Late braker - nice guy.

World Champion Valentino Rossi joined a long distinguished list when he summed up Alex Barros's riding perfectly during the pre-race press conference at Jerez six weeks ago. "I don't want Alex Barros behind me going into that last corner on the last lap because he will pass me on the brakes." Rossi explained to the World's press.

How many times have we heard that particular assessment over the last 16 years?. Too many to count is the simple answer. When it comes from the likes of true Champions Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan , Criville and Roberts you know they are talking about the true demon late braker of MotoGP.

Thirty one year old Barros celebrates his 200th grand prix race on Sunday, fittingly at the home of his West Honda Pons team and in the country where he made his grand prix debut and secured his first grand prix victory. During those 200 races that spanned the last 16 years Barros has thrilled millions, unnerved opponents and the only surprise is that he won only four grands prix, despite competing against the very best over the last two decades.

When the shy Brazilian arrived in the 500cc class in 1990 it was the stuff of legends Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Gardner and Eddie Lawson that ruled the roost. Today, the not so shy but equally as friendly Barros now faces the likes of Rossi, Roberts and Biaggi with the same enthusiasm and desire he displayed in that first 500cc season when he rode the Italian Cagiva machine.

"I think the racing now is even harder than when I started because everybody in the race and in particular qualifying is so competitive," recalled Barros, while resting in his Barcelona home, following the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello. "Just two tenths of one second can cover the first five in qualifying and two and a half seconds the complete field this season. The riders are a lot more equal today and that makes it so difficult but also very exciting."

Barros was born in Sao Paulo in Formula One mad Brazil and could easily have gone down the four wheel route after a successful start in kart racing. However, when it came to making a crunch decision it was two wheels that won the day.

"I was racing in karts and my Father and Uncle said I had to make the choice between cars and motorcycles and I chose bikes," he explained. "I was seven when I had my first race on a 50cc machine with no gearbox. Coming to Europe to ride in my first grand prix, the 80cc race at Jarama in Spain in 1986 was like a dream despite the fact I crashed and broke the engine. Coming from Brazil it was so difficult. There was no grand prix racing on television and I just used to read and dream about the likes of Freddie Spencer in the magazines."

After two seasons in the now defunct 80cc class Barros rode just one 250cc grand prix before joining the big boys in 1990 , riding the brand new Italian Cagiva. Three years later he joined the legendary Kevin Schwantz at Suzuki and at the very last grand prix of the season that first victory finally arrived.

"Both Itoh and Kocinski crashed while I was lying third at Jarama in Spain and I won the race. It was like a dream come true after reading those magazines back home in Brazil when I was so young."

Despite coming so close on a number of occasions, it was nearly seven years later before Barros tasted that victory champagne once again. He'd joined the Honda Pons team in 1999 and when the next season came hit brilliant form. He won both the Dutch and German Grands Prix and finished fourth in the World Championship. Last year he was fourth once again winning the rain lashed Italian Grand Prix in front of his team-mate Loris Capirossi.

This year it's been tough against the four-strokes but for a rider who likes nothing more than making it hard for the big stars, the fight for points was nothing new. Two weeks ago in Mugello he was the first two-stroke home in fifth place and already talking about returning to the rostrum in the next couple of grands prix.

These days he divides his time between his Brazilian home with his beautiful wife Patricia and their three children, twelve year old Marina, eight year old Jasmine and six year old Lucas and Barcelona, the technical base of the West Honda Pons team.

Sixteen years in the roughest and toughest of World Sporting arenas has not changed him on and off the track. Barros is tough out on the track, taking no prisoners and expecting no favours from anybody. Away from his work place he's a charming family man totally unaffected by the fame and fortune his chosen profession has brought him. Not exactly Jekyll and Hyde but certainly two very different characters.

Instead of winding down his career after 16 years at the top the 31 year old is fitter and more motivated than ever before. Thoughts of retirement have never been further from his head.

"I'm fitter in mind and body than ever before," explained the Brazilian. "I can run and walk and I'm lucky to escape any serious injuries despite a few broken bones along the way. I've had no thoughts about stopping. On the contrary I feel like I'm starting all over again with the new four-stroke era. I'm as motivated and enthusiastic about the future as I was at the start 16 years ago."

The demon late braker has no intention of stopping.