Young Guns Set To Load MotoGP Bullets

Melandri will be joined at Gresini Honda by 22-year old Toni Elias racing in the colours of new team sponsor Fortuna. Elias, like Melandri, has worked his way through torrid arena’s of 125 and 250cc grand prix racing to arrive at MotoGP level. Elias moves to Fortuna Honda after finishing 12th in his MotoGP debut season where he raced for the Tech 3 squad.

Pedrosa – another champion in waiting

Triple world champion Dani Pedrosa completes the quartet of young chargers. Dani makes his long awaited MotoGP debut in 2006 moving up to the senior category after successfully defending his 250cc World Championship. The talented young Spaniard also took the 125cc crown in 2003, all three title wins aboard Honda machines and had it not been for Casey Stoner’s late season charge in the 250 class, Pedrosa’s credentials of “the man most likely” would probably be beyond those of Melandri.

Until Stoner showed that Pedrosa could be beaten with lesser machinery, that his ability optimise his finishing position in all circumstances could be broken down with pressure, Pedrosa was the heir apparent.

Question marks now hang over his mental fortitude, further tempered by his physical stature – while MotoGP machinery is now so small and light and precise, it still requires a degree of physical strength and Pedrosa’s detractors suggest he doesn’t have the physical strength to handle the machinery. No doubt the young and incredibly talented Spaniard will be observed closely in 2006 aboard the RCV.

The wildest card of all – Stoner

In addition to the abovementioned, 20-year old Australian Casey Stoner tested a Team Honda Pons RCV at Valencia in the hope of bringing his burgeoning talents to the MotoGP category. Stoner, who was runner up to Pedrosa in the 250 class this season, is a seven-time GP winner, twice at 125cc and five times at 250cc.

Despite turning 20 a fortnight ago, Stoner is already a veteran, having won numerous Australian dirt track and motocross titles before his family moved to the UK at 14 years of age to enable him to begin road racing and fulfil what they believe is his ultimate destiny of becoming World MotoGP Champion. Australian regulations would have prevented Stoner from beginning tarmac racing until he was 16 and by that stage he had already won the British 125 title and was racing regularly in Spain under the same tutelage that schooled Pedrosa.

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