In 1999, a bike game was released for the PC which to this day has still not been bettered. It was based on the 1998 GP500 championship when the evil 2-strokes still ruled. What set this game apart was the way it felt, the realism. You had to feed throttle on gently or you highsided out of bends. You had to watch the braking in the turns or your front end would fold. To really get anywhere you had to alter the set up characteristics, from suspension, engine and gears to the tyres.

The pictures on the left were taken from an online race using the 2003 MotoGP set. I'm on the MoviStar Honda, Bull (GPStore webmaster) on the Kawasaki and Rezist (skin painter, track editor) on Rossi's custom painted RCV from Valencia 2003.

Although the game is no longer available to buy new (try ebay), it is kept alive by a big fan base and the GP500 Store. Talented individuals have redesigned the game to a massive extent. We now have new bike models from the latest MotoGP 4-strokes to most of the popular road bikes and even supermotos. Whole bikesets are brought out each year to follow the MotoGP, World Superbike, Supersports and domestic championships. The paintjobs on the bikes are increasingly realistic as are the leathers. Track updates are made though at yet nobody has been able to create a whole new track. New sounds are incorporated mimicing the real life changes
A lively forum for people to use is an integral part of the Store.

The latest championship to be formed is the BMW Boxer Cup. One make of bike for all riders using paintschemes and sponsors from a host of different champs. More details can be found here.