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Sports 1 Link Directory for Moto Grand PrixMotoGP Racing - the pinnacle of two-wheel racingMoto Grand Prix - Moto GP
Leading the quest to stop Rossi are his two greatest rivals from recent seasons, Max Biaggi and Sete Gibernau. Both riders have finished runner-up to Rossi in the MotoGP World Championship and have full factory support from Honda in 2005 as they look to finally lift the title. HRC have brought out new versions of their RC211V machines during the winter tests and have enjoyed encouraging results, with Nicky Hayden also showing good form and Makoto Tamada adapting quickly to Michelin tyres after switching from Bridgestone.
As well as witnessing all of the new machines on track together
for the first time this year, fans will also get their first glimpse
of several exciting new rider line-ups. Whilst Colin Edwards has
replaced Carlos Checa as team-mate to Valentino Rossi at Yamaha,
Checa has taken the place of Troy Bayliss at Ducati and Bayliss
himself has switched to Honda. Marco Melandri will also be making
his first official MotoGP appearance for Honda after switching from
Yamaha’s satellite team, which will this season be represented
by Rubén Xaus and Toni Elías, contesting his rookie
season in the premier-class alongside the former Ducati rider after
moving up from 250cc. This momentous 2005 MotoGP World Championship will consist of 17 rounds, contested over eight months and visiting all five continents. Highlights on the calendar include Jerez in April, Assen in June and the curtain closer at Valencia in November, which all attract six figure crowds to the circuit on race day. However, MotoGP's extensive television coverage means that an average total of 320 million viewers tune in to each Grand Prix.
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The
roar of the world’s most advanced 990cc four-stroke prototype
motorcycles will once again be heard as MotoGP officially returns
to action after the long winter break. Almost five months since
the final round of Valentino Rossi’s title-winning first season
with Yamaha at Valencia, the full complement of teams and riders
will be back in Spain as they launch the first stage of their quest
to end the Italian’s reign as World Champion. 
Honda
is not the only factory to have updated its machinery during preseason,
with Yamaha, Ducati, Kawasaki and Suzuki all rolling out futuristic
new prototypes in tests at circuits including Sepang, Phillip Island
and Qatar. Meanwhile, Team Roberts took to the track at Valencia
for a shakedown test with their new Proton motorcycle, powered by
a KTM engine, whilst WCM expect their new Blata V6 machine to be
ready for the first round of the season at Jerez on 10th April.
As well as the premier MotoGP class, the World Championship also
encompasses the 250cc and 125cc categories, which provide the perfect
platform for upcoming youngsters to showcase their talent –
as well as giving manufacturers of smaller machinery the opportunity
to compete at the highest possible level.