Flying the flag in the World Championship

In a World Championship dominated by Italians and Spaniards, with sizeable representation from countries such as France, Great Britain, America, Australia and Germany, some of the more ‘exotic’ nations are putting their names into the mix in 2009.

現在的GP世界由義大利人和西班牙人統治著，還有其他來自如法國、英國、美國、澳洲和德國，還有其他異國風情的車手出現在2009年的賽季。

This year’s entry list features six riders flying the flag for their nation across the three cylinder categories on a full-time basis, with all having the chance to blaze new trails on the world stage.

從今年三個等級的中列出六位各具特色，並且有機會在這國際舞台創造新紀錄，各自代表他的國家的正式車手。

Top of the list are two competitors in the premier class, with Alex de Angelis undertaking his second year on an 800cc bike. Representing San Marino, the San Carlo Honda Gresini man has been left on his lonesome in the World Championship after the departure from the scene of Manuel Poggiali –the Republic’s only title winner courtesy of his 125cc and 250cc crowns in 2001 and 2003.

名單最上方是兩位初級比賽的對手，同樣代表聖馬利諾的Alex de Angelis開始他獨自代表國家追求800C.C等級冠軍的第二個賽季，升上GP等級而離開了他的同胞Manuel Poggiali 的舞台，Manuel Poggiali在2001年贏得125CC冠軍、2003年250CC冠軍。

Similarly attempting to increase his country’s title haul to two is Finn Mika Kallio, who has big boots to fill upon his arrival in MotoGP. Pramac Racing’s former 125cc World Championship runner-up is following in the footsteps of the late great Jarno Saarinen, to date the only rider from Finland to take a title across the current classes. Kallio stays true to the ‘hang off’ style of the former quarter-litre World Champion, thanks to his keeping with the tradition of ice racing in his homeland.

替自己的國家得到新獎盃的企圖也發生在芬蘭車手Mika Kallio身上，他升上GP帶來很大的效益。這位250CC前亞軍跟隨他的同胞前輩Jarno Saarinen的腳步，要註明他現在是現階段唯一的芬蘭車手。Kallio維持了他的同胞，前250冠軍的Hang off 風格，也承襲了來自芬蘭冰上賽車的風格傳統。

Austria and the Netherlands have both seen respectable numbers of riders competing under their respective banners in recent history, but the two European nations have experienced a dip in numbers for 2009. Michael Ranseder and newcomer Jasper Iwema are the sole representatives in the lower cylinder categories.

澳洲和荷蘭的車手人數在過去的歷史上總是很可觀。但是兩個歐洲國家，奧地利和荷蘭車手人數在2009年是減少的，Michael Ranseder 和新人Jasper Iwema是各自唯一代表國家在初階等級的車手。

More notable is the arrival of Russian Vladamir Leonov in 250cc, ending a long drought of full-time riders from his country in the World Championship. In fact, previous points scorers Nikolai Sevostayanov and Endel Kiisa made their mark on the 500cc and 250cc classes back in the 1960’s, over twenty years before the collapse of the U.S.S.R.

更值得注意的是250CC等級的俄羅斯車手ladamir Leonov，結束了俄羅斯在摩托錦標賽的長久缺席。事實上最後在場上得過積分的俄羅斯車手，要追朔到1960年代的Nikolai Sevostayanov 和 Endel Kiisa分別在GP500和250等級，比蘇維埃社會主義共和聯盟垮台還早20年。 

The rider most celebrated for his role in forwarding the development of motorcycle racing in his country, Ratthapark Wilairot could further add to his popularity in Thailand this year with a continuation of his steady progression. After a wild card appearance in 2006, Wilairot has been a regular fixture on the 250cc grid since 2007 and the first Thai rider to complete a Grand Prix season.

在他自己的國家最有名、推動摩托運動發展的車手是泰國車手Ratthapark Wilairot。他在國內的歡迎程度將隨著他的賽車事業繼續發展下去。自2006年以外卡身分參賽，從2007年Ratthapark Wilairot 已經是250CC的固定正式車手 ，而且也是首位完成一個完整賽季的泰國車手。

The sextet will have the hopes of their nations on their shoulders on April 12th, when they begin the season in Qatar.

這六個車手將在4/12號Qatar開季第一場比賽，背負著他們國家的期待出賽。