By Dan Moakes
October 9 2002

More of the jigsaw pieces for the 2003 Motorcycle Grand Prix line-up were put in place at the Pacific GP, or at least more rumours came to light - some of which were very interesting. Kawasaki are to commit to a full GP programme next year, with a two-bike squad of ZX-RRs. It is by no means certain that Akira Yanagawa will pilot one of these, as it is thought he may actually be hanging up his helmet after many years in green. As mentioned here previously, Australian World Supersport rider Andrew Pitt, the 2001 champion, is another rider thought possible for Kawasaki’s premier team. With all the new bikes coming in next year, it seems very unlikely that there will be any two-stroke 500s left in the championship.

Another team with a new machine in production is Proton, and Jeremy McWilliams has said he is “hopeful” of remaining with the squad for the 2003 season. Over at Aprilia, the current 250cc points leader, Marco Melandri, is being mentioned as a possible GP1 team-mate for Régis Laconi. The Frenchman has been the lone Aprilia pilot this year, but that looks set to change.

Other teams that have not yet announced their full line-up are the works Yamaha and Honda Pons outfits. Carlos Checa remains at the former, but will he perhaps be joined by one of the Red Bull WCM riders? It seems either Garry McCoy or John Hopkins could fit the bill, although there is another rumour. Alex Barros’ new team-mate also remains a mystery.

The United States’ most recent World Champion, Kenny Roberts, has signed on for Suzuki again next year, but might he now have a ‘domestic’ rival in MotoGP? Recent stories have put Colin Edwards on a Grand Prix bike, but it’s not clear whether this means a Honda, possibly as Max Biaggi’s Pramac partner, or a Yamaha, alongside Checa. This could be very interesting, considering Troy Bayliss’ entry to the series.

A third Yamaha M1 appeared for Waturu Yoshikawa at Motegi, but the Tech 3 team are also to take delivery of their new bikes in time for next week’s Malaysian race, presumably for both Olivier Jacque and Shinya Nakano.

With Troy Bayliss joining the list of champion riders in GP, on the new Marlboro Ducati machine, how long will it be before Valentino Rossi moves on from the sport? ‘The Doctor’ is well known as an aspiring rally driver, but has now also accepted an offer to test drive a BAR-Honda F1 car. Will he one day follow the likes of John Surtees into four-wheeled competition? You tell me!