Ducati Monster Forum

Might as well get the pot stirring since we're halfway through GP and 2/3 done with WSBK.

Rossi on a Honda?

http://www.allaboutbikes.com/motorcycle-sports/motogp-racing/motogp-racing/5607-rossi-to-ditch-ducati-for-honda (http://www.allaboutbikes.com/motorcycle-sports/motogp-racing/motogp-racing/5607-rossi-to-ditch-ducati-for-honda)

...or on a Duc in WSBK. I have a nagging feeling that MotoGP is going to become a game of musical chairs...fewer and fewer seats each round, with people leaving the game for greener pastures.

I would believe it more if they said he was going back to Yamaha.

or it was just Rossi's way of saying I'd go ride for a satelite team rather than riding your pos if you don't get your engineering act together.

way too many things make that highly unlikely.

like for 1-his very publicly made known high disdain for Honda and how they treated him....

2-Marlboro would have a field day suing him for breach of contract and make his life a legal hell...

3-Italian faithfuls would lambast him by the truckload...

now...for what it is worth...let me offer an alternate thought as to potentially why he actually might be talking to Honda about next year....doesn't Uccio run a Moto2 team for him that he is funding, that could potentially be feeling out a potential bike for 2012 for that team?...now THAT may have some tractionable meat to it....

you're assuming the contract doesn't have an out clause.  it probably has 50.

Different source...about 5-pages in.

http://mag.gpweek.com/ (http://mag.gpweek.com/)

Rossi on the Honda, and Simo on the Duc?

I thought Rossi liked Simo.

More rumors abound that Ducati will pull a Honda and have 3 factory Ducs on the grid with Simo. I need to find the article, but it blamed the financial issues caused by the earthquake as a possible reason to drop factory support for both Dovi and Simo. That means it's highly unlikely they would want to bring in Rossi.

That'd be interesting...if only for the possibility of seeing all 3 factory ducs in a pile in the gravel ;D

well....maybe Simo's wrecklessness on the Honda would prove to put results up for Ducati ala Stoner on Honda 2006 vs Ducati 2007 in terms of not knowing any better and pushing the more bin it or win it angle and getting the front CF frame to front end feel that has been alluded to as missing for the 'Stones to heat up....

One can only hope!

they just have to agree to supply him with the bike.. i'm sure he can set up his own team and sponsors

true, but I doubt Rossi would go to a team without factory support.

He's already on a team without factory support...or he might as well be [roll]

supply him with the bike means support throughout the year.  they can cut another bike or something.  if they can have rossi, stoner, pedro up front fighting for a championship, they'll do it.  financial schminancial.. that would pay for itself.  quit making lawnmowers or something. 

more than wanting to be an italian on italian machinery, rossi wants to win.. so all these rumors make sense of course, but it's still hard to believe.  that said, he's already ridden the GP12: it's better but it's not 30 seconds better.

I agree with this.  Rossi is a marketing machine.  Setting up his own team wouldn't be the problem.

@MOTOCI_Maroto Rossi laughed off Honda rumor saying that his plans for next year to be decided by his new manager, Marco Melandri.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

Gresini is talking about running a Honda with Super Sic and an Aprilia-engined CRT entry?

http://motomatters.com/news/2011/08/09/gresini_to_turn_hybrid_for_2012_one_hond.html (http://motomatters.com/news/2011/08/09/gresini_to_turn_hybrid_for_2012_one_hond.html)

yeah.

there are also rumors that that is just fausto putting pressure on HRC to give him 2 bikes.

I don't understand why the factories are so reticent to get additional bikes on the grid.  Do they lose that much money on each bike?  Why not just build that into the lease price?

i doubt they're losing money leasing the bikes/engineers, especially at those prices (reportedly €3MM per rider).

I think it comes down to their will to try and keep from trickling down the best parts in the most inefficient manner so as to keep the satelite teams from beating the factory bikes at their own game....

it's just a matter of bottom line and infrastructure.  many times in this fiscal environment the bean counters want you to narrow your balance sheet.  even if it's 'paid for' there's accounting magic at work.

Actually, it all comes down to which of the most powerful executives' wives/GFs want to spend time in exotic/fun places with cool people next year...  [evil]

Perhaps someone can get organized racing started with these things...

http://www.youtube.com/v/WgdIE2t8QkM? (http://www.youtube.com/v/WgdIE2t8QkM?)

Say so long to Crutchlow at Tech 3? Really?

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Aug/110818bradsmith.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Aug/110818bradsmith.htm)

The announcers during the last race were laughing that tech 3 was pretty much talking to everyone.

from the No Shit dept: http://www.twowheelsblog.com/post/7017/colin-edwards-returning-to-wsbks (http://www.twowheelsblog.com/post/7017/colin-edwards-returning-to-wsbks)

Absolutely love the Tornado but always felt he was way better/more fun to watch race in WSBK. Now if we can just get Nicky and Colin on RC51s again...

It's a Duc board and I love my Ducs... but I also love my Jap Duc, Hayden Rep RC51. [thumbsup] [Dolph] In all of it's Sato Racing & Dan Kyle goodness. ;)

Speaking of swapping seats.  I think if you put Nicky back on the Honda GP bike, you'd have a copy of Dovi.  They are essentially the same rider, but one is on a crap bike.  Consistant podium threats, never win, and need the moons to align to win a championship.  Its the same scenario as when Hayden was originally riding for Honda.  Its been tough watching Nicky struggle on that Duc over the years he's been there.

+1

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Aug/110830c18.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Aug/110830c18.htm)

"...Tech 3 Team Principal Herve Poncharal will get the steal of the silly season if Dovi signs with the Yamaha satellite team to replace the departing Colin Edwards, as rumored over the Indianapolis event weekend...."

Looks likes WSBK is going to have wait another year to have Edwards back.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/Edwards+to+CRT+in+2010 (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/Edwards+to+CRT+in+2010)

Not sure there is a need to have yet another yami powered bike on the grid...

But I guess the more; the merrier.

yeah, but knowing how smart Guy Coulon is....I'd love to see his frame and the R1 motor shock the pants off the factory as a wink wink, nudge nudge Tech3 Satelite CRT...

I totally agree with this.

Nicky is a good rider. Not a "smash every record at every single track like Stoner" good but he definitely deserves a better bike

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/173423/1/simoncelli_stays_with_gresini_gets_factory_honda.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/173423/1/simoncelli_stays_with_gresini_gets_factory_honda.html)

Simoncelli is staying with Gresni.  On a factory Honda.  If Marquez moves up, are there really going to be 4 factory Hondas on the grid?  I thought HRC wanted to downsize.

Poor Dovi.  Then again, it's his own fault.  He just needs to (a) be a threat to win, and (b) market himself better.

It's gonna get interesting. ;)

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Sep/110926sillyseason.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Sep/110926sillyseason.htm)

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Sep/110926p-qaz.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Sep/110926p-qaz.htm)

Anyone notice Bayliss' post on Facebook:


(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/303787_10150397940424224_589624223_10238024_1296549307_n.jpg)

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet [thumbsup]

And then the later post about politics around not racing the 1199 in WSBK next year.

Saw that too...no surprise, as I recall seeing something about it earlier.

http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/173670/1/toni_elias_to_wsbk_on_a_ducati.html (http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/173670/1/toni_elias_to_wsbk_on_a_ducati.html)

That could be interesting. Elias is exciting to watch when he gets along with the bike.  [thumbsup]

...or when he's not on Bridgestones 

http://motomatters.com/news/2011/10/07/andrea_dovizioso_to_move_to_monster_tech.html (http://motomatters.com/news/2011/10/07/andrea_dovizioso_to_move_to_monster_tech.html)

Interesting move by Dovi... yet probably a smart one. There may have been a major $$$ factor involved too. I like him as a racer and off the bike. Good move by Tech 3 too. [thumbsup]

especially good move in year 1 of the new bikes.. satellites won't be so far off factory machines.  same for the 1 year contract; there's the possibility for a lot of movement going into 2012.

i bet we see hopper back esp if suzuki stays in the game.  even if he's not actually on a suzi.

Good move by Dovi, and I agree with the article that Spies should be worried. If Dovi beats him next season Spies could find himself on a Tech 3 machine. JLo for sure isn't going anywhere.

If Dovizioso has an outstanding year aboard the Monster Tech 3 satellite Yamaha, it is possible the Italian could find his way into the factory squad.

I agree with that part of the story too. I'm a fan of The Ben, don't get me wrong. But if you move up to the factory team and don't produce like they expect then here comes the worry part. Then again, Dovi is on a superior bike this year. I can see why his results are better and The Ben has had some crummy race results that were not totally his fault. (ie. Rossi punting him into the gravel last race [bang]) Next year with new scooters everyone is starting from square one. Guess we'll see what Dovi can do on a satellite Yammyhammer. [popcorn]

This has to be bothering you... [evil] :-*

Over at Yamaha, Jorge Lorenzo's position is looking solid, and though Ben Spies has shown good signs of progress - the Texan became the only rider besides the four so-called Aliens to win a dry race this season - he has not been as competitive as many had expected. If Dovizioso has an outstanding year aboard the Monster Tech 3 satellite Yamaha, it is possible the Italian could find his way into the factory squad.

I think David E was reaching a bit on that one.

We'll see next year.

nah ;)

even if you're regularly the fastest guy on the track at the end of the race, you can't keep a factory ride if you're usually 5th.

besides, Emmett said "possible".  Anything's possible.  =)   and i do think the new bikes will suit ben's riding style better.  we'll see.

it seems it will be more of a stretch for Jorge to adapt than Ben....but we shall see....

either way, I hope Dovi especially shoves the M1 down Honda and SuperSic's throat in an up yours fashion

he seemed to only have an up yours quotient when he was on the JiR bike.  maybe going back to a satellite will get it back for him.

george, i agree.  tho, even if he is a twit, he's incredibly good.  he won't have any problem.

I'm just not ready to think the new displacement rules will help The Ben that much. And I am a big Spies fan. [thumbsup] I don't see Jorge or even Pedrobot having that much trouble adapting to the new scooters. It's not like they are going back to the old 500cc two stroke days of high sides every other lap. Think how much the tires and electronics have improved since the old 990cc days.

more accurately, think how tires and electronics have the driving primary force in regards to a motorcycle in GP nowadays!!!

like everything in motogp, it will be tiny changes.  the extra hp will let ben, and everyone else, square the corners a bit.  that opens up more than the strictly-one-raceline you have now with the 800s.

and nah, i don't think anyone on the grid will have trouble getting comfortable with the new bikes.  they have those jobs for a reason.

http://motomatters.com/news/2011/10/11/eugene_laverty_rejects_bmw_for_aprilia_f.html (http://motomatters.com/news/2011/10/11/eugene_laverty_rejects_bmw_for_aprilia_f.html)

hmm, proven winner or proven PITA homegrown electronics.. decisions, decisions.

Good thinking on Laverty's part. Of course I like Leon Camier and he's sort of left hanging out in the breeze with Laverty signing with 'priller. Bet he doesn't want to go to BMW either! [bang] When will BMW stop screwing around trying to reinvent the wheel (no pun intended! ;D) and just go with the stuff that works for everyone else? Damn, all they did was build a German made inline 4 Jap SBK with the S1000RR anyway! Why put on a "we can do it better ourselves" show now when they are just racing a Jap SBK knock off to begin with? WTF?? It obvious the bike has potential but look how freaking good the 'priller was right out of the box in comparison. Oh well... [roll]

which motogp program did bmw base the s1000rr off of?  ;D

Laverda

 [laugh]

I really hope that Dovi gets a factory spec M1. It may not be that much different from the satellite for 2012 but it sends the wrong message if it isn't IMO.

not much different to start with anyway.  and i'm pretty sure that if he were getting a factory bike that would have been clearly stated.

http://www.motomatters.com/analysis/2011/10/11/2012_motogp_silly_season_are_we_facing_a.html (http://www.motomatters.com/analysis/2011/10/11/2012_motogp_silly_season_are_we_facing_a.html)

A possible 15 bike grid?

The move back to 1000cc bikes better be the panacea MotoGP is looking for, or it's going to be a(nother) monumentally boring season.

But we still watch. Should DMG take over and try to do MotoGP Nascar style?

Rolling starts, no right turns, and "stock" configurations...sign me up!
(http://www.collegeuniv.com/blog/TTWB/TTWB-RacingFans.jpg)

i agree that a larger grid is better.. sometimes there are several groups worth watching.. but apart from the fact that a 15 bike grid doesn't bode well for the series as a whole, for me it's a lot less of an issue than whether or not the racing at the front gets better with the bigger bikes.  single-line racing isn't fun for anyone.

I don't know that the big bikes are going to be that much better.  So much more of the race is won or lost before the race starts than was true in the 990 era, and certainly in the 500s.  Set-up and electronics and tires are still going to play a MASSIVE role, regardless of whether the new bikes have low-end grunt.  They're still not going to be the point-n-shoot machines we see in WSBK.  They'll be just be hold-corner-speed 800s on steroids.  I hope I'm wrong.

And I still expect there to be a de facto weight penalty for larger riders with the 21L limit.  Simo is still fuxored at the end of a race when the computer tells him he's only allowed 37 hp.

Since we're talking 2012, when is Marquez gonna announce?   ;D  I dig that kid (for now). 

i don't think you're necessarily wrong, i just think there will be a few more overtaking opportunities than there were in the 800 era.  le mans might not suck as much.  the last corner at sepang should be interesting.  etc.

in other words,

 ;D


no kidding!

i think it was in emmett's moto3 article that he talked about how much $$ is in marquez's moto2 machine.  really interested to see what he can do on a less than tits machine.

Like a factory Honda?!?   :o

 ;D

I just don't think Marquez is the prodigal son that will spruce up what will probably be another ho hum [roll] year of racing but on 1000cc bikes. He could just be another Elias. Does well in Moto2 but just another back marker with the big boys. But you can bet your ass the Spanish motorcycle mafia will try and squeeze him out a ride with Repsol. Anybody got any pics of him talking to Puig? [laugh] Pedrobot should be very worried. [evil] [popcorn]

Not like Honda would put another bike on the grid...or displace a soon-to-be 2-time world champion, just to find him a seat. Pedrobot would have to go, which is a non-starter with the Spanish Mafia :)

Checa to BMW next year??
http://superbikeplanet.com/2011/Oct/111013checatobmwrumo.htm (http://superbikeplanet.com/2011/Oct/111013checatobmwrumo.htm)

Just getting to post that same article. [thumbsup] I don't see it happening. Like it's been said, who'd race the Bimmer with their electronics package? They would just be buying the #1 plate to look good. It's happened before but it's just another way to say FAIL! [bang]

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/mapfire-aspar-ducati-crt-motogp-2012/ (http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/mapfire-aspar-ducati-crt-motogp-2012/)

1 less Ducati on the GP grid next year and puts another CRT machine...

and then this observational piece...

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Oct/111014gh.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Oct/111014gh.htm)

I think if Ducati was sincere about the usage of his knowledge as a testing rider as previously reported, maybe they could find it in their budget to do something akin to this...

Ducati should relieve the team of having to pay Checa by contracting him to ride Ducati's next year directly and let the team worry about the potential Althea sponsorship money and finding other sponsors and putting Carlos's fees they would have paid him into the bike....

I like your idea zooom. [thumbsup] My personal opinion is that if Ducati doesn't get Checa on one of their bikes next year it would be a make the beast with two backs up of biblical proportions! I love Checa and I believe many others do also. I like him as much as Bayliss. What does that say? Checa has done Ducati a world of good and he is nothing but a positive asset to the firm on so many levels. You can bet your ass BMW wants to sign him! They aren't dumb... OK, maybe their electronic package is dumb but it ends there. ;D

This is a little surprising but then maybe it's not. [roll] Aoyama hasn't exactly set MotoGP on fire but neither have others who still have rides. ;)

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=46370 (http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=46370)

Hm... :-\

ducati got a "free" #1 plate back in 1999 (poaching ben bostrom from honda after he won the 1998 ama championship on an rc45)...

i'll be really surprised if they let "their" #1 plate be run on another manufacturer next year but, if they do, marketing faux pas aside, i guess it evens the bostrom incident out.

As has been said before, it's not above a company to "buy the #1 plate" to make them look good. As if they had actually earned it. It's total bullshit but it's still business as usual. :P [bang]

Althea/Checa to stay with Ducati.

http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/174121/1/official_checa_staying_with_althea_ducati.html (http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/174121/1/official_checa_staying_with_althea_ducati.html)

Althea Racing has confirmed that Carlos Checa will return to its team for the 2012 World Superbike Championship season after a last minute intervention from Ducati prevented the Spaniard from defecting to BMW.

You wired?

Hoorays!

WHY??

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/174227/1/marc_marquez_to_stay_in_moto2_next_year.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/174227/1/marc_marquez_to_stay_in_moto2_next_year.html)

That is a huge head scratcher. His first year will need to be on a satellite team anyway. On 2013, a lot of contracts are running out. Maybe he wants to see how the 1000s will respond.

I guess it's cuz Repsol wants to be on our TV screen constantly (which is totally understandable).

http://motomatters.com/news/2011/10/20/marquez_to_remain_in_moto2_for_2012_desp.html (http://motomatters.com/news/2011/10/20/marquez_to_remain_in_moto2_for_2012_desp.html)

I think it is pretty elementary actually...Repsol Sponsorship Dollars....he would lose those if he moved up to GP....that helps put his other sponsorship dollars into his pocket due to the amount of money Repsol Caixa puts into that team/bike....just a mere suggestion of why...but makes sense to me...

How would that change in 2013?

I'm in the "not much point in another year in Moto2 even if he doesn't take the title"/"You're better off learning in a year when everyone else will be too" camp. Weird decision.

Because by then Pintey McDouchetard will have broken his collarbone for the 11ty-billionth time and retired from MotoGP...then there'll be room for another mandatory Spanish rider at Repsol Honda  ;D

Probably a bit of the Marquez camp thought process as well.

------------------------

And a pretty convincing list of reasons why the decision to stay in Moto2 is a blunder:
http://www.motomatters.com/analysis/2011/10/20/2011_sepang_motogp_thursday_round_up_on_.html (http://www.motomatters.com/analysis/2011/10/20/2011_sepang_motogp_thursday_round_up_on_.html)

there's also less chance of him being run over by the CRT bikes and breaking the golden boy image if he stays in moto2 1 more year, gets more experience.  plus, he won the 125s last year.  maybe he'll win moto2 this year -- maybe.  i bet he wants to step into each new class having won the previous.

but mostly i bet it was a dorna/repsol/tv dollars thing.

Rookies have to ride in a satellite team for a year, so Pedro's spot would not be going to Marquez unless he went to GP in 2012.  Also, all the big dogs have no contract for 2013, so honestly it would make sense for him to leave moto2 and move up next year since he'd have 6 factory seats to try and slide into.

I didn't realize the rookie rule had an expiration date...

yeah, it expires when you're no longer a rookie.  ;D

Ppppplllbbbbttthhhhh


in the meantime...Crescent formally throws their hat into the WSBK ring

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Oct/111021cresct.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Oct/111021cresct.htm)

Is Hopkins going to be riding for them or is he all set for MotoGP?

no official announcement yet....I hink he is holding out to hear what Suzuki is officially going to do in/with MotoGP....OP/ED piece here -> http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Oct/111020hopkinsoption.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Oct/111020hopkinsoption.htm)

that article wins the Least Amount of New Information, Ever award.

maybe a little too fresh wound to bring this up...but it begs the question eventually as to whom will get that factory RC213V at Gresini in place of SuperSic....too bad Dovi got dissed and signed with Tech3....

That immediately brought Marc Marquez back into my thinking. Sure, no rookies on factory teams, but does this seat really qualify as a factory team under the rule?

given the circumstances....I am sure this will eventually be discussed sometime this week....it isn't that far off from being worth considering....a retraction of previous statement for to step-up wouldn't look bad at all, especially if DORNA backs the whole thing PR-wise....

it's not a factory team.

yup, literally everything but a factory team in name though.  that skirts the rules.

San Carlo colors seem to suit Marquez...for a year, anyway. Might be very interesting.

who says it'll still be at Gresini?  Marco was an HRC employee.

Iaonne (sp?) & Hopper have more of a chance than they did.  Melandri probably wishes he didn't sign that contract a week or two ago. 

Marquez should definitely move up now.

Agreed, Marquez should take the opportunity.

 [thumbsup]

I don't know that the opportunity is at Gresini, as Marquez already has more than enough corporate dough behind him from his Spanish sponsors. The 'opportunity' is the opening in the grid, which is now down to 2 rather than 3 factory Hondas.  And HRC has lost one of their more colorful, hard-charging marketable up-n-comers, which is exactly the role Marquez should slot into.  He may not have Super Sic's personality, but his riding is similar.  

Let's hope not...

what's that supposed to mean?

You can infer what you want (not speaking to this particular incident), but it means that I sincerely hope Marquez rides a bit less recklessly. I'm not prepared to chalk Sic's early-season items up as mere racing incidents.

they weren't racing incidents as much as they were a kid coming to grips with the bike and how to ride it.  he was impatient and later said so, when he apologized.

he sure as hell should have waited to pass pedrosa etc., but on the whole the sport needed him and still needs riders like him.

 [thumbsup]

BOOM!!!  [thumbsup]

finally: http://motomatters.com/news/2011/10/27/eugene_laverty_to_ride_alongside_biaggi_.html (http://motomatters.com/news/2011/10/27/eugene_laverty_to_ride_alongside_biaggi_.html)

Camier out?

oh hell yeah.

he never did perform

once in a while he did....but it was like sticking Hayden on Dani's RC212V....lil bike not exactly designed around him or his style of riding...it was designed around Biaggi and a GP rider's style of bike set-up.

Can't buy the size thing.

There was a pretty large rider doing well on an RC212

Maybe the inability to come to grips with set-up...but he's a professional...he should have figured that out during the season.

we should probably blame keith code

;)

rider size had more to do with wind deflection and how diminuitive the Ape is in general...as far as set-up, there seems to be with all the adjustability of that machine a countless number of configurations based on condition that Max understood based on his crew pretty much already being in synch since it was a reunion of a GP Team with a GP/Street based bike...and professional rider or not...Haga is a professional and his Pata 'Priller wasn't exactly producing any kinds of results till the very late portion of the season....and I figure there is a degree of him experiencing some of the same as Camier...

I blame that muppet for everything anyway....

supposedly there were material differences with the Pata bike.  supposedly.

of course, haga's real problem is that albatross around his neck.

^^^^

this

http://motomatters.com/analysis/2011/11/01/the_consequences_of_tragedy_motogp_s_sil.html (http://motomatters.com/analysis/2011/11/01/the_consequences_of_tragedy_motogp_s_sil.html)

As they say in the professional cycling peloton in July, "The Tour waits for no one." The harshness of that cliché does not prevent it from being any less true.

Good, informative article as usual. [thumbsup]

Camier to Crescent Suzuki in WSBK...

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=46526 (http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=46526)

looks like the doors are closing quickly for Hopper....

more likely some other decision has already been made.  my guess is LCR.

http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/174571/1/chaz_davies_tests_world_superbike_aprilia.html (http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/174571/1/chaz_davies_tests_world_superbike_aprilia.html)

barbera to pramac: http://superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111107hec.htm (http://superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111107hec.htm)

..now they're saying that bautista will sign with gresini

DePuniet is testing on the Suzuki 800.  :-\

I just hope there are a bunch of large chaps standing over Marquez with sticks telling him to move up but it's not going to happen.

esp not when he still can't see straight

Putting aside the whole Repsol marketing aspect, it's not a totally insane decision to stay.  Realistically, he only get around 3 years in GP to prove himself before he is considered a bust, and then shuttled off to a non-factory team and/or to WSBK.  He's only 18.  Another year of racecraft won't hurt him, and it'll give him a wee bit more maturity when he hits the GP ranks.  In turn, hopefully that will translate into a better start to his GP career.  That's the plus side.

The downsides are big.  He could get hurt next year, he could plain suck, and the expectations are unrealistically high. 
I wish he'd move up too, but it's not completely wacky for him to stay.   

As morbid as it seems, I think that with Simoncelli gone, Marquez should be *made* to ride in GP. He may not be the personality that Marco was but he seems to have the raw talent and fire, spending another year in M2 is just a waste of time.

gm2 - he's not going to be riding anything if his eyesight doesn't return to normal so it's kinda moot (I realize you were joking).

not from repsol's POV...

but i generally agree.  i'd like to see him in GP next year.

What he said. [thumbsup] Not enough mileage on him yet to play with the big boys. Stay, learn, get better, improve your race craft, mature and win the Championship. Have something to hang your hat on other than people's opinion of how great you are/can be. Just sayin'. ;)

Don't get me wrong.  I think he can play with the big boys, and I'd really like to see it happen.  But I get that there are reasonable, non-marketing decisions for him to stay. 

here's a shocker ( insert sarcasm)

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111109a.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111109a.htm)

not like we all didn't see this coming....

Where does that leave Aoyama? I don't remember anyone being interested in him. If he's signed on to another team then I guess I missed it.

he is riding the Ten Kate Honda in WSBK

Thanks! [thumbsup] Missed that one like my son swinging at the plate. [laugh] But he can field. ;)

Bet he'll do OK. But only if the bikes improve.

=)

good move on both their parts, i'd say.  and those highlights will for sure sell some potato chips.

i was still hoping that marquez would go to gresini.

here's hoping to him not messing anything up next year in moto2...  he did get kind of robbed this year.

Looks like DePuniet is the man left standing now that the music's stopped.  :(

I really had hoped he'd get a good ride, awesome in '10, snake-bit by the Duc in '11.

Off to the CRT's it seems....

Granted I haven't watched a whole lot of the Moto2 races this season (I'm saving them for winter!) but why do people feel that Bradl is ok for MotoGP but Marquez isn't?

I *really* hope Suzuki stays in it, even if they just ran 1 800 next season it'd probably be in front of the CRT.

Come back Kawasaki, don't leave Suzuki!

on Suzuki...I think Dorna will let them start with an 800, but will require them to field a bigger machine before mid-season, IIRC what I read elsewhere...

on Moto2 and Bradl...I think people generally want to see Marquez step up to the plate as fast as Bradl, but the money from Repsol Caixa won't go with him, which is 1 issue, the 2nd issue being that Marquez being the virtual phenom he is, is seemingly advancing up the ropes rather fast...he was in 125's in 2010 and started out rather slowly in Moto2, though when he got up to speed, he flew like a jet past alot of the pack...Bradl, has spent 2 years in Moto2, has a bit more riding experience in general and is a little older and shown a bit more racecraft, which seems to be a necessity in the GP class as of recent with singular race lines....so that maturity weighs in for sure...I am sure there is more others can say, but I'll leave it at that for now...

It will be interesting (regardless the rider) how the current crop of 125cc (soon to be Moto3) and Moto2 graduates take to the more powerful 1,000cc MotoGP bikes. Not sure that any of them on the verge of moving up have any big bike/SBK racing experience. [popcorn]

admitting unnoficiality...

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111114suzukiout.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111114suzukiout.htm)

no 'Zuke in 2012

Aren't they obligated to race in '12 per contract? Or did the contract expire this year?

at this rate ducs will def eventually win because every other manufacturer will have left the field.

No...they'll probably be 5th or 6th in a field of Claiming Rule Teams ;D

Ezplezeta was trying to get them to the table when they were threatening dropping altogether for 2011 and got them for 2011 with 1 bike as apposed to 2 from 2010....at the time, they were to come back to the table to discuss terms for 2012 based on 2011 performance....IIRC

sorta.  they implied/half-promised to come back in 2012 with 2 bikes if they could run 1 in 2011 and not be sued for breach.  but that was never formalized to my knowledge.

considering that the crew has been job hunting for a couple weeks, it seems like Suzi told them on the DL that they needed new jobs.

Just IMO:
I think Suzuki has continued to say nothing.
I think it was Paul Denning telling the crew that he had no commitment from Suzuki.

 

http://motomatters.com/news/2011/11/11/bradl_to_sign_motogp_contract_with_lcr_h.html (http://motomatters.com/news/2011/11/11/bradl_to_sign_motogp_contract_with_lcr_h.html)

not exactly surprising, or news for that matter.

does not bode well for the Hop to have a chair.. anywhere?

Except at the bar...sad.

or RDP...

pretty sure hopper can get a spot in the bsb right?

He gave Crescent second place in the championship. Could have easily been first but for some bad luck. It'd be silly for them not to have a place for him, unless he was so sure he was moving to GP that they've already found another rider.

but I thought Crescent said they were moving all of their resources to WSBK?!?!?!...

yeah, they're going to wsbk and so far only camier has been linked with that team.  just oddly quiet from JH.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111114rdp.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111114rdp.htm)

I saw that yesterday and didn't make an opportunity to post it up...makes me wonder what 2nd tier team would put him aboard?!?!?!

Hmm. I guess I'd interpreted (misread) that as expanding into WSBK, not moving. I suppose that does leave Hopper without a good fallback.

why 2nd tier?  (other than most seats already being taken)

more officialer
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/suzuki-out-motogp-2012-season/ (http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/suzuki-out-motogp-2012-season/)
http://motomatters.com/news/2011/11/15/suzuki_out_of_motogp_in_2012.html (http://motomatters.com/news/2011/11/15/suzuki_out_of_motogp_in_2012.html)

no other reason...when the music stops...you usually end up scrambling for the left overs if you have no firm plan....and it seems that is what RDP and perhaps Hopper have been left to do...

in other news, this seems to me a more concrete reporting of that which we have previously unconfirmed...

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/suzuki-out-motogp-2012-season/ (http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/suzuki-out-motogp-2012-season/)

hahahahahahahahaa

posting at the same time...LOL

NO!  I WON! 

 ;D

I hate to see Suzuki go. I can see their point from a corporate/financial angle but I have been there watching them from the early 70s. Mamola, Schwantz, Sheene, Lucchinelli, KR Jr. and company... so many great racers and world champions. And they and Bautista were actually hanging in there the last half of this season. Too little too late. Maybe pot smoking is down and Rizla isn't selling enough papers to keep them afloat! [laugh] [coffee]

ohOH

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=46665 (http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=46665)

That's a better hookup than direct to the factory!

guess they now have an outlet for to use all those leftover midnight Mladin madness modified crankshafts....LOL.....I keeed I keed!!!

no kidding.  yosh engines and exhausts.. that's huge.

that article also directly implies there will be 2 Crescent riders, so maybe there's a chair left yet for Hopkins after all.  no doubt the new team structure is 3-sided, the third being the Monster money he will bring.

That AMA Virginia SBK race crankshaft bullshit still pisses me off! >:( Strip Mladin of a double win over alledged illegal crankshaft nonsense. Seriously? Since when did he or Yosh need to cheat like that? Then the AMA slammed the door in their faces when they brought their appeal and refused to hear it. Assholes! No wonder Mladin walked away from the series. He had nothing left to prove to those yahoos. [popcorn]

http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_1111_john_hopkins_to_crescent_suzuki_wsbk_talks_about_suzuki_motogp/index.html (http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_1111_john_hopkins_to_crescent_suzuki_wsbk_talks_about_suzuki_motogp/index.html)

Bradl -> LCR for realz

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96301 (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96301)

the grid so far

http://motomatters.com/news/2011/11/17/2012_motogp_silly_season_bradl_signing_m.html (http://motomatters.com/news/2011/11/17/2012_motogp_silly_season_bradl_signing_m.html)

Suzuki confirmed out

http://motomatters.com/news/2011/11/15/suzuki_out_of_motogp_in_2012.html (http://motomatters.com/news/2011/11/15/suzuki_out_of_motogp_in_2012.html)

Dood...

try to keep up...K? ;D

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=51286.msg988892#msg988892 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=51286.msg988892#msg988892)

Wasn't official  ;D

no way am i going back to moto2! 

wait.. yeah i am.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/Aspar+Team+Elias+Terol+Moto2+2012 (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/Aspar+Team+Elias+Terol+Moto2+2012)

I'm psyched to see Marquez and Elias goin' at it.  Unless Elias' problems with the Bridgestones this year have permanently fuxored his juju. 

me too.  and nah, he loves those dunlops and i'm sure he feels like he's got some ego to recover.. he'll be fast all over again i bet.

It's the same link... [laugh]

 [clap]

Sorry, I only clicked on the first URL  [thumbsdown]

not at all surprising but nice to see it all worked out

http://www.motomatters.com/news/2011/11/19/hopkins_confirmed_with_suzuki_in_world_s.html (http://www.motomatters.com/news/2011/11/19/hopkins_confirmed_with_suzuki_in_world_s.html)

i wonder how fabrizio is feeling about now..  ;)

Mediocre, perhaps a little erratic.  ;D

confirmed that hopkins will get to run #21, bayliss gave the ok.

weird that people get so worked up about this.

not like he'll run it for long....he crash and hurt himself and need another 4 surguries and call it a day...

I also think the #21 represents the number of surgeries he's had. [laugh]

Not "news" but I guess this is good for Elias. I'd bet he would rather be on a GP grid than WSBK.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111122elias.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111122elias.htm)

;D

http://motomatters.com/news/2011/11/26/aspar_confirms_crt_entry_with_de_puniet_.html (http://motomatters.com/news/2011/11/26/aspar_confirms_crt_entry_with_de_puniet_.html)

i really hope those crt teams will be fun to watch.

remember that when the moto2 bikes first hit the track they were a total mess.  now they aren't.

same thing will be true of the CRTs -- it takes time to get the chassis and electronics sorted.

im missing something, what is a crt bike? anyone got a link?

Claiming Rule Team

http://motomatters.com/news/2011/11/26/aspar_confirms_crt_entry_with_de_puniet_.html (http://motomatters.com/news/2011/11/26/aspar_confirms_crt_entry_with_de_puniet_.html)

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/Colin+Edwards+talks+CRT+bikes (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/Colin+Edwards+talks+CRT+bikes)

http://motomatters.com/analysis/2011/11/22/crt_faq_everything_you_always_wanted_to_.html (http://motomatters.com/analysis/2011/11/22/crt_faq_everything_you_always_wanted_to_.html)

thx

so they are just fillers... or can this be a bid for aprilla to start to collect data for a motogp bike

For '12 they're probably going to get stomped by the factory bikes. Hopefully not so badly that they're getting lapped consistently, but who knows. That said, they may be where we'll be looking to see some interesting racing. GP sure as shit hasn't had much of that for a few years...

Also, there's been talk that GP's Head Honcho wants to see everything go CRT by '13. Who knows if this is a serious threat, or if he's just blustering to try and get the factory teams to find some way to make GP interesting.

Amusing that the factory teams can claim engines from the CRTs.....

yes and no.  no OEM will be dumb enough to invest in prototype work just to have to give it away.  but start with an RSV4 (or whatever) engine and then figure out the best ways to hot rod it?  hell yeah.  not so much risk there.  and if they can supply the chassis too under these rules (they can..) then they have the best shot at being successful first.  until the Suter etc bikes get sorted, which they will.

plenty of discussion about this whole thing in the 1000cc in 2012 thread.


well, all he's really said is he wants spec ECUs and rev limits by 2013.  see: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96261 (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96261)

he hasn't said anything about factory machines being able to be claimed -- that would for sure make all the OEMs quit.


or from eachother.  

direct incentive not to try to secretly run prototype engines under the guise of CRT (more fuel, more engines).  it's a self-reinforcing rule.  no way in hell are honda/yamaha/ducati going to risk having to give away their GP technology to eachother for, relatively speaking, peanuts.  but the list of things you can do to a production case aren't secrets.  it's just a matter of how good you are at it.

i wonder if this will be a way to get kawasaki back into the motogp ring.  i'd like to see that, might be a rebirth of a full out program.  and i have no doubt that aprilia is going to use this time to see how much more they need to push the rsv4 to be a legit motogp bike.

Or make the 'priller a more bad ass WSBK bike.

I would hate to see the current Moto2 format take over the premier class. I love the prototype class bikes. Please don't push me to watch only WSBK races because of them dumbing down the preimer GP class to NASCAR levels. >:(

what would be acceptable? the level of spending required to maintain a pure prototype class isn't sustainable.

not with dwindling sponsorship money...

Kevin Schwantz even said the same thing here as to more or less why Suzuki folded as a contributory reason....

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111123x34x34.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111123x34x34.htm)

haven't paid super close attention but there was talk of 1 potential CRT entry that was to be based on a kawi.

Hayden Injured in a flat track accident, doubtful for Sepang test:
http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2011/12/hayden-injured-in-winter-training-accident/ (http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2011/12/hayden-injured-in-winter-training-accident/)

I wonder who the slower rider was?!?!?!

My first guess:
(http://a1.twimg.com/profile_images/309582416/back_up_fun_photo.jpg)

I don't know where else to put this. We have a RACE STUFF tread on our DFWM board but I wasn't allowed to put one here. Regardless, this is worth posting!

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Dec/111230kris60.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Dec/111230kris60.htm)

Happy Birthday King Kenny Roberts!! Although belated!! [thumbsup] [Dolph] [beer] [bacon] [bow_down]

Oh, and on a somber note, Dec, 29th 1973 marks the death of the great Cal Rayborn. God only knows what he would have accomplished on a race bike had he lived past this sad day. His passing and Rusty Bradley's have always left me with a sense of melancholy and a "what if" mind set. Lord knows how those two racers could have changed the bike racing world! "What if" indeed. [Dolph]