With the Moto GP kicking off in Qatar, and the Superbike underway, it looks like it will be a season of record making and breaking.
And the names to beat will be Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi, as both in their respective disciplines, will look to be the best (Italian) rider of the year.
In the ranking of most poles won in the three classes, Rossi is third on 51, preceded by Max Biaggi (56) and Mick Doohan (58).
The possibility of Rossi beating Biaggi is at hand, but in Yamaha, Rossi has never achieved more than five poles in any one season.
If Rossi should win a fourth title with Yamaha, he would beat the likes of Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey and Kenny Roberts all on three titles with the company.
Rossi is also first in the ranking of most points ever won, with 3,720, ahead of Loris Capirossi on 2,993 and Max Biaggi 2,892.
If Rossi gets 400 points (he reached 373 last year) he could hit the 4,000 mark.
With 151 podium appearances, Rossi is only eight away from the absolute record of Giacomo Agostini.
In the last 12 seasons, Rossi has also got at least eight podiums a season, arriving at 16 in 2003 and 2005.
Rossi also has the record of the most consecutive podiums: 23 in all from 2002 to 2004, and now the hunt is on again as in the second part of last season, Rossi nailed nine podiums in a row.
This season is set to be an exciting one as if Rossi puts in the same performance as last year, he will be the first MotoGP rider to obtain such a result.
In terms of speed, though, if Rossi wants a record, he’ll have to start moving as on 57 fastest laps, he’s behing Giacomo Agostini on 69.
And on a final note, we also have the fascination of the individual tracks, with hometown appearances in Italy being important.
Consecutive wins at Mugello has Giacomo Agostini on top with nine, while Rossi has seven victories at Mugello and one at Misano.
Mick Doohan holds some impressive records in Italy, too, with six victories at Mugello, three at Imola and one at Misano.
Let the season begin.
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