This is the first time I come to Tokyo to participate in the official presentation of Honda's racing program of the next season, and I am extremely happy to be here.

Year 2001 was fantastic. Together with Honda, we won the Suzuka 8 hours and the championship of 500 GP, and thanks to all our efforts, I could fulfil my dream to win the championship in all three classes of the motorcycle GP, 125, 250 and 500. For these great results to be achieved, I wish to thank Honda, HRC, and of course my team and mechanics who have supported me all the time and in the most difficult moments.

This year, we have a new challenge. Honda will participate in WGP with the new 4-stroke bike, RC211V, and I will ride the bike. I like this bike very much, being very fast but easy to ride, and also very beautiful in it's design.

Our team has already had test sessions in Spain, Australia, and Malaysia. We've understood that we are on the right way, and although we still have a lot of work to do, I am sure we will be able to race for the first place from the opening round.

One more thing I want to say is, even today, while we are here together, mechanics of HRC are working at their best to develop my bike, and I believe that the work they are doing now is extremely important to reach our final goal. I want to say thank you once again to them for this wonderful teamwork.

From my side, I will just make my best efforts to show the greatest performance and to achieve the result that Honda is expecting from me. From now, right after this visit in Japan, we will have another test session in Malaysia, and afterwards we will participate in IRTA tests in Europe before starting the Championship.

I thank you all and I will see you in Suzuka on 7th April for the first GP of this year.

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Tohru Ukawa :

I fell many times last year and ended the season again with a result that, allow me to use a common phrase, I am not proud of. This year, I will renew my challenges by participating in MotoGP class under the new regulations riding the four-stroke RC211V.

We have already completed many tests and I am certain that the machine excels over last year's in everything including handling and engine power. RC-V is a very smooth easy-to-ride machine, and I've been enjoying testing it so much that I can hardly wait for the next season to open.

I take that the fact that I am where I am in spite of last year's results is because everyone believes in my potential. I will be making every effort this year in the hope that I can meet those expectations.

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Team Fortuna Honda Gresini: Daijiro Katoh :

I am still very happy about having won the (250) championship last year. I owe it to all the people who supported me including the sponsors and mechanics at Team Gresini, and HRC development staff. However, I have had no time at all to take in the victory because as soon as last year's final round was over, we began testing NSR500, and right now I am trying to spend as much time on it as possible before the next season opens.

I would like to face my new challenge by making the most of my two-year experience in 250cc class.

Although this is only my first year in the new MotoGP class, I have no intention of making it a practice year. I intend to give all I have in taking on my new challenges.

My goal is just to win one Grand Prix first. After that I will think about the next step.

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West Honda Pons: Loris Capirossi :

Although there has never been an easy season for the 500cc class, which will become the new MotoGP-class this year, I believe this year's season will be even tougher because, as you know, the new Honda four-stroke runs tremendously fast.

However, NSR500 that I am riding this year has been significantly improved and has great potential. I think it could even push RC211V in the corners. I also believe that the reliability of the fully matured machine might well prove to be its greatest asset.

At any rate, once the season opens, all I can do is race with the best of my abilities.

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Alex Barros :

Beginning this year, the race situation will be completely different with four-stroke RC211V and two-stroke NSR500 running in the same races, and to be honest, I don't know what the season will be like.

However, one thing that is certain is the fact that RC211V has clocked pretty good lap times during the tests and so undoubtedly it will prove to be a powerful rival for me.

At any rate, I can hardly wait for the opening round as, then, we will be able to see more clearly how this year's battle between two-strokes and four-strokes is going to be. I already feel excited just thinking about it.

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Pramac Racing: Tetsuya Harada :

Transferring to Honda is the big change for me this year. To be honest, I am very excited about riding a Honda machine and I am holding high hopes for myself as well.

Although I was not able to win the championship last year, I am quite satisfied because I enjoyed racing with Daijiro Katoh and I think we put up a pretty good fight.

I am sure everyone, as well as myself, is very much looking forward to seeing this year's MotoGP class races, in which Daijiro Katoh and I will both participate on Honda NSR500s.

I am very anxious for the next season to open, but for the time being, I would like to take one step at a time and steadily gain results.

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Kanemoto Racing: Jurugen V.d. Goorbergh :

When I was a young boy I went with my father and brother to some Grand Prix races in Europe, and the 1985 Dutch GP was especially exciting! We had some paddock passes for that Grand Prix, and this allowed me to see my two favorites--not two riders but only one, Freddie Spencer. My other favorite was his team manager, Erv Kanemoto, who became a team owner a few years later.

It was in 1985 that Freddie and Erv worked together to win the 250 and 500 titles for Honda in the same year, which in my eyes was an unbelievable achievement.

Since then I have had a goal and a dream. My goal was to become a factory Honda NSR500 pilot and work with whom I think is the most successful team owner in history, Erv Kanemoto. These goals have now been achieved in 2002. My dream is still waiting, and that is to become a Grand Prix winner and also become a World Champion in the new MotoGP classification.