be a dark horse at the dry lake.Hope SurfacesWith so many riders intent on winning here, the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca should be a fantastic spectacle of motorcycle racing. But last year's experience here has made us wary: Extreme temperatures melted

under its belt the future looks good for Triumph’s old war-horse. Although it’s unlikely to ever tread the red carpet at the Oscars it’s still won an army of fans, and deservedly so.SPECS:Price: £7,999Engine: 1050cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 12 valve, three

for each decade since the 1920s.10: 1920sBACK when the motorcycle was as fresh and new as the internet is today – and no doubt surrounded by endless middle-aged stick-in-the-muds claiming that ‘a horse was good enough for me’ – there wasn’t much doubt over

be ready for the Mugello round in June, as you can't trade speed off against fragility. If one man can hold his own against those odds, it's The Doctor. Rossi proved that he could make up for a lack of horses at Losail, but Istanbul could be more difficult

sight, a pointless maneuver, his Yamaha sure to be outgunned by the Ducati's superior horses along the main straight. And as expected, the Australian got past, first by a fair margin going into the Elf turn at the end. But Rossi had the information he

PSG-1 team is a horse," (The year before Regis had likened it to a bull. Speaking of bull...)We say: Regis is towing the company line. Like the road bike it's obvious that the race bike is fast enough, but the handling is errant. When they can get

at the scenery, a tendency which has only got worse this year. If he can keep it on two wheels, he could be a dark horse.Vermeulen is a dark horse in a different respect. A race winner, and the only man capable of matching the pace at the front at some tracks

; you can even bung in horse shit and, one I encountered personally, mint sauce slicks if you like. The reality is you expect the unexpected and as long as you're on the ball, you're safe. But what happens when you're distracted? This brings me

about trying to build a gap. But at any stretch of straight tarmac, The Doctor would see his hard work through the corners undone, as Stoner's horses reeled him in. And while the straight sections around the rear of the track are short enough for Rossi

results will improve drastically. And with the extra horses the Rizla Suzuki will have on tap, he could be much closer to the front than he has been at previous races.The French ConnectionThe other bike which has shown a huge improvement is the Kawasaki