British team race to be new faces on the grid

A new British-based team will compete in the MotoGP World Championship next season and could have a home rider on board. Hertfordshire-based Harris Performance products and the World Championship Motorsport team, who have won GPs, have joined forces to field a two-rider team in the 16-round MotoGP World Championship.

A new British-based team will compete in the MotoGP World Championship next season and could have a home rider on board. Hertfordshire-based Harris Performance products and the World Championship Motorsport team, who have won GPs, have joined forces to field a two-rider team in the 16-round MotoGP World Championship.

Work has already started on the machine which will feature a Harris frame and a much-modified Yamaha R1 engine. The team plan to have two machines ready for the official MotoGP pre-season test sessions which start in just 10 weeks in Spain. The team's next deadline will be to make the start grid for the 2003 world championship's opening race at Suzuka in Japan on 6 April.

The young British rider Chris Burns has been approached by the WCM team about racing in the most competitive field in the 54-year history of grand prix motorcycle racing.

All the major manufacturers have entered teams, while the World Superbike Champion, Colin Edwards, and runner-up, Troy Bayliss, switch to MotoGP to challenge the current champion, Valentino Rossi, and runner-up, Max Biaggi.