Qualification is over in Jerez and the warm-up session is just a few hours away so there’s still time left to write up a quick season preview without being too prejudiced by existing results. So much has changed over the winter that there’s only one real prediction I’m willing to make and stand by: “It will be an extremely exciting season to watch”

As Jim Race recently said: “The start of EVERY GP season is always the best”. A very good point. The 2005 opener was highly anticipated and delivered in a way we could have never imagined. The entire season was filled with drama and amazing riding. We also got 3 new tracks including a return to Laguna Seca. Yet looking back at the 2005 season, aside from the last corner incident between Rossi and Gibernau in the opener (followed by Gibernau’s unbelievably bad season) and Nicky Hayden’s maiden win, on his home ground, on one of the most famous and original tracks in the world, is there much that we will remember 10 years from now? Probably not. We’ll probably remember the post season more, with all the drama of Biaggi leaving the scene (along with GP’s elder, Barros), the demise of Sito Pons, the sponsor drama with Movistar leaving the scene under guise of F1 interests, Galouises getting snubbed by Yamaha with rumours of an anti-tobacco sponsorship to replace them only to see the yellow colors of Camel adorn the machines a few weeks later….

2004, yes, there was a year that will go down in history. One that we may bore our grandchildren with.

So what does 2006 have to offer?

Well, for starters, it is the last year of the 990cc engine configuration. Unless I am wrong, and I dearly hope so, we will probably see a less varied grid in 2007. I just don’t see all the current teams being able to switch down to the 800cc engine simply because of the costs involved.

So lets make the most of 2006’s variety. And man, we’ve got some serious variety. Not just because there are still many machines despite WCM’s withdrawal: Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and the Honda powered Team Roberts bike, but mainly because all of these bikes are actualy competitive. That has to be a first in the MotoGP era. Granted, the Suzukis seem to be hurting after a great pre-season, but many of us believe that they finally have a package that can actually win a rostrum. The Bridgestone tires have gotten fantastic, giving us more than just a great qualifier or a race compound that works on 3 tracks… The new Bridgestones are competitive across the board, it would seem and thus not a handicap to the teams that are using them and used them in the past.

Last year I predicted 5 different manufacturers would make the podium. And thanks to Kenny Robert JR’s 2nd in the torrent at Donington I was right. But it was close. This year I’m going to make an even crazier prediction: that we will see all constructors with at least one rostrum. Yes, even Team Roberts… Wouldn’t that be something?

We may also have a season that is not dominated by Rossi for the first time in half a decade. Ducati has made a complete turnaround since the horrible showing in 2004. Loris had two victories in 2005 and I think we will see more in 2006. Sete Gibernau has been given a new life in the Ducati team as well. The last time he switched teams he went from a name you only heard when he crashed to the runner up in the series. Could it be that Sete just needs a shakeup once in a while to get his head back in place? He does seem a little reluctant to make predictions of any success, this is a silly mind game he’s playing with himself to avoid last year’s disaster caused mostly by psych out. But enough about Sete. Back to Ducati: I don’t expect much from D’Antin, to me Hoffman is just a token German rider (Sorry Alex) and the Dunlop shod Ducati will never be a threat.

Hondas seem to be an average group these days, although I don’t for a second doubt that we will see great things from Melandri. He has the right stuff to pick up when Rossi leaves for greener pastures (the ones with a lot less passing)… I’d also pip Pedrosa as the next great champion; having watched him in the 250s I have nothing but respect and amazement for the moto-jockey. Hayden proved himself somewhat last year, but I think he will never be a true champion. I just hope that the lone USGP victory isn’t so lone by the end of 2006. Tamada’s limelight was short and I doubt we’ll be seeing too much from him, but I have high hopes that we will see some great stuff from Tony Elias, who even last year turned heads despite being on a the [low]Tech 3 Yamaha team (he certainly made Xaus look like a nobody). And then we’ve got Stoner who may very well surprise everyone as the top rookie (and what a feat that would be considering this field of rookies!)

Then we’ve got Kawasaki who’s Nakano is probably in for his best season ever. And de Puniet is silencing all his critics who were shaking their heads over the winter saying “how can Barros or Biaggi or even Xaus leave and then this kid gets a ride”. Well, he has been brilliant so far.

Suzuki’s Hopper is maturing nicely. I still strongly believe that a pure GP path of 125s and 250s would have been better for the man, but he is showing to be a very good development rider. And we know Vermeulen is a true talent as well. Most importantly, the Suzuki has once again shown wonderful stuff in the pre-season. Will it continue? Or will Suzuki’s 2006 be filled with frustration as was 2005 despite that great pre-season then as well.

For me, the most exciting team in 2006 has to be Team Roberts. Brought back from the brink of extinction, the outfit has a great motor, a legendary chassis, and a rider who with the right motivation can ride supremely well and we know this is true. And it seems like Kenny Roberts Jr. does have that motivation. I sure would love to see a father/son privateer team make some big waves in MotoGP.

Lastly I come to Yamaha led by the man who can make every race a nail biting, jump up and down in your chair, forget to go to the bathroom and wet your pants, experience: Valentino Rossi. Many say 2006 will be Rossi’s last year. That he will head to F1 in 2007. I will tell you my opinion. I think that Rossi will be watching very closely the development of Yamaha’s 800cc motor. If he were to stick around, win 2006 and move on to the 800cc series (and win that) he would achieve two amazing goals:
1. he would be the only champion during the 990cc era.
2. he would be the only champion to win through two major changes to the top GP class (500cc->MotoGP->800cc)

Is that motivation enough for Rossi? Probably not. Being competitive in F1 has its appeal as well. Not to mention there’s big money involved and I will never believe anyone who says Rossi doesn’t take that into account.

No matter what, Rossi will be extremely keen on winning this year should it prove to be his last. And it may be tough with such a level field. Will he be at his best? At his wildest? Will he leave motorcycle racing a champion? A mental wreck?

Edwards has yet to make a real impact on the sport despite strong silent seasons. One of the most consistent riders on the grid, he has been going through a rebirth by dramatically changing his racing style to a more clean, high corner speed, 250cc type ride. Talk about dedication and hard work. I hope he gets rewarded and is remembered in MotoGP for more than his sneaky pass in The Corkscrew at Laguna Seca on his famous teammate.

Despite Checa’s great pre-season (on paper) I don’t reckon we’ll see Tech 3 on the rostrum, possibly not even in the top ten. Unfortunately, the Dunlops are long from becoming competitive with Michelin and Bridgestone. And Ellison has proven to have only one consistency: riding way out of the points.

I was asked to make a prediction about Jerez and I have to admit, I am dumbfounded. The field this year is truly level, and has had an influx of young talent; almost any of them capable of surprise. Have we ever had this many rookies enter the top class at the same time?

Do I think Rossi has a fighting chance despite a “lowly” 3rd row start. Of course! What’s a few rows for Rossi who can carve the field from last or fifteenth in a matter of a few laps. But what if he actually can’t match the Ducati of Capirex or, gasp, even Gibernau. What if the Bridgestone race tire really can last the full distance. And what if the tiny Pedrosa does have the stamina to do a full distance of super fast laps? And what if Melandri picks up right where he left off last year? If the season’s suspense were measured by the number of “what if’s” I’m pretty confident 2006 would be a winner…

So away we go again, and the anticipation is difficult to contain. It’s 40 minutes to the warmup now. Will Burgess come up with a miracle for the vibration problem? Will Rossi be able to work through it? Lets just watch and enjoy, and here’s to another amazing season of The Greatest Show on Earth.

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