The 2000 500cc World Championship ushered in a new era – a new century, a new name for the series and a new generation of stars to battle for motorcycle racing’s biggest prize. The MotoGP era burst into life with all the action and drama you could ask for from Grand Prix racing.
The opening races were edge-of-the-seat thrillers, despite many of the favourites throwing away their chances with spectacular crashes – not least Max Biaggi’s warm-up lap fall in Spain. There were five different winners in the first six races, with only Kenny Roberts Junior managing to do the double. However, the Suzuki star’s rivals piled on the pressure and with six rounds down Roberts and Yamaha’s Carlos Checa were tied at the top of the table.
It was a season of two halves, however, thanks to the amazing efforts of 500cc rookie Valentino Rossi. An heroic performance in damp conditions at the British Grand Prix saw the reigning 250cc World Champion take his first victory in the premier class. Coupled with a series of podium finishes, the win put him at the heart of the title battle. A series of amazing rides made Honda’s Rossi a genuine contender, but Roberts could not be denied. With two rounds remaining, the American made history, becoming the first son of a 500cc World Champion to take the crown.
As well as a nail-biting title fight, the 2000 season treated fans to many spectacular performances, including the race-winning brilliance of Garry McCoy and Norick Abe, the thrilling Italian showdown between Rossi, Biaggi and Loris Capirossi and a long overdue return to the podium for a British rider, courtesy of Jeremy McWilliams.
This Official Review features action-packed footage from all 16 rounds of the season, including plenty from on-board the bikes giving you an unrivalled white-knuckle view of the best elbow-to-elbow racing and spectacular crashes. Interviews and informed commentary ensure this is a comprehensive review of an historic year.
“In a great collection of DVDs, covering one of the most exciting periods in Grand Prix history, Duke Video have captured the evolution of top flight racing, from Eddie Lawson’s final fling through to Valentino Rossi’s rise to dominance. Action-packed footage, interviews with the stars and round-by-round coverage delivers the most comprehensive reviews of a decade of red hot Grand Prix racing. It is easy to forget the highs of Grand Prix; the Doohan years, when the Australian seemed unbeatable, and the lows, like Wayne Rainey’s career-ending crash, but they are all here in hour upon hour of great memories. And you will be reminded of the forgotten heroes of the period too, such as Alex Criville, who shared the podium with Doohan on 10 occasions in 11 races during the 1996 season, pushing him all the way for the title” Classic Racer