This just in from HRC:

MotoGP REVS UP FOR OPENING SHOWDOWN OF THE SEASON

The MotoGP circus is in rude health for the long-awaited first confrontation of the 2004 season. After what seems like an interminable four months of high-pressure testing across the globe - the lights are soon to be staged for a first race that will answer some of the big questions surrounding this season. First: can Honda maintain its incredible record of winning a third consecutive premier class title since the dawn of the four-stroke era in 2002? Second: can reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi give rival factory Yamaha a win first time out? And third: who among his Honda rivals can establish themselves as the main contenders for the title?

The big six Honda riders in the premier class have now had plenty of time to gel with their crews and teams. And the three two-rider teams running the imperious RC211V are ready to take the fight to new rival Rossi who has been working hard at making up ground on Honda - the dominant factory of this new era.

Among those seeking to establish an early toehold on the Championship will be 2003 title runner-up Sete Gibernau who is joined this season by Texan Colin Edwards in the Telefonica Honda MoviStar Team. Gibernau won here last year and the win put him in early contention for the title. But Edwards will be aiming to get off to a fast start in the points standings in a season where many observers believe consistency will hold the key to title contention.

But the Phakisa Freeway is something of a ?one-off' experience each year for the riders. The 4.242km track lying deep in South Africa's Free State Province is only visited once a year by the MotoGP, 250cc and 125cc riders, so teams have little time to set up machines for the twisty and often dusty track. The longest straight here is a mere 413m in length and so the astonishing high speeds of the MotoGP bikes (approaching 215mph at Barcelona's Montmelo track in pre-season tests) will not be witnessed here at Welkom.

But the tarmac places other demands on teams and riders. There are nine right-hand turns and five left-handers, and the surface, despite being re-laid last year, is bumpy and slippy. But grip tends to improve as raceday nears with rubber laid down by the circulating machines displacing a fine layer of dust.

Max Biaggi (Camel Honda RC211V) has more experience than most here. "I quite like the track," he said. "It's got a nice layout and it's pleasant to ride. The weather's normally good although I'm tempting fate when I say that. What's certain is I'm not looking forward to the undulating tarmac, even though it's been redone just recently, and the fact that the track generally takes quite a bit of time - at least all the first day of practice - before the grip is acceptable. And with two different frames to compare and the right set-up to work out, we're going to need every minute we've got to decide what configuration to use for the official qualifying. This is going to be tough with the new three-bike-per-row rule - and, of course, for the race. We're going to have to react fast and understand immediately what to do. I feel good and I'm starting out with confidence and determination."

Biaggi's team-mate Makoto Tamada (Camel Honda RC211V) riding on Bridgestone tyres is equally eager to race. "I can't wait to be in Welkom when the first green light of the season goes on," he said. "I'm just raring to go and I'm feeling incredibly motivated to do my best. In the recent IRTA tests in Montmelò and Jerez, I really didn't bring my full potential to bear. We didn't have the weather on our side that time, and the work was very stop-start. The cold weather didn't let us simulate race conditions like I think we'll find in the first championship races. I'm waiting for some more new materials to come in from Bridgestone: I was able to try out some in the IRTA tests, and the results were good, but I'm expecting more in South Africa. Now, the track at Welkom has a few little unknown factors: first of all, it isn't much used for practice or competition, so we don't have much recent information about the grip and the state of the circuit. And the weather, which is sometimes unsettled, may be another varia ble. So there may be a few surprises - but I'd like myself to be the biggest surprise of all: going fast during the four hours of practice and getting out in front in the race."

For Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) this season represents a chance to consolidate the hard work the American rider put into his rookie season in 2003. "I'm so excited about this season and can't wait to go racing now," he said. "The winter testing has been good and I think we're in real good shape for the season. The 2004 RC211V is awesome, by far the trickest bike I've ever ridden. I feel now that I'm riding much nearer the limit where last season was really a learning year. Now I know the tracks I feel very comfortable with the team and I know the competition. It's going to be super-competitive this year as no one has really stood out in testing. That's what is so great about MotoGP - the best riders in the world on the best bikes every other Sunday. Sure is going to be a good show."

Alex Barros (Repsol Honda RC211V) has plenty of experience and the Brazilian has switched back to Honda after an uncomfortable year with Yamaha. "In all the years I've been racing I can really say that I have never felt as positive as do now at the start of this very exciting year," he said. "I have a strong team, a fantastic bike and a real opportunity this season. Back in February when I first rode the RC211V we made a plan to get to the first Grand Prix in good shape after the surgery I had to my shoulder over the winter. So in Sepang, Phillip Island and in Spain we learned a lot about the bike, my fitness got better, and now we are ready to race. It will be a long season, very close and all the accumulated points will be very important at the end."

In the 250cc class last year's title runner-up Roberto Rolfo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW), who, in a run of remarkable consistency, scored points at every single race in last year's World Championship, is ready again for the title challenge, with a new machine. "I haven't got the feel of the new machine quite right yet because the bike is a lot lower than last year," he said. "But after the Valencia test session things are getting better and I'm ready to race."

Rolfo is joined by a new team-mate Tony Elias (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) while reigning World 125cc title holder Danny Pedrosa (Telefonica Honda MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW) moves up to the quarter-litre class this season.

The 125cc class sees 10 Honda riders take to the tarmac at Welkom with Andrea Dovisioso (Team Scot Honda RS125R) expected to be among the front runners, now that Pedrosa has his sights set on 250cc glory. "Testing has been dogged by rain," said the Italian who finished fifth overall last season. "Jerez is likely to be a better indicator of form than Welkom, but I'll be going for the title from the first race. The bike is good and we just need some more time to work on suspension settings."