The Biker Place

The 2007 season is over, winter testing is finished so what else is there to talk about? Well how about a look at the new faces for 2008? Everybody knows Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa but how much do we really know about the rookie class of 08?

What follows is a look, in no particular order, at at the new riders that will be fighting it out in MotoGP next year.

Jorge Lorenzo

Lorenzo, the 20 year old from Spain, steps up to MotoGP having just secured his second 250cc World Championship for the Fortuna Aprilia team and he arrives at the Yamaha MotoGP team in the middle of a split. The Yamaha pit garage will be split in two as Valentino Rossi gets his wish to run on Bridgestone tyres next year whilst Lorenzo will race on Michelins.

Lorenzo enters MotoGP as one of the most hotly anticipated riders in years due to his undoubted ability and borderline arrogant self-confidence. He is already considered to be a prima donna in the Valentino Rossi mould so seeing them go up against each other should be entertaining.

The Spaniard appears to have settled in well to the Yamaha, with him finishing second only to the Repsol Hondas at the Jerez testing session. There is a long way to go before the first race of the 2008 season but expect Jorge Lorenzo to be right on the pace when the race arrives.

Look out for: Jorge and Valentino to have a blossoming relationship and end up best of buddies. Or maybe not….

With these two ultra-competitive, confident (arrogant?) and opinionated riders on the same “team” i will be expecting sparks to fly when the 2008 season gets underway.

James Toseland

Toseland, the two time World Superbikes Champion, comes to MotoGP having just clinched his second WSBK crown for the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team. He moves to the Yamaha Tech 3 team where he will be partnered with American Colin Edwards.

Eargerly anticipated by the UK motorcycle public who still turn out in their thousands for GP races despite the amazing fact that no British rider has won a top-class race since Barry Sheene in 1981, when Toseland was just a year old.

It remains to be seen whether James can convert his Superbike riding style to suit the MotoGP machines but recent testing in Jerez ended on a positive note with him posting the 9th fastest overall time, which should see him go into the off-season and approach 2008 in a confident frame of mind.

Look out for: 2007 was the first time since world road championships began in 1949 that a British rider has not scored a point in the premier class! Expect James Toseland to ensure it doesn’t happen two years in a row.

Andrea Dovizioso

Dovizioso, the 2004 125cc World Champion, moves up to MotoGP with his team JiR Scott Honda to continue his battle with Jorge Lorenzo. Andrea Dovizioso finished runner up in the 250cc World Championships twice, both times behind fellow MotoGP rookie Jorge Lorenzo.

Initial signs look good for the 21 year old Italian as he has taken to the 800cc MotoGP bikes extremely quickly and was very impressive in the winter testing sessions. The doubt that hangs over Dovizioso’s rookie season has nothing whatsoever to do with his riding ability, it’s whether his JiR Honda team can give him a bike fast enough and reliable enough for him to showcase his talent.

Look out for: The young Italian to suprise a few people this year with his pace, and for him to be looking for a more competitive ride for the 2009 season.

Alex De Angelis

De Angelis is another young racer making the step up from 250cc class to the MotoGP circuit, following Lorenzo and Dovizioso. De Angelis, who finished 3rd in the 250cc championship in 2007, will make the step with the Gresini Honda team alongside Shinya Nakano.

Both De Angelis and Nakano have been quick in the winter testing sessions and that will give the 23 year old from San Marino a lot of confidence going into the 2008 season.

Look out for: De Angelis to push his Japanese team mate Nakano this year and throw up some suprisingly high finishes throughout the season.

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