Five British riders are in the provisional entry lists for next year's 2007 MotoGP World Championship series. Giving British fans plenty to cheer about.

Northern Ireland veteran Jeremy McWilliams makes a welcome return to the MotoGP class to ride the new Ilmor X3SRT machine. The 42 year-old, who is the last British rider to win a grand prix, will be joined in the Ilmor team by former World Superbike rider, Australian Andrew Pitt.

The 250cc class will include three British youngsters. Eighteen year-old Yorkshireman Dan Linfoot made his grand prix debut last year and returns with the Winona WCM Aprilia team. Last year he won two rounds of the British 125cc Championship and the opening round of the European 250cc Championship before making his grand prix debut at the French Grand Prix at Le Mans.

He is joined in the Winona WCM team by 18 year-old Scotsman Kevin Coughlan who gained valuable experience this season by finishing fourth in the 125cc Spanish Championship.

Twenty year-old Eugene Laverty has also been given a fantastic opportunity in the 250cc class. The 20 year-old rider from Northern Ireland has joined the Italian-based LCR Honda team that has brought grand prix success to both Australian Casey Stoner and Team owner Lucio Cecchinello.

Sixteen year-old Bradley Smith continues in the 125cc class with the Repsol Honda team after a superb debut season. The Oxfordshire schoolboy won the IRTA Rookie of the Year Award for the best newcomer in the class. His best result of the season was at the Japanese Grand Prix where he finished in eighth place.

He is joined in the 125cc class by his old MotoGP Academy team-mate Dani Webb who will ride for the Dutch-based Arie Molenaar team. The 15 year-old Kent rider has endured a tough season with injuries but embarks on his first full year of grand prix racing fully fit and with renewed confidence.

That last grand prix victory by a British rider came in the 2001 250cc Dutch TT at Assen when McWilliams was a comfortable winner from Spaniard Emilio Alzamora.