British MotoGP fans can look forward to a wonderful 2009 with a trio of riders set to conquer the world!
British racing fans always hark back to the days of Barry Sheene, who was the last man from this island to dominate what is now known as MotoGP.Sheene won world titles in 1976 and 1977 when racing for Suzuki and genuine British successors to his crown have been few and far between.
Well 2009 could be the year when Britain dominates 125cc GPs, the feeder class to success at the top level of motorcycle road racing.
Valentino Rossi is the undisputed champion of MotoGP with six premier class titles to his name along with two other crowns in the 250cc and 125cc class.
Rossi took the tried and tested route to the top by winning in 125s and 250s before graduating to his current status as the man who dominates the sport.
Next season could see British talent rise to the top in the 125cc class with three riders all vying for a shot at the world title.
In Bradley Smith, Scott Redding and Danny Webb, race fans in this country at long last have not one but three riders who can dream of world title ambitions.
All three will be racing competitive Aprilia factory machines in 2009 and have already shown themselves to be on the way up in the tough world of 125cc GP racing.
Smith has developed into a genuine contender for honours at every race and when he learns to turn his ability to post fast qualifying laps into consistency during the race he will surely back his GP race win duck - his best result so far has been second.
Runner-up finishes in France, San Marino and Malaysia showed Smith is ready to make the step up to the top of the podium and for 2009 he has joined a team equipped to deliver him racing success.
Aspar Aprilia team owner Jorge Martinez had previously targeted Smith as a potential rider for his team in 2008 and has handed him a two-year contract.
Martinez said: ''Bradley has shown that, despite his age, that he could not have adapted better to the RSA (Aprilia). He has been fast all year, and now has the maturity to be world champion.''
Redding showed with his stunning British GP victory on his first race at Donington Park in the summer that he has got bags of talent.
So much talent, in fact, that former 125cc and 250cc world champion and current MotoGP rider Loris Capirossi has singled him out as a rider destined to be a future world champion.
In his debut season in 125 GPs Redding finished 11th overall with his unexpected win at Donington the undoubted highlight.
Redding so impressed Italian manufacturer Aprilia with his performances on an outdated machine that they have promised him a full factory bike for 2009.
Redding turned down an approach from Austrian manufacturer KTM to remain on Aprilia.
Redding said of his prospects for 2009: ''To get a factory bike is brilliant news.
"I've won a race this year on an old bike, so the latest spec factory bike hopefully will let me fight for the championship next season.''
And whilst Webb has not shown himself to be a winner yet he has enough talent to be a contender for podium finishes.
He will race for a third season with the DeGraaf Grand Prix team in 125 GPs in 2009 after also securing factory Aprilia machinery.
Although Webb's progress has not been as spectacular as Smith and Redding his presence on the 125 GP grid makes Britain one of the strongest countries in what is seen as a great proving ground for future champions, promising a bright future in the sport for this country.
Emulating the feats of Sheene and Rossi will be at the forefront of the minds of Smith, Redding and Webb and they also have a current MotoGP rider from their own country to look up to.
James Toseland struggled to adapt to MotoGP in 2008 after twice winning the World Superbike title.
But his performance in the race at Phillip Island in Australia, where he held Rossi up for six laps and passed the Italian twice, showed he can compete with the best.
If you are looking for a British rider to win a world title in 2009 put your money on Shane Byrne who will not defend his British Superbike title after signing to race for Sterilgarda Ducati in World Superbikes.
But while Byrne and Toseland are perhaps at their peak there is plenty of time for Britain's young trio to make their mark.
It might seem like a pipe dream to wish for three British riders on the podium at Donington next summer but stranger things have happened.