Over the past two years, a documentary about the MotoGP World Championship has been filmed at several GPs by a Hollywood production company. The movie, "Faster", has finally been completed and had its international launch in Cannes during the famous Festival this evening.

The screening took place at the Riviera 8 Theater, however prior to that launch a party was hosted at The Majestic Hotel. The high point of the evening besides the film, was the arrival of the MotoGP stars, some on their race bikes, from along La Croisette, the famous front beach boulevard in Cannes that is the centre of attention during the Festival.

The MotoGP riders involved were Valentino Rossi (Honda / Italy), Olivier Jacque (Yamaha / France), Loris Capirossi (Ducati / Italy), John Hopkins (Suzuki / USA), Colin Edwards (Aprilia / USA) Garry McCoy (Kawasaki/Australia) and Alex Hofmann (Kawasaki / Germany).

There was an additional surprise because the film, which is around 100 minutes long, is narrated by the famous Scottish actor Ewan McGregor (Star Wars, Moulin Rouge), and he too arrived at the launch riding a bike alongside the MotoGP stars.

McGregor who is a keen motorcycle enthusiast remarked, "This has been an amazing event, I've never been to a premiere like this before! Nor have I ridden a bike like I did today alongside the MotoGP riders, the guys are all really good fun."

Over 100 photographers awaited the riders' and McGregor's arrival as they rolled up at the Majestic Hotel, with the racers showing off their skills to the cameras. Later, regarding his narration of the film the Briton commented, "The director Mark Neill called me up and showed me the movie while I was working in the US, and I had never seen such a good motorcycling film. We met up soon after in Alabama and put the voice on it. Unfortunately I can't make these guys' next GP in Le Mans, however I hope to be able to attend a race at some time later on in the year."

Valentino Rossi, who forms a big part of the film, was impressed by the scene, "There's a fantastic atmosphere here. I think the film itself is great, I enjoyed it a lot."

Another of the riders to feature strongly in the picture is young American, John Hopkins. The Californian 19 year-old said, "I have one more year of experience since the film, and now I'm not just the young guy in the movie, now I'm more mature and trying to make my place in the MotoGP scene."