Behind the victories, the podiums, the champagne, the interviews and the riders, there is always a team of people looking after the good running of everything that has to be in place to allow a rider to have the best weapons available to fight for the victory. The Repsol Honda Team, in its eighth consecutive season in the Motorcycle World Championship, is one of the most experimented and successful teams of all times. In front of the cameras, the glory is for the riders, but behind the scenes, the satisfaction after a victory is shared by more than thirty people, carrying out the most varied tasks: mechanics, engine technicians, suspension technicians, logistics, spare parts, catering service... Each one of them has specific functions at each of the 16 Grand Prix held every year. Moreover, most of them are also at the different tests the team organises in the preseason and during the season. Let�s have a brief look at the tasks of each and all of them.

Kouji Nakajima: Manager Director, Japanese, 2 years as Honda Racing Manager Director, 30 years at Honda. Previously MotoGP Operations Responsible and responsible engineer for engine testing.

Shoji Tachikawa: Team Manager, 50 years old, Japanese, 23 years in the official Honda team, previously in motocross: �The 2001 season was very special and I have very fond memories because we won two titles on the same day: Daijiro Katoh took the title in the 250cc and Valentino Rossi in the 500cc�

Carlo Fiorani: Sport Manager, 37 years old, Italian, 4 years in the official Honda team: �My best memories go back to the British Grand Prix, last year in Donington. Valentino crashed heavily during the practice session and took the start from 14th position; then he won the race. It was just incredible; just as it was to see how he took the Championship title in the new MotoGP class.�

Tadi Okada: Assistant Team Manager, 36 years old, Japanese, first year in the team, previously Honda rider: �It was easier to ride the bike than to do this job. There is a lot of paperwork here and it�s the first time I do something like this, although I�ve been able to meet a lot of new people.�

Roger Van der Borght: Team Coordinator, 46 years old, Belgian, 13 years in the official Honda team, has been working for Honda for 21 years: �It was great to be working with Mick Doohan, who after breaking a leg had to work for years but managed to win races again. Alex Crivill� and Valentino Rossi are also very professional and nice people. The best for me is when the racing weekend is over and the riders leave the pit garage on their own feet to go back home.�

Hiroo Kagami: Chief of Crew, 47 years old, Japanese, 20 years at Honda: �I love being here, at the Grand Prix. This year there are seven Honda riders and it really motivates you at work: managing such a big and well-prepared crew is a challenge and a pleasure.�

Kazuyuki Kato: Electrical Systems Engineer, 37 years old, Japanese, 7 years at Honda Racing: �The best moment of all, when this job fills me most and I feel really satisfied, is when one of our riders wins a race. It makes everything worthwhile."

Norihisa Ishii: Electrical Systems Engineer, 46 years old, Japanese, 18 years at Honda, first year in the team as temporary staff: �It�s actually my first season with the Honda team and there are many experiences to be had, but I hope to learn a lot from this opportunity.�

Masato Nakata: Chassis Engineer, 32 years old, Japanese, 13 years at Honda Japan, since December in the official team: �My dream since I was a schoolboy was to work for Honda. It�s not been easy, but I finally made it, I just entered the team and now I have to learn and to do the best I can.�

Toshiyuki Yamaji: Engine Engineer, 36 years old, Japanese, 3 years in the official Honda team in 1994, 1995 and 1996, back this year: �I worked as a mechanic for Doohan in 1996. I keep very good memories of those days, as well as of the Japanese Championship, where I worked as a mechanic for Daijiro Kato. I hope to have good memories of this year in the future as well.�

Satoshi Ikeda: Supply System Engineer, 31 years old, Japanese, first year in the team: �I like this team, the people, our riders, the motorbikes,...It�s an honour to be working here.�

Nobuyuki Kishi:�Supply System Engineer, 33 years old, Japanese, since December 2002 in the Honda team: �The preseason tests have given very good results, it�s nice to see that our work bears fruit in the races we�ve had so far this season.�

Keita Nishimura: Supply System Engineer, 38 years old, Japanese, 5 months in the team, previously mechanic at the Honda headquarters in Japan: �The day Ukawa won the South African Grand Prix was the best moment since I started to work here. I came over temporarily and I really enjoyed watching Ukawa win.�

Cedric Leprael: Spare Parts Responsible, 39 years old, French, 5 years at Honda: �The first three years I worked as a mechanic for Alex Crivill�. From that days, I have especially fond memories of the day Alex became World Champion, in 1999. He was a very special rider.�

Alex Ghini: Sponsorships, 29 years old, Italian, two years working for the official Honda team: �It�s a new experience, very amusing. It�s great to travel around the world. The best of all is to work with Valentino, a friendly and professional rider.�

David Dew: Press Manager, 41 years old, 2 years in the official Honda team, British: �My best memories of these two years have to do with two victories: Ukawa in South Africa and Valentino in Rio de Janeiro.�

The riders and their squires

There are a series of people working closer to the riders than the rest of the Repsol Honda Team members. They are the mechanics, lead by the Chief Mechanic. The riders have blind faith in them, because they assemble and dismantle motorbikes that are going to reach a speed of over 300 km/h.

Valentino Rossi: Rider, 24 years old, Italian, 3 years racing for the official Honda team.

Jeremy Burgess: Valentino Rossi�s Chief Mechanic, 50 years old, Australian, 21 years in the official Honda team: �We go to the races with the intention to win, we are a professional team and we all hope that the results measure up to our efforts. Each time we have won a championship, be it with Spencer, Doohan, Gardner or with Valentino, the work done has been very gratifying.�

Dickie Smart: Mechanic of Valentino Rossi, 40 years old, New Zealander, 14 years working for the official Honda team: �Working with Michael Doohan and Valentino Rossi has been the best of this experience, they are both very good and it�s very interesting to see how they do their job.�

Bernard Ansiau: Mechanic of Valentino Rossi, 44 years old, Belgian, 5 years in the official Honda team: �I�ve been lucky to work with Mick Doohan and to be working now with a nice team that enjoys winning races.�

Alex Briggs: Mechanic of Valentino Rossi, 34 years old, Australian, 11 years working for the official Honda team: �As a mechanic it is great when nothing seems to be working and you�re capable of fixing it, finding solutions to the problems and going until the end to achieve a victory.�

Gary Coleman: Mechanic of Valentino Rossi, 51 years old, Australian, 4 years in the official Honda team, started with Valentino in 2000: �I like to work with Valentino, he knows what he wants and the truth is that we understand each other very well in this team.�

Peter Benson: Mechanic of Valentino Rossi, 40 years old, Australian, 8 years in the official Honda team: �Working with Valentino is the best, he is an incredible rider, very professional. The day we won the World Championship last year was wonderful, something that doesn�t happen every day.�

Nicky Hayden: Rider, 21 years old,�American, first year as a rider of the official Honda team.

Trevor Morris: Nicky Hayden�s Chief Mechanic, 43 years old, British, 10 years in the official Honda team: �My best memory since I began working with the team is the South African Grand Prix, last year, when Ukawa won the race; I had been working for him since 1996 and it was great to see how he took the victory.�

Mark Barnett: Mechanic of Nicky Hayden, 48 years old, New Zealander, joined the official Honda team 13 years ago: �The Honda team has won many races and titles but winning the World Championship with Alex Crivill� was with no doubt a magic moment.�

Doug Sharp: Mechanic of Nicky Hayden, 50 years old, Australian, 13 years in the official Honda team: �Although it�s always been a pleasure to work for the best team, the most special moment for me was when Alex Crivill� won the World Championship in 1999, there you could see the result of many years of hard work.�

Steve Blackburn: Mechanic of Nicky Hayden, 29 years old, British, 5 years in the official Honda team: �I enjoy every aspect of this job. Honda has got the best bikes and state-of-the-art equipment. This year we are working with Hayden, a new rider, young and competent, and his enthusiasm motivates me.�

Jarmo Heljo: Mechanic of Nicky Hayden, 44 years old, Finnish, 11 years in the official Honda team: �I started to work for Honda in 1993, that was with no doubt the best year, especially when Daryl Beattie won the German Grand Prix.�

Takahiro Hosoda: Mechanic of Nicky Hayden, 32 years old, Japanese, 6 years in the official Honda team: �Ukawa�s victory last year at the South African Grand Prix was an indelible memory, the best since I started to work here.�

The lords of 'Pasta'

They are Italian, amusing, nice and very kind. The rest of the team members love and appreciate them. Their biggest concern is to make �the boys� feel at home when it�s time for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They are in charge of the Repsol Honda Team catering, and among their most select guests they have Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden. By the way, as good Italians, their speciality is obviously pasta, with no doubt the best pasta available in the Paddock.

Massimo Conti: Hospitality Chief, 38 years old, Italian, 9 years in the Honda team and 18 in the World Championship: �The days when I was working with Doohan were very special, we had an excellent personal relationship, I keep very good memories of those years.�

Guido Giavazzi: Catering, 33 years old, Italian, 7 years in the team: �Winning the World Championship with Valentino last year was with no doubt the best moment since I started working here. I was already with Doohan and Crivill� when they won, but there is a friendship relation with Valentino and therefore I lived it in a different way.�

Massimiliano Montanari: Catering, 31 years old, Italian, 3 years in the team: �Before starting to work here I worked two years for Aprilia, with Valentino as well. I follow him wherever he goes, we�re great friends. I like motorbikes, the atmosphere and this job in general.�

Ivan Palmieri: Catering, 40 years old, Italian, 5 years in the team: �I have especially fond memories of the year Doohan became World Championship for the last time, in 1999.�