LONDON -- Valentino Rossi has a point to
prove to Honda when the MotoGP season starts in South Africa
this weekend, but a fourth successive world title may prove
beyond even his superlative talent.
The 25-year-old Italian quit Honda for Yamaha last November
and this season will be competing against six top riders aboard
the Honda RCV -- the bike that has taken the checkered flag for
all but three of the 32 races in the first two years of MotoGP.
The defection of the sport's most talented rider to what has
been a distinctly inferior bike promises to make 2004 the most
open title race in the top class of grand prix racing for many
years.
The consensus was that the five-time world champion would
have a season of development before challenging for the title in
2005, but, at the two official preseason testing sessions,
Rossi was back at the top of the list of quickest times.
"I knew I was taking a very, very big gamble when I moved,
but I'm enjoying working with Yamaha," Rossi said after the
first of those tests at the Circuit de Catalunya.
"This year is going to be a great challenge.
"I really don't think it is possible for me to win the
championship this season. I think the top three is a realistic
target, but this is a great start. But I know this was not a
race and there is still a lot of work to do."
The flamboyant rider, famous for his elaborate post-race
celebrations, left no doubt that the chance to beat Honda would
be spurring him on this year.
"I have more motivation than I did when I was at Honda,"
Rossi said. "At Honda all they think is that it is because of
the bike that you win -- not the talent of the rider."
Leading the Honda challenge will be last year's runner-up
Sete Gibernau, who has been joined at his non-factory team by
twice world superbike champion Colin Edwards -- reunited with
Honda after a miserable first season in grand prix racing at
Aprilia.
Catalan Gibernau is the best rider in the wet and proved
last year that he was no slouch in the dry either, winning four
races, while American Edwards should prove on the RCV that he is
much better than last season's 13th.
Their team boss Faustino Gresini has noted Rossi's times in
testing but is confident the Honda riders will justify their
favorites' tag.
"Vale has demonstrated that he is strong, but we expected
that," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "The Yamaha has improved
and will be respected. But we are relaxed. Valentino will have
to fight a lot harder than he has in the other years."
Another American, last season's rookie of the year Nicky
Hayden, and experienced Brazilian Alex Barros, who swapped teams
with Rossi, lead the factory Honda challenge.
"I'm so excited about this season and can't wait to go
racing now," said Kentucky native Hayden, fifth last year. "I
feel now I'm riding much nearer the limit whereas last season
was really a learning year.
"It's going to be super competitive this year as no-one has
really stood out in testing. That's what is so great ... the best
riders in the world on the best bikes every other Sunday."
Honda racing boss Carlo Fiorani has said his riders may be
subjected to team orders to stop Rossi and Barros believes every
point will count in the title race.
"In all the years I've been racing I can really say that I
have never felt as positive as I do now at the start of this
very exciting year," said the 33-year-old Barros. "It will be a
long season and very close."
Another man on board the Honda RCV will be Rossi's great
rival and compatriot Max Biaggi, who will be partnered by
Japan's Makoto Tamada.
Biaggi, four-time 250cc world champion and third last year
with two wins, has rarely been happy over the last couple of
seasons as Rossi's star has risen and his has waned.
This year is no exception and he has complained of Honda
favoritism towards the factory pairing -- his frustration
perhaps not unconnected with the fact that, at 32, he can only
have a couple more seasons to take the title he wants so badly.
After a superb first season back in grand prix racing,
Ducati will be confident that their riders Loris Capirossi and
Troy Bayliss will be winning races this season.
The new version of the Desmosedici hit a record speed of 344
kph in testing and the Ducati should at least be at the front of
the starting grid -- even if there will only be three spots on
each row in MotoGP from this year.
The Africa's Grand Prix at Welkom on Sunday opens a
nine-month, 16-race season taking in 14 countries, five
continents and, for the first time, a Qatar Grand Prix.
If, after the final race at Valencia in November, Rossi has
won the premier class for Yamaha for the first time since Wayne
Rainey in 1992, it will have been one memorable season.