Welcome to gpfuture.com
Welcome to the site, first launched in 2006 to promote the GP Future campaign. The campaign's ultimate aim is to get a Briton's name on the MotoGP trophy. British motorcyle racing fans have been waiting for this since 1977, when Barry Sheene won the 500cc World Championship. Until a British Champion emerges, we want to raise the public profile of motorcycle racing in the UK.
GPFuture would like to acknowledge the fact that, despite the lack of two-wheeled GP champions, there has been regular British success in the Sidecar World Championship. In fact, there have been ten British world champions since 1996. Current champions Tim Reeves & Patrick Farrant follow a long line of sidecar successes; Tim Reeves with his brother Tristan, Steve Webster with Paul Woodhead and David James, Steve Abbott with Jamie Biggs and Darren Dixon with Andy Hetherington. Wouldn't it be good to have the solo class brought back to the UK too?
It would also be churlish of us not to recognise James Toseland's achievement in regaining the World Superbike title for 2007, riding for the Hanspree Ten Kate Honda team. This was crucial in his decision to move to MotoGP, where he now rides for Yamaha's Tech 3 squad with Colin Edwards. James' rookie year has started well and we'll be following his progress with keen interest.
GPFuture was formed after a number of long conversations with motorcycle racing fans. There are many fansite forum pages asking what might be done to get British riders into MotoGP and how Britain could get a MotoGP champion. We spoke to a number of people in the racing community; racers, teams, organisers, sponsors, reporters, etc. and, to be frank, whilst we may be preaching to the converted within motorcycle circles, there is little recognition of the sport outside this group. GP Future aims to change that.