Moto GP Stays Hot
March 20, 2009 by Warren Hayashi
Filed under Racing
Moto GP is hot! In fact, despite the financial problems experienced in the sport in recent times industry experts expect sportbike racing to stay strong in the years to come and public interest in watching athletes ride the latest motorbikes to reach unprecedented levels.
The 2009 season will see the world come to the start line
The Moto GP World Championship has seen mostly Spaniards and Italians carrying the checkered flag around the track in recent times, but in 2009 many countries are planning on sending teams to compete for the championship. This year Finland, San Marino, Austria, Netherlands, Russia, and Thailand will all be represented by riders, each hoping to blaze their own trail across the world of Moto GP, become national and world racing heroes and make Moto GP racing history.
Mike Kallio rides for the honor of Finnish fans
Ratthapark Wilairot is already a hero for his work in the development of motorcycle racing in Thailand, the most celebrated rider in Thailand, and the first Moto GP competitor from Thailand. A popular athlete in Thailand he has shown steady progress on the 250cc grid and could become a iconic figure if he continues his success.
Russian Vladimir Leonov will be competing in the 250cc class, ending a long hiatus for full-time GP Moto competitors from Russia that last saw Nikolai Sevostavanov and Endel Kiisa competing in the 250cc and 500cc classes in the 1960s.
San Carlo Honda Gresini GP Racing Team
Alex de Angelis will be riding his 800cc sportbike for the second year in the premier class, repesenting San Marino he has been carrying the flag for his country since the departure of the Republic’s only GP winner, Manuel Poggiali in 2001 and 2003.
Finnish racer Mika Kallio will be attempting to increase Finland’s title haul to two in 2009, as he follows the trail first blazed by Finland’s only title holder, Jarno Saarinen, using the familiar “hang off” riding style he developed racing his motorcycle on ice tracks in Finland.
The Netherlands is has a sparse representation in the lower cc classes, with Michael Ranseder and recent arrival Jasper Iwema being the only representative from a country that has seen fewer and fewer riders competing in recent years.
