Maverick's back: Cruise jumps on eighties remake bandwagon as he plans Top Gun II

Twenty two years after Maverick sang his way into the heart of his instructor Charlie with 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling', the fighter pilot will take to the skies again.

Movie bosses are keen to resurrect the mega-successful 1986 movie, which launched Tom onto Hollywood's A-list and earned $350million worldwide.

Life in the fast lane: Tom Cruise, who is set to return his Top Gun character Maverick, and wife Katie Holmes at the Red Bull US Moto Grand Prix yesterday

Cruise, 46, is in talks with studio bosses to reprise his role as Lt. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell in a long-awaited follow-up.

An insider tells The Sun: 'The idea is Maverick is at the Top Gun school as an instructor - and this time it is he who has to deal with a cocky new female pilot.'

The original Top Gun starred Cruise as an cocky aspiring pilot who falls in love with his beautiful instructor, Charlie Blackwood, played by Kelly McGillis.

If Cruise agrees to reprise his role, Top Gun II would be a surefire box office hit.

The actor's film career has been remarkably less successful in recent years after previously dominating the highest box offices receipts since the 1980s.

Day at the races: Tom clutches his wife Katie's hand as he leads her through the busy crowds in Monterey, California

His last big hit was War Of The Worlds in 2005 - which was released around the same time he started dating his now third wife Katie Holmes.

Mission: Impossible III in 2006 performed below industry expectations, taking less money than the first film in 1996, which was a huge worldwide success.

His last film, Lions For Lambs, which opened last November, failed to make an impact at the box office and was critically mauled.

Meanwhile, Tom took time out of his acting career to enjoy a day at the race track with wife Katie.

The couple left the kids at home for the day as they stepped out at the Red Bull US MotoGP World Championship in Monterey, California.

Dressed down in jeans, sunglasses and leather jackets, the couple walked in sync around the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca as they talked to drivers and officials in between races.

The couple were given pole position as they watched the races from the pit lane wall.

Thumbs up: Tom Cruise as Lt Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell' in Top Gun