MotoGP starts this weekend!

[RichK]

ChampCar and MotoGP both start this weekend, warmup your Tivos!

V. Rossi is on his new Yamaha, American Nicky Hayden is working on becoming team leader this year, it should be great!

http://www.4dw.net/valentino/t5/rossi3309.jpg

http://www.nickyhayden.com/site/photos/gallery/current/15.jpg

[lone_groover]

A'ight!

I see nothing but Hondas this year.

South Africa

1. Biaggi
2. Barros
3. Hayden

Season:

1. BARROS
2. Biaggi
3. Hayden
4. Gibernau
5. Edwards

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

[Wally]

Wow Valentino didn't even make your top five Groover. Be interesting to see just how far out to lunch the Yammi is.........even with the best rider in the world.
They claim the Suzuki made the biggest off season improvement,as I like KRJR,would be nice to see him run up front.Oh well can't wait. :thumbup:

[lone_groover]

Can't wait is RIGHT!!! Also gotta pull for old faves and heroes Capirossi and Norick; young gunz Hopkins and Kurtis; and superstar Marco Melandri.

You said it Wally, CAN'T f'n WAIT !!!

:)

[RichK]

Tidbit from the June issue of Sport Rider:
USGP Back at Laguna Seca?

Is the USGP returning to Laguna Seca? Quite possibly, according to well-placed GP insiders who list a number of factors. First is the decline of the World Superbike Championship, the linchpin of the combined AMA/WSB July weekend. Having switched to Pirelli as the spec tire means no AMA wild cards. Second is the concern over various issues at Barber Motorsports Park, safety and infrastructure among them. The AMA regulars liked the layout, but thought it was too short and that the MotoGP bikes would overpower it.

Finally, the regime in place at SCRAMP, the nonprofit organization that runs Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, is being convinced of the benefits of Grand Prix racing. Gill Campbell, the general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, seems open to the sort of costly changes that the track would have to undergo to receive the highest-level FIM homologation. It also doesn’t hurt that among her confidantes is three-time 500cc world champion and Monterey resident Wayne Rainey.

By: Henny Ray Abrams, contributing editor

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

[krunch]

2004 is looking to be a vintage year in MotoGP.
With Rossi no longer on the HRC Honda it could make for a more even playing field.
Although having said that Rossi has put the supposedly under performing Yamaha on Provisional pole overnight.

The one to watch this year (imo) will be Colin Edwards who now has a decent bike compared to last year's Aprilia.

Not that I'm going to see any of it as our satelite provider has dumped just about everything in favour of Nascar. :flame:

[oddlycalm]

Rossi ascends to legend status and joins Hailwood, Agostini and other legends before him. Hard to say how good the Yamaha would be without Rossi on it, but the fact that the other one was a backmarker offered a bit of an indication. One is left wondering if there is a bike on the grid that Rossi couldn't win on. Rossi and Biagi were simply on another level. Gibernau managed to maintain contact for most of the race, but was back several seconds at the end. Everyone else has a lot of work to do.

Hayden disappointed, and after struggling to maintain contact with the leaders in the early stages he was passed by team mate Baros and finished 5th. From what little I saw of Hayden, it appeared that he is back to sliding the bike entirely too much, and probably had his tires go off toward the end as a reward. He started to catch on toward the end of last season that this is not the fast way around, but he appeared to be back to his old tricks. Strong first race with his new team for Baros by beating Hayden.

oc