Young Guns Set To Load MotoGP Bullets

Elite motorcycle racing has many similarities to Formula 1 but it also has many differences, and perhaps the starkest contrast became evident on the Valencia racetrack in Spain yesterday just three days after the last race of the 2005 season. Formula 1 driver changes are major announcements in exotic locations. In MotoGP, all of the rider changes that had been rumoured and spoken of in hushed terms for the previous three months were suddenly on display as the first official test session for 2006 got underway. Honda’s big hope for 2005, Spaniard Sete Gibernau, was riding a Ducati. More significant though was the absence of many of the senior names which have monopolised the key factory rides for the last five years and in their place a half dozen or more new riders who have surfaced though 125, 250 and superbike – Pedrosa, Vermeulen, Stoner, Divizioso, Luthi, De Punier, Kiyonari and Neukirchner were among those who got their first chance on the ultimate racing machines yesterday as the Japanese factories (primarily Honda) made it clear they were seeking the next Valentino Rossi. Extensive image library

It may take a few years for the significance of the 2005 racing season to become fully recognised as another watershed for MotoGP, but posterity may look at it as the beginning of the end of an era in terms of the make-up of the grid. For almost a decade, the same basic backbone of riders has monopolised the top MotoGP berths, across the spectrum of participating teams and manufacturers. That generation is about to come to a natural end, and a new batch of riders is massing on the borders of MotoGP careers, just waiting for a signal to advance.

Gibernau to Ducati

Without doubt the most important change on display was aboard the black Ducati wearing black leathers – Sete Gibernau is clearly the second fastest rider in the class, and despite access to the fastest bikes of the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer this year, he had an awful time and failed to win a race, despite leading more laps than anyone else (113), including the prodigy Rossi (109 laps in the lead for 11 wins). Others to have led a signficant number of races include Melandri (76 laps for two wins), Hayden (38 for one win), Capirossi (26 laps for two wins) and Barros (26 laps in lead for one win).

"I'm delighted to welcome Sete," said Ducati President Federico Minoli. "We think Sete is one of the strongest guys in MotoGP. He's a talented, gritty and courageous rider. Sete has had a difficult season this year but he has shown throughout that he never gives up, in the best Ducati spirit. For this reason we're very proud to have him in our 2006 line-up alongside Loris. They are both very strong riders and we'll do everything we can to give them what they need to obtain the best possible results."

Gibernau is optimistic about his future, trusting in the Ducati/Bridgestone partnership that has already given great joy to Ducati fans with some amazing results, including Capirossi's victories at the recent Japanese and Malaysian GPs.

"After achieving some great results and much satisfaction during the last few years, and after a season at the highest level but with some difficulties, I decided to make a change in my career," said Gibernau. "First of all I want to thank the people who helped me achieve so many good results. But now it's time to find some new motivation. The professionalism and enthusiasm I've found at Ducati are what made me decide to join forces with the factory. I face this new challenge with real determination, convinced that together we can achieve great success. In recent years Ducati has shown that it has big ambitions and huge potential. I trust that, with my experience, I can make a real contribution to turn our shared dreams into reality."

Biaggi on the outer

Max Biaggi, for much of the last five years the man most likely to defeat, perhaps even dethrone Rossi, led just 11 laps this year and did not win a race, and he looks like paying for it very dearly as there’s a strong likelihood he will not be offered a factory ride in 2006. After winning four consecutive 250 titles, Biaggi won his debut 500cc race in 1998 and has since amassed 13 ins, 58 podiums, 14 fastest race laps and 23 poles but has not won a title and it seems that the factories have now decided that Max has run his race. He sits alongside Randy Mammola as the winningest rider to fail to take a title. Eight riders who have won less races have a World 500cc championship on their mantlepeice and two of those have multiple championships to their name.

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