can the year-old four-stro ke Proton conjure the same dynamic
TROY BAYLISS - MARLBORO DUCATI
integrity to let Nobu perfonn his party piece? Probably, but
D efinite candidate to w in at least one race, if the new Du ke is
de pen d entirely on how muc h Suzuki has improved th e bike
(or 2004 . He's already shown that he's a fast lapper and a hard
up to it. Heavily gung-ho, Bayliss introduced Rossi to the tac t ic
tryer. Th e best is yet to come .
might take longer than one more year.
o f, if overtaken , pass right back at the very next corner. H e 's
KENNY ROBERTS JR. - SUZUKI GRAND PRIX TEAM
Poor Kenny. His 2000 World C hampio nship was well won,
but even he admits it was opportunistic - right time, right
place. Ever since he's struggled with a variety of Suzuki draw-
got everything it takes to make a MotoG P World Champion
except (at 35) time . He'll be trying extra hard in 2004 .
SETE GIBERNAU - TELEFONICA MOVISTAR HONDA
Bultaco grandson Sete's career has been full of surprises. The
big one last year was w inning four races, outfoxing Rossi
JOHN HOPKINS - SUZUKI GRAND PRIX TEAM
The next Kevin Schwantz? That's what his U .S. backers sug-
three times on the last lap, and posing a real if distant threat
time , i( the GSV-R is not a lot better t his year than last, he 'll
gested, but Schwan tz never had to do it on a bike so far behind
mal on the track, shining when conditions are tough. C ould
be moan ing again.
the fro nt. Hoppe r' s keen and ded icated , but his results will
easily win the title .
backs , mainly power that's both hard to manage and insufficient. Some call him a moaner; that's unfair. At the same
www.cyclenews .com
for the championship . Sere's a bright guy and a bit of an aru-
CYCLE NEWS • APRil 21 , 2004
13
