MotoGP ready to break new borders in Turkey

The MotoGP World Championship will land in the 29th country of its 56-year
history this weekend as the Istanbul Park circuit in Turkey plays host to the
penultimate round of the 2005 season. Just days after Valentino Rossi's eleventh
victory of the year at Phillip Island in Australia the world's premier teams and
riders will arrive at the purpose-built venue, located some sixty kilometres
outside of the city of Istanbul, with attention turning to the Italian's attempt
to set a new win record in the series, as well as the chase for second place in
the rider championship and the outcome of an exciting battle for 125cc honours.

Rossi heads to the exciting new venue, designed by famed German architect
Hermann Tilke, looking to conquer new territory as well as continue a season of
unprecedented success. Along with Laguna Seca, which returned after a ten-year
absence this season, Istanbul Park is one of only two circuits on the current
calendar where Rossi has not celebrated victory in at least one of the three
Grand Prix classes whilst success in Sunday's race will keep him on course to
beat Mick Doohan's record of twelve MotoGP victories in a single season.

With Rossi having clinched the championship with four rounds to spare in
Malaysia last month, the title of 'best of the rest' is up for grabs and looks
to be heading for a two-way battle between in-form Honda youngsters Nicky Hayden
and Marco Melandri. Hayden's second consecutive podium at Phillip Island,
combined with fourth place for Melandri and a crash for Max Biaggi, means that
the pair are now level on points in second place, with Yamaha's Colin Edwards a
further eight points further back.

One man who is almost certainly out of the battle for the number two plate,
however, is Loris Capirossi. The Ducati rider suffered a nasty crash in free
practice at Phillip Island and has flown back to Italy for further treatment on
his damaged lung. is His place this weekend will be taken by test rider Shinichi
Ito, the Japanese veteran joining the in-form Carlos Checa at the Italian team,
with the Spaniard high on confidence after scoring his second podium finish in
three races at Phillip Island. Suzuki rider Kenny Roberts will also miss the
race after breaking his left wrist in a similar practice crash although the
former World Champion will not be replaced for this race, meaning John Hopkins
will be the factory's sole representative.

Elsewhere, Chris Vermeulen will continue in place of the injured Troy Bayliss at
Honda after making an impressive MotoGP debut in his home Grand Prix last
Sunday. Vermeulen finished the race in eleventh place and gets his second chance
to impress this weekend alongside temporary team-mate Alex Barros, who is
expected to be fit despite suffering a heavy crash in Australia.

With Dani Pedrosa having clinched the 250cc title thanks to his seventh victory
of the season at Phillip Island and Casey Stoner some 42 points clear of Andrea
Dovizioso in second place, much of the attention in the quarter-litre class will
be on Jorge Lorenzo. After a series of second-place finishes the exciting
Spaniard has two remaining races before the end of the season as he aims to
become the youngest ever winner in 250cc history.

The 125cc World Championship is the only title chase still to be decided but
Swiss teenager Thomas Luthi took a major step forward thanks to his
comprehensive victory in Australia. The Honda rider now holds a 12-point
advantage over Mika Kallio with two rounds remaining.

INFO 2005/161. 19-10-2005
DORNA COMMUNICATIONS