Mccoy, Bayliss Lead Local Charge For Motogp Season
The Age
Thursday April 3, 2003
The fastest men on two wheels are about to take to the track again, and three Australians will be out to make their mark, reports Michael Lynch.
Grand Prix riders are, quite possibly, the most daring men in world sport and this weekend fans around the planet will once again get the chance to thrill to the drama of world championship motorcycle racing when the MotoGP season gets under way at Suzuka, Japan.
While Italian sensation Valentino Rossi will be a hot favourite to land his third title in a row on the Repsol Team Honda, Australian interest should be greater than at any time since Mick Doohan ruled the roost, collecting five world championships.
This year there will be three local riders in the field: former superbike world champion Troy Bayliss, aboard the heavily hyped factory-backed Ducati; former supersport world champion Andrew Pitt, riding for the Kawasaki works team (which is coming into MotoGP this season); and Garry McCoy, in recent seasons Australia's frontline GP rider.
McCoy, who had been part of the Red Bull Yamaha squad in recent years (for whom he won the South African GP in 2000), will now partner Pitt aboard the brilliant green Kawasaki machines in an all-Australian-rider pairing.
While the Japanese maker will be expecting a tough debut year, the hopes for the Italian Ducati squad are higher. The bike has been quick in testing and Bayliss and his teammate, grand prix-winning rider Loris Capirossi, will be looking for strong performances from the off after Capirossi topped the timesheets in final off-season testing at Catalunya in Spain when he reached a top speed of 328.2 kmh.
Ducati has had few peers in superbike racing (for machines that are closer to street bikes that fans can buy) but it will inevitably find MotoGP (for prototype, heavily modified four-cylinder 1000cc bikes) a greater challenge.
And while Capirossi is a proven performer in this category, the 34-year-old Bayliss, despite his excellent record of success in superbikes and other categories, admits he still has a bit to learn about the premier class - not least the circuits. Of the 16 tracks used in the championship, Bayliss has ridden at three.
``There's no way I'm going to go to Suzuka and win. Then we go to Welkom (in South Africa), which is another racetrack I haven't seen, `` said the NSW rider. ``So, I just want to get a couple of half-decent races under my belt, see what I can do, then hopefully my real season will start when we get back to Jerez (in Spain), where I've tested a bit and where I feel pretty comfortable.
``We're pretty much where we expected to be with the bike at this stage. We're making progress and that's what we want to do."
Doohan, now the general manager of Honda's MotoGP activities, has said Ducati ``is doing a great job" and has predicted Bayliss will be among the season's top five riders.
``He will go well because he has the right attitude," Doohan said. ``The guy knows how to win races and he's a consistent runner - he's not up one week and down the next. If he's not in the top five I think something is wrong.
``Rossi has to start the year as favourite for a third successive title, barring accidents or injuries. He's won 22 of the 32 races in the past two years and clearly demonstrated he's the best guy out there.
``In my opinion, Rossi is fantastic for MotoGP. The fans and motorcycle enthusiasts appreciate his skill, and his outgoing personality has lifted the profile of the sport.
``Sometimes you hear people say Rossi might have an advantage over the other Honda riders because he's in the official factory team.
``However, I don't agree because (Alex) Barros beat Rossi a few times on a so-called `customer' bike last year.
``Max Biaggi is back on a Honda this year and I'm sure he's keen to beat Rossi. So far, Biaggi's results haven't been as good as Rossi's in 500s and MotoGP, so it will be interesting to see what happens with this rivalry."
SIX TO WATCH
VALENTINO ROSSI (Honda)
Age 24, ItalyDespite his tender years, already one of the legends of motorcyle racing. A world champion in the 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and MotoGP categories, Rossi won 11 of 16 races en route to his second world championship in a row last year, including victory at Phillip Island in the Australian GP. Son of 1970s racer Graziano, Rossi has won 50 GPs, giving him a staggering success rate of nearly 50 per cent.
ANDREW PITT (Kawasaki)Age 27, AustraliaThe former accountant proved he had what it takes in 2001, when he won a world title in the supersport category for 600cc near-production standard bikes. Faces a tough debut year.
GARRY McCOY (Kawasaki)Age 30, AustraliaThe diminutive McCoy has been Australia's leading rider in the years since Mick Doohan's retirement. A grand prix winner at Welkom in South Africa in 2000 for Yamaha. A fans favourite thanks to his wild-sliding style.
TROY BAYLISS (Ducati)Age 34, AustraliaOne of the oldest rookies to come into the premier class of motorcycle racing, but few have better credentials. Won the world superbike championship for Ducati in 2001, then lost out to Colin Edwards in an exciting battle last season. The Ducati has been impressively quick in winter testing.
ALEX BARROS (Yamaha)Age 32, BrazilThe most experienced rider in the field, having made his debut in 500cc grand prix racing a dozen years ago with Cagiva. Only four wins - the first as far back as 1993 on a Suzuki - but he is quick and consistent.
MAX BIAGGI (Honda)Age 31, ItalyArch-rival of the charismatic Rossi, Biaggi's best performance in the top class came in 1998, his debut year, when he was second to Mick Doohan in the championship. Four-time world champion in the 250cc category.
© 2003 The Age