MotoGP Features

Part of the perennial success and popularity of the Assen event is its ability to modernise its facilities and layout without losing one iota of its unique character and appeal, to riders and fans alike.

Located in the beautiful Tuscan hills, Mugello boasts a sequence of undulating medium to high-speed corners combined with a straight where even the former 500cc two-strokes were capable of achieving 315kmh... but last year Ducati's Loris Capirossi hit 332.4kph - a mark expected to be 'easily' beaten this year.

Earlier this week BMW unveiled its first Superbike, the 1157cc inline four-cylinder K1200 S (pictured) which, at 160bhp, is the most powerful motorcycle the company has ever produced.

Makoto Tamada may carry the hopes of the Honda and the Japanese sporting nation on his shoulders, but it seems such pressure does little to change his positive attitude to grand prix racing and life in general.

Former 500cc world champions Wayne Rainey and Eddie Lawson returned to the racetrack together last weekend, when they dominated the 'World Superkart' event at Laguna Seca.

Valentino Rossi's superb victory at Welkom may mark the start of a new era in MotoGP, where the recent emphasis upon exotic technology is replaced by a realisation that, however great the machine, it's the rider that's most important.

2004 will see Jeremy McWilliams return to Aprilia, after two-years at Proton Team KR, to ride the Noale based company's fearsome RS Cube - a machine that has already left the Ulsterman with two broken ribs.

At a time when the importance of the 250cc world championship is being questioned, particularly as a proving ground for MotoGP, new Kawasaki signing Shinya Nakano has voiced his support for the series - but admits he was surprised by the performance of former Superbike riders.

Alex Barros and Nicky Hayden have cast doubt on the assumption that, as factory Honda riders, they will have a significant machinery advantage this season - Hayden believing such comments from fellow RCV competitors could simply be 'an excuse'.

2004 will see Alex Barros start his fifteenth season in motorcycling's premier-class, the most experienced man in MotoGP having joined the factory Repsol Honda team for what will surely be his best - and perhaps last - chance of a world title.

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has put an end to speculation that he's planning a future in Formula One, by stating that any F1 test would be purely for fun.