Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1542349
MOTOGP W;,1,5;g..E=,ri:ffir*#ffi The fact that it might possibly be Rossi's last year on a motorcycle, as the lure of moving on to even more lucrative {orms of racing grows stronSer with each successful Ferrari test, makes the upcoming season even more interestinS. lt means he will be trying even harder than usual to retaan his Position - head and shoulders above every other racer. The challenge may be tougher this season, as Honda rivals Nicky Hayden and Marco Melandri gain valuable maturityi and as Sete Gibernau ioins the redoubtable double 2005 Grand Prix winner Loris Capirossi on the Bridgestone- shod Ducati. The consistent imProvement of the Japanese tires (also used by Suzuki and Kawasaki) means that Michelin are under increasing Pressure- There's plenty of fresh young blood in the field. And old-hands Alex Barros and Max Biaggi are out of the picture, with Kenny Roberts Jr and Carlos Checa hanging on grimly. The best of the yearlings is Dani Pedrosa, who cottoned on to competitive laP times in only his second test. One of two new Australians is in the same Honda stable - Casey Stoner, while Chris Vermeulen rides a Suzuki. All things being equal, the end result seems likely to be the same. Here, rider by rider, in order of favoritism, is our guide to the runners of 2006. I - - a a I I a I I I The Odds-On Favorite VALENTINO ROSSI Camel Yamaha Just 23 and a double 2005 GP winner, lnlelandri is back with the Gresini team that made him so welcomed last year, now in Fortuna colors. He doesn't have a factoq/ bike. but that's not to say he won't get one later in the year, if his championship position warrants it. The ex-250 champion had really struttled for two years on the lvl I Yama- ha, suggesting that he is one who really needs the bike to be ri8ht. As a satel- Iite-team rider, however, he has no say in development. All the same, he has a big chance to come out shiny-side up this season. I Can anyone unseat Valentino Bossi as the MotoGP World Champion? Prcbably not. But let's look at their chances, I) I I il - - 34 MARCH 29.2006 CYCLE NEWS eOO6 MotoGP S€ason Pn€view Bv Aitonn icorr PHoror rY Ooro & Ooo* t: \ A I ,,q \ I T rr' (.1 ?, 7 t a. B€fting atainst the best rider in the world will be a hiSh-risk strategy. Rossi has everfthing in place for 2006 - except of course for his wayward hairstyle. He's happy to leave that side of things !o Sete Gibernau- Rossi and his faithful sidekick.leremy Eurgess have been together for five years now and tyvo ofthose with the F'l I Yamaha. Burgess is now more identified with Valentino than with his previous champions Mick Doohan and Wayne Gardner' The ever-PraSmatic Aussie crew chiet is at the peak of his 8ame. The motorcycle is rather more o{ a question, though. Preseason tests ran into front- end vibration and chatter. lt was taking time to marry up the latest chassis with th€ latest Michelinr, Time willtell on this. The rider, iust turned 27, is of course a consummate chamPion - ace of sPades in all depanments, from speed, telent and luck, to intelliSence, racecraft, and ev€n more luck. Rossi told me that the 800s of 2007 had less attraction for him than the miShty 990s; the lure of Iour wheels must now be very stronS, if only for the newness o, the adventure. lf 2006 is to be his valedictory be sure that Vale will make a show of it. WtrRTH A PUNT MARCO M€LANDRI GF€sini Fortuna Honda