positive but we also have to be realistic. I will try my best on the racetrack and expect the factory to respond soon with the parts we need."
Suzuki decided to bring their four-stroke in for this season, a year ahead of schedule, mainly because their two-stroke challenger of last season had so many problems.
But given the inevitable teething problems of such a rushed launch, few would give their riders Sete Gibernau and Kenny Roberts -- the world champion in 2000 who had a miserable title defence last year -- much of a chance to challenge.
The third Italian in the top three of the 2001 championship, Loris Capirossi, may be the man to prove that the 500cc two strokes have not won their last races.
MODIFIED BIKE
The 28-year-old, who turned down the chance to move to Aprilia to ride their single four-stroke prototype for this season, will be riding a modified version of the Honda NSR he raced on last year.
One former 500cc champion who will not be a threat to Rossi is Alex Criville, who won the world title in 1999. The 32-year-old Catalan was forced to take break from the sport after suffering from fainting fits and will be replaced at Yamaha by Pere Riba.
Another man riding a two-stroke bike who could spring a surprise or two is Japan's Daijiro Katoh, who last year won the 250cc class in as convincing a manner as Rossi won the 500cc and with just as many race wins.
The 25-year-old will be looking to make a big impression in his first season after moving up a level and could get an ideal start at the Suzuka circuit, where he won four times in the 250cc category.
Katoh himself believes that Rossi, who has not cut his hair since winning the world title because of a bet, is the clear favourite.
"Rossi seems to be on another level," he told Motorcycle News. "The best I think the two stroke riders can do is to challenge the other four-strokes which don't seem to be so fast."
HIGHLY ANTICIPATED
But the fact of the matter, and why this season is the most highly anticipated for many years, is that nobody knows what will happen.
"It's going to be great at Suzuka -- everyone's been waiting for this first race of the new era, waiting to see how the four-strokes work against the 500s in a race situation," said Checa.
"Many people think they know what will happen, but you never know until everyone goes racing."
Katoh's decision to step up a grade could leave room for another young Italian to make his mark in the 250cc class. Aprilia rider Max Milandri was third last year behind Katoh and Tetsuya Harada, who has also moved up to the top class.
But he will have to see off the challenge of Honda riders Roberto Rolfo, another Italian, and Emilio Alzamora of Spain.
In the 125cc category, Gilera rider Manuel Poggiali of San Marino will be defending his title, with the biggest threat coming from Youichi Ui. The Japanese Derbi rider topped the podium six times last season but still failed to win the title.
Whatever transpires in the 16 grands prix of the 2002 season, which starts at Suzuka and ends in Valencia in November, the grand prix championship is currently in rude health.
They have a charismatic world champion and new faster and louder bikes at the top level.
Kawasaki are due to race their new four-stroke towards the end of the year before a full assault on the title in 2003, when Italian manufacturer Ducati also plan to participate.
Races in the MotoGP world championship in 2002:
April 7 - Japan (Suzuka)
April 21 - South Africa (Welkom)
May 5 - Spain (Jerez)
May 19 - France (Le Mans)
June 2 - Italy (Mugello)
June 16 - Catalunya (Barcelona, Spain)
June 29 - Netherlands (Assen)
July 14 - Britain (Donington Park)
July 21 - Germany (Sachsenring)
Aug 25 - Czech Republic (Brno)
Sept 8 - Portugal (Estoril)
Sept 21 - Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
Oct 6 - Pacific (Motegi, Japan)
Oct 13 - Malaysia (Sepang)
Oct 20 - Australia (Philip Island)
Nov 3 - Valencia (Valencia, Spain)
