But all of them could be upstaged by Kawasaki's Akira Yanagawa, phenomenally fast last season and getting better.With two other British riders - Neil Hodgson (Kawasaki) and James Whitham (Suzuki) - now on more competitive machinery, domestic interest should be more widely spread this year. Early success, especially for Fogarty, and Brands Hatch could be trying to find room for a record crowd this summer. "The following sometimes frightens me," Fogarty said, "but I craved it, so I'll have to justify it.". THE first day of spring, and a late middle-aged man's thoughts turn to trout.

Being a daft old traditionalist, I still think the trout- fishing season starts on 1 April It doesn't any more. On many waters, you can fish for them right through the year. This is all very fine if you're a tackle dealer, a trout farmer or an Environment Agency bailiff on commission. Italy's popular Pier-Francesco Chili, who, like Fogarty, rides a Ducati, says if he is more careful "everyone will follow me".But the biggest threat in the long term is likely to come from the former champion Troy Corser, of Australia, who, riding a new Ducati, has been frighteningly quick in pre-season practice, while the American Scott Russell (Yamaha), the champion in 1993, recently won his fifth Daytona 200. I've got to get this bike competitive."He will not be displeased that Kocinski, who took the title last season on a Honda after Fogarty crashed twice in the Spanish round, has moved on to the grand prix circuit. Fogarty's former British-based Honda team- mate Aaron Slight, of New Zealand, with whom he has had many a slanging match, is likely to pose a threat and badly wants the world title which has long escaped him. He was appalled at the lay-off and by February this pied piper of British motorcycling, who attracted nearly 70,000 to Brands Hatch last summer, was in the Far East testing the Ducati.Early trials this year showed him to be happier with the bike, and quicker, though that happiness is only comparative since the testing process makes him miserable as sin "I get sick of the travelling and the qualifying," he said "All I want to do is race But now I'm on my own I've got new motivation.

But even if he succeeds in fending them off and winning back the world title, he is not intending to have one last try to gain a ride on the grand prix scene. Towards the end of last season his crashes left him in permanent pain from the badly insulted knee. Just before Christmas the operation to repair the damage brought a diagnosis that the doctors thought he would take as good news. He would be able to ride again, but not for at least six months. He would recover from the sort of injury that in other sports often leads to early retirement.