The new MotoGP

News Via CVG

Having acquired the official World Superbike Championship licence, Italian developer Milestone is set to release the next instalment of its hyper-realistic biking sim early next year for PS2, Xbox 360, PC and PSP.

Announced at the Milan Motorcycle Show with SBK World Champion Troy Bayliss in attendance the game promises to deliver the full range of tracks and bikes from the World Superbike racing series, complete with 170mph elbow bashing overtakes and death-defying crashes.

A refined version of Milestone's superbly authentic bike handling model will power the new racer, though several selectable assist modes and a sliding scale of difficulty are included to prevent biking newbies tearing their hair out in frustration.

Zooming around the one-circuit demo on show in Italy it wasn't long before we were pulling huge wheelies and gratuitous power slides to the tune of 1000 CCs of screaming metal. Although the playable game on show was stuck firmly in easy mode, Milestone assures us that hardcore bike nuts will be able to ditch the stabilisers and enjoy the game's true-to-life realism - though perhaps without the weeks spent in plaster cast, eh guys?

Superbike 2007 arrives on PS2 and PSP in April next year, with PC and 360 versions due in November. Tune in next week as we quiz the game's producer Simone Bechine on all things Superbike, and corner Troy Bayliss for a cheeky chat about his recent spanking of Rossi and co. in the MotoGP season finale.

Screens Here