Ducati Monster Forum

talks finally acknowledged

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69209


"I'm not afraid [of the bike]" 

also: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Jul/080718z.htm

At times, the relationship between Hayden and HRC has been like seeing a friend madly in love with a woman who doesn't, and maybe never will, feel the same way.


That's the best way I've heard his relationship with HRC described.  It killed me when he re-signed with HRC last time around.  He'd better jump ship this time.......

i bet he already has.

Run nicky!  Run!!!!

I hope he leaves HRC and goes anywhere.  The guy is a good rider and seems to have exceptionally bad luck with them and little support for a former world champ.  no matter what you want to say about his championship he still won because he rode and got the points.

I think he already signed with Ducati as well.

I agree.  I think he won despite HRC in 2006.  They had him testing parts while he was leading the points.  Not to mention the lack of team orders that led to the Pedro incident.  I don't think he gets the credit he deserves because he wasn't on the same 211v the rest of the Honda riders were. 

Not saying he's Rossi.  But he's surely a top 5 rider.  I'd love to see him leave HRC and start popping up on the podium again.

there's absolutely no getting around the fact that spanish-owned series, spanish mega sponsor, spanish top rider = no room for the kentucky kid @ repsol honda.  it was plainly obvious that they were off-handedly happy about 2006 but that they put all their eggs in pedro's tiny little basket well before nicky won the title.  but he had already re-signed well before that.

as we've discussed here (or TOB) a million times, the one guy that can ride a GP7/8 competitively also has a dirt track background.  nicky is probably jealous watching that thing buck around exiting every corner.  if there's anyone else in the series, incl 250, that might have a chance on it, it's nicky.  

casey, nicky, and ducati are the one going exception to the rule/my theory about why GP really went to 800s and the type of riding style Dorna/FIM want to promote.

also as we've discussed many times, before stoner got the job in '07, they had offered it to nicky.. after they had offered it to valentino.  stoner was 3rd choice.  

if that is true that nicky was offered it first, he was proabaly kicking himself seeing the success stoner had in 07 and now in 08.. with any luck maybe he can get on a duc next season and be competitive again. but like all pro sports, its a lot of talk and rumors till the official anouncement

if hayden is so stubborn not to ride for another manufacturer for whatever reason bc he likes riding for a team that may not really appreciate him, then he deserves whatever decision he makes good or bad.

it is true.  they offered the job to valentino, nicky, and casey in that order.

you forgot marco (but he was under contract).

One thing I have noted with Honda (HRC) they have a funny way of handing out the Go Fast Bits, Hayden has had to beg and plead for the Air spring Motor, He made mention on a few occasions they were demanding results, or no go fast bits, A number of other riders over the years said similar things, most notably Doohan and Gardner said the same, If A rider had the Talent, they would limit the potential of that rider by limiting the New/Improved Go fast bits, get the results! and get the new Toys!

Does that not defy logic?

I understand that Budgets can be tight, but why hold back a part that could give them that winning edge, just because a rider can't be at the pointy end of the field? If the Test riders and propellor heads develop a good part. That very part could be the difference between 15th and 1st, yet I have read on many occasions that part is held back until the riders gets better results. Surely if it is better for the bike, put it on and use it now.
Yes, I understand put the priority on your lead rider, but surely once that part is proven to make difference in a positive way give it to your 2nd rider ASAP to try and improve the whole teams position.

Ducati has stated on a number of occasions that everything that was developed for Stoners bike and made a positive difference, was made available for Melandri in a very short period of time. 

Yet Honda's insistence on results first, good bits will come with the results, to me is stupidity.

Tell me if I'm wrong on this, but as a casual observer of MotoGP team politics over the years, that's my take on it anyway.

Bingo. [clap] [beer]

I for one would love to see Nicky with a supportive team behind him..........

... in RED..........


..... and on the podium

I hope this happens.

Maybe the Italians can tailor a cap THAT FITS RIGHT!  I would like Nicky more if he didn't look like such a goof on the world stage.


mitt

I want this too bad for it to actually happen :(

But I am still hoping! I would love to see him on Team Ducati [thumbsup]

Good Idea. Then at the introductions they can loop a Mingus tune called "Goodbye Porkpie Hat" to play as background music.

Maybe he should wear a hat like Rossi's helmet.

This is exactly how I feel.  I really think this would rock (nicky moving to ducati) but since I am a pessimist I just don't think it really will happen.  [roll]

+1  one of my non riding friends watched the race and his interview afterwards
HER "He looks like a punk"
ME "He's not a punk he just has to wear Pedrobots hand me downs >:("

Yes, nothing is more important than a properly coiffed GP victor. And the Italians are just the guys to do it.
But nothing's going to help with that nervous speech pattern. It's like he's got electrodes on his nuts.  :o

The way Honda treated him after winning the championship is beyond wrong. I've watched Stoner on the Duc and thought Nicky is probably the only guy who could ride it well. I'd love to see it. And you thought Duc sales were good this year...

I have another theory:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/2701628324_d4281d0c5b.jpg?v=0)(http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/extramustard/images/Boomhauer.jpg)

Yeh, but at least Tissot made a Hayden Repsol gp watch for us.  What did we get to buy for Casey?

mitt

Just released...

(http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/darylbowden/homo.jpg)

lol, I saw those diapers in the store.  Right next to the Rossi butt plug  ;D


(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj219/Putz37/rossi.jpg)

Dude, what store are YOU shopping at?  Kid's diapers next to butt plugs, you east coasters are strange... ;)

[laugh][laugh][laugh]

That reminds me of this time I stopped to get condoms at a grocery with date in tow.  I was trying to be slick about it but me and slick don't ever really work out.  :P I couldn't find them by casually glancing down each aisle, so I ask the stockboy rather discretely...who promptly walks over to the 60 year old grandma at the end of the aisle in order to point me in the right direction.  :-[  When I got there, I found them next to tampons, douche, and other feminine hygiene products.  The aisle contents sign overhead said "cat food".  That's amused me ever since.  [laugh]

Wanker.... [roll]

Here we go again.

No, it hasn't really stopped, has it.

F*ck me, the "kid", and I use the term loosely, just won the championship in only his second year of MotoGP, is a bit highly strung, and I don't blame him for that, every racer is like that although some vent there frustrations in front of a camera and some leave it till they get in there trailer, gets continually quoted out of context and "people" are quick to chop the tall poppy down.

Yes, I'm Aussie, but cut the kid some slack, for f*cks sake.

Why has Rossi never ridden a Duc? Because he f*cken would not be able to ride it.

 [cheeky]
This will set the cat amongst the pigeons.

Cowboy, help me out. [thumbsup]

Well I'm a Pommy Bastard and until his last outburst definitely a Stoner apologist. But his whingeing after Laguna Seca really tarnished my image of him. he certainly isn't cut from the same cloth as fellow Aussies, Bayliss, Corser or Doohan.

He's just a spoiled, whining, sour grapes, pussy now. (He's still maybe the best rider on the grid right now though)

Fastest bike on the grid is more like it. Best rider was proven last race. I liked Stoner but I truly do not like the "moaner" he has become. I find it hard to support someone like that.

only barely.  or, this is no longer the first half of '07.  far from it.

one can't help but wonder if this decision has as much to do with burgess as it does rossi.

jeremy has a history of developing championship winning race platforms out of pure dung. the guy has more world championships than rossi and doohan put together. i doubt he'd be/feel needed in the ducati organization. furthermore, i doubt rossi would switch teams without him.

What a well thought out response.   

Yep.

Just like yours.  ;)

Mine was a joke.  Yours was too I suppose, but in a different way.

I was reading about Jeremy Burgess last night.......

Sooooo, Rossi has only won those championships because of the great bike Burgess gave him.  ;D

No harm DB.

I was a bit emotional last night, posted after too many Makers Marks.  [drink]

I'm all for the jawing.  It keeps the weeks between races exciting.

 ;).

I feel like a tool.  :-\

well then you're in good company!

(http://7mzdt.com/images/dannythebassmaster.jpg)

Really?  I think Rossi is pretty versatile.  Honda, Yamaha, 2-stroke, 4-stroke, 125cc, 250cc, 500cc, 990cc, 800cc, Michelin, Bridgestone, rain, dry--he seems to be fast in most circumstances.  

In any case, I hope Hayden ends up with Ducati--I'd love to see that match-up.  Not to mention that it will be nice to see Melandri back on a bike that suits him.  It's just painful to watch him now.

Yeah, he's definately been quoted out of context.......
when taken in context it just sounds like one long, pathetic, whine instead of a little wussy gripe. [roll]


If Rossi was riding a Duc, NOBODY would win a race, including Casey.
Watch the race again and then tell us that Stoner is the "best".
If Stoner was on the Yamaha he wouldn't be nearly as fast as he has been on the Duc, the Duc is the far better bike the past few years, it's that simple.
I'd love to see the lap times that Rossi would have on a gp8.

Stoner is definately a fantastic rider that will no doubt win more championships, maybe even this one, but if he doesn't learn something about PR and not pregnant doging like a prom queen when he looses a race to a better rider, then he will not win the hearts of fans like Rossi has. He has done that with a personality and demeaner that draws people to him. (and sponsors)

Being faster doesn't make you the better rider, being the better rider makes you faster. look at the back of the motogp field.
Rossi just has more experience than Stoner. It was like he knew every line Stoner was going to take after a few laps and was able to block or compensate for it lap after lap.
That's what makes Rossi the Best!

(http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn327/supakpow/p02.jpg)
It looks to me like Stoner is trying to cut off Vale's line back onto the track. But, like Rossi said "that's racing".
Stoner should quit crying about "not racing like that".


I think Stoner sees his chances of records for winning going out the window with every race and championship that Rossi wins.
How many guys riding the Tour De France wanted to see Lance Armstrong win year after year after year? How many liked him for it? They accused him of cheating instead. They knew NO one will win 7 in a row ever again.
Anyway.... if Rossi screws the pooch, then I hope that Stoner wins and gets a little more maturity about him.

That being said................. I don't think Stoner can dance like Rossi can!!! ;D
Therefore, Rossi wins!!

(http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn327/supakpow/rossi_crash_sepang_test_1.jpg)


BTW....I think that Hayden would be an awesome addition to the Ducati team. [thumbsup]
He needs to be in front of Pedrobot, where he belongs, not shoved in the back of his tiny little boxer shorts. [laugh]


 

I kind of disagree there.  I think, as its currently set up, that Rossi could not ride the Ducati.  That bike is a mess underneath Stoner.  Stoner likes it like that, but there is a reason Melandri sucked balls all of a sudden.  If you follow Rossi, then you know he wants a very well sorted bike underneath him so that he can "ride like he wants."  I think Rossi and Burgess considered it, but decided they didn't want to touch that bike with a ten foot pole.  While a tad underpowered, the I4 Yammy is definately the sweetest handling bike in the field.  Smarter to stick with the best chassis and hope your factory finds a power solution than to take the power and hope for the chassis.

Stoner is great with the Duc, but he's just a different style than Rossi.  Nothing wrong with that.  I think Hayden will have some success with it.... I hope.

Jester, your probably right about Rossi riding the Duc "as its currently set up".
That's the ideal isn't it? to have your bike set up for you. If he was riding Ducati it would be set up for him (at least more so than as is) and he would be IMO unstoppable.
 I think he would be unbeatable if the yamaha was equally as fast as the Duc.

I think your spot on about Yamaha finding more power somewhere (or stealing it ;D) and Rossi sticking with it. That's probably the reasoning he used when signing for 2 more years with Yamaha. If he went to Duc or Honda then he would be starting fresh instead hopefully improving a great, albeit, slower bike.
You can't take anything away from Stoner though, he is awesome as well...... just not as awesome as Valentino....not yet anyway. In the future who knows. It's kinda hard to compare 1 championship to 7. :)


Go Rossi!!!   [thumbsup]
Go Stoner!!

Wow Rossi apologists can litter any thread even if it has nothing to do with him.   [popcorn]

Hayden will be great on a Duc and should rediscover his form and podiums as a result.  Dirt bikers ride differently than Pocket bikers.  Melandri was a bad choice, Hayden will be a good one.  Rossi, having the craziest God given talent in decades, would be competitive given time but it would never be what he wants/needs it to be let alone dominant.  His strengths are on the brakes and smoothly cornering - the Duc is not the best choice for either.

I'd love to see this.  It would be the best of the past 2 years of GP for me rolled into one (First an American wins, then Ducati does).  An American rider on a Ducati would be almost too good to be true.


Cheers
CWBY

P.S.  It's 1 to 5 comparison in the premier class and the only rider in the HISTORY of GP to win it younger than Stoner was Freddy Spencer.  Only a true fanboi would equate a 125 or 250 championship with a Premier class championship.  Call it a win, even call it a championship but don't call them the same because they aren't.  The only 21st century racer to have 7 premier titles is Michael Schumacher in F1.  Rossi also hasn't won 7 in a row.  There were one year gaps each year he moved up in class - he has never won a championship in any class as a rookie.   [bacon]

I think I'm the only one on the planet who doesn't subscribe to this theory.  I don't think the reason Stoner can ride the Duc like he does is his dirttrack background, I think it's the fact that he is able to completely trust the electronics and he doesn't need to rely on "feel."  I think Hayden will have the same issues that Marco has had.  Hayden doesn't even like his electronics turned up on the RC212V, he'll never be able to ride with them full-on as Casey does on the GP8.  I don't think he'll stink up the joint like Marco has, but I don't see him finishing any higher than 9th in the championship aboard the Duc. 

I believe the other riders are having such a difficult time "trusting" the electronics because they can't get used to the sliding, hopping and bucking the bike does.  Given the comfort level dirt bikers have sliding it around that isn't an issue for Casey and I don't believe it will be for Nicky.

Nicky prefers to slide and back it in so to speak so I'm excited at the possibility to see him get the most out of it.

I agree with that.  From what I can tell, one of the reasons that the bike bucks, is due to Stoner whacking open the throttle still leaned over.  The Duc's traction control will cause the engine to "stutter" when its losing grip and I think that this engine stutter is why the bike bucks around like that.  Its a fast on/off/on/off of the gas when the chassis is already being stressed with various loads and it unsettles the bike.

I don't think its much of a far cry to the 1098R, its just a tamer bike... but Bayliss rides the same way.  Dial up the traction control and let it rip.  When they go to the throttle/brake view during the race, you can see the difference.  Stoner is full on/full off, while the other guys use more of a progressive opening of the throttle for the most part.

What intrigues me is that Stoner is the same way with his braking a lot of the time.  He's full on/off brake a lot of the time too and not very progressive with it.

Yeah, but sliding and bucking are two very different things.  I don't know if you've watched much flattrack but the bikes sure as heck aren't bucking like that.

Hopefully we'll have a chance to see what will happen next year, but I really don't think the Duc is the answer for Nicky.  I hope I'm wrong.

We made a point of watching for this while at Laguna. At Rainey Curve, turn 2, and others, Casey was on the throttle half a second sooner than the other Duc riders...and often sooner than the Yami and Honda riders.

When I think of dirt bikes I think of motocross type tracks (jumps, hills, ruts, tight corners, etc) not flat tracks.  You learn to slide and you learn to trust/tame the bike even though it's a bucking bronco every lap.  That type of riding is what was the foundation of both Hayden and Stoners background.

In that case you might be interested to know that Marco Melandri came up as a Motocrosser before he got into roadracing.

Hasn't helped him too much now has it?

Didn't know that.  Looking at the bios of all 3 I'd say he has less time and certainly less racing experience on them though.  Who knows why he's riding scared?  If you could answer that and solve it Ducati would pay you handsomely for the rest of the year.

On MX?  I don't know about that.  Hayden rides/rode MX for fun (in fact he pulled out of yesterday's X games because the Supermoto track was too MX-y), but he was a dirttracker growing up and that's it.  I would say Marco spent more years MXing than Hayden ever has. 

Melandri is a very mental rider, when his head's not right, he struggles.  Look at his first 2 years in GP on the Yamaha, he was bloody awful, he crashed a ton, he was headed out of GP.  If he weren't Italian, he probably would've never been heard from again.  However, he got the ride on the Honda and did very well (many speculate) because he was confident that he had the best bike underneath him and he could really push it.

I'm not going to argue Melandri's bio with you whether he rode for 1-2 (which is how his bio reads) or 15 years in MX he sure is skittish once the bike slides or moves under him unlike Hayden or Stoner.  Whether Melandri could gold in X games or not is irrelevant to the argument that Casey and Hayden's MX experience and styles are more conducive to the Duc although it is an interesting tangent all the same.

Most predicted Hayden's struggle on the 800 because he wouldn't be able to square off the corners and power out like he did on the 900s.  That has proved to be true.  The Duc IMO will allow him to get closest to that riding style than any of the other 800s.  Just as I like Casey's chances for the rest of this year.  I'll put beer on Hayden being a top 5 rider for 2009 if he's on the Duc. 

Hmmmm...... :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TlbdnpXeqU

I don't know if you misread or misunderstood, but Nicky Hayden was supposed to race supermoto at the X Games this weekend.  He pulled out when after practicing for a day he deemed the track too MX-centric and he didn't like doing triples on a SM bike.

As for the beers, you are ON.  Except, I don't drink, so you can pay me in a donation to the RRW action fund.

I understood what you were saying about Nicky.  I was surprised he was even being allowed to do it by HRC.  No shame IMO of not wanting to risk the triples while on vacation.

cheers on the beers or in this case a donation to RRW.  Now all that has to happen is for Hayden to actually sign with Ducati.

Super, Thanks for posting the video.  Be interesting to put some of those corners next to some of his runs in 2006 on the GP bike and see how similar they really are technique wise.

Concur, we watched many laps hanging over the outside of 6 and Stoner was always early on the throttle and the class of the field.  It was amazing that Rossi had the game plan to pull out the win.

I'm pretty sure HRC doesn't care much about what happens to Nicky at this point.  That relationship died a while ago.

I think the bottom line here is Rossi and Stoner are both great riders. Rossi had to go off track to win, to me that somewhat cheapens his pass and win at Laguna.

Oh wait are we getting back on topic?  Um......yea go Hayden, leave HRC, join Dookatee and all that stuff I've said before.   ;D

...have you watched the replay of the corner before that?

Casey had to go off track to lose.  Just goes to show, even in the dirt Rossi is a better rider. ;)

Turns out he pulled out due to injury.....

http://superbikeplanet.com/2008/Aug/e/n080812a.htm

schwantz's comments on laguna:

Q But you rode all the manufacturers' bikes last year, as I recall, right?

A Yeah, in the past two years I've gotten to ride them. The Suzuki was one of my favorites. But I get to spend more time on it. It handles, it feels like a Suzuki when I ride it. And if I were to take the thing and sling it down the road, I don't have a hard time coming in and facing the Suzuki guys, whereas if I crashed a Honda, I'd probably never be able to face them again. But yeah. I think what we saw in Laguna was a little bit of old-school, "here's the way Grand Prix racing's supposed to be. I don't care your bike's faster. I don't care your shit's working better. I don't care you've won a whole lot more races than me. I'm going to stuff you in the next turn and you're going to have to find another way around me. And what it's going to do, is it's either going to frustrate you enough that you're going to make a mistake and going to run off the track and fall over, something's going to happen."

Q That's kind of exactly what you and Wayne used to do, right?

A Exactly. And when I heard Stoner complain a little bit about the passes and the this and the that, it's like, "He never took a shot at you unnecessarily. He ran off the track? You're the one that put your position, that put yourself in the position outside of him, to get bumped into. And you leaned on him as much as anything." I'd have waited. I'd have let him slid across the track. I'd have driven right by him, and he'd have probably never seen me again. But it's good to see that there's still a little fire in some of those guys out there, because you don't see it very often. It's like, "Hey, here we go. We're going off into this corner. I'm up the inside of you. I'm going to let off the brakes and take the spot. I know it's going to make you mad because I'm slowing you down a little bit, but it's the only chance I've really got to beat you."


the rest of the interview is good, too:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2008/Aug/080810-34.htm

Good interview I must be slow though Hayden's move to Ducati isn't mentioned anywhere ....

you're just slow if you didn't realize my post was in response to these:

I watched the race several times and yes I know the corner your talking about.  Stoner did run into Rossi's path to block, which is racing.  They seemed really close in that turn and if Stoner saw him there and they were almost parallel then he shouldn't have pulled that move.  but if not that close then I see it as clean.


 [laugh] ok ok  :)

i don't think anything not-clean happened in that race from either rider.  it was just racing.  only, 1 of them isn't used to that.

I guess this is were we disagree.

stoner was also leaning on him all the way up the hill. casey instigated the whole deal.

you can disagree all you want, it doesn't make you right.  ;D

see schwantz's comments above.

have you watched a wsbk race?  ever?

I have no dog in this fight and I think its pathetic that the Hayden/Ducati thread got turned into another Stoner/Rossi pissing contest, but comments like that scream arrogant prick to me. :-\

Thanks for pointing out the obvious and admitting your post has nothing to do with Hayden or Ducati or the point of this thread.   [popcorn]



 [thumbsup]

lol.. well, ok.  but it was a real question.  maybe he never has.  GP racing used to be like this all the time; it hasn't been in recent years while wsbk is consistent in this manner. 

lots of folks just started watching racing relatively recently.  those folks would be more likely to think there were over-the-top moves in that race.  there weren't.

and it's my thread so we can talk about whatever the hell i want until there's more hayden news.   [cheeky] ;D

like i said, i was responding to posts (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=7384.msg150901#msg150901) prior to mine.


 ;D

All true.  But, as you just demonstrated, its possible to make that point without coming across as a know-it-all douchebag.  That's all I'm saying. [thumbsup]


[laugh]

my alleged douchebaggery was really just keyboard laziness.  but i see your point.

but mom my friends are doing it.... was a terrible defense at 12 and still doesn't work.

 [bacon]



That's cool.  Far be it from me to stop anyone from getting their hump on.   ;D

Yes I have, and I have watched GP for years.  Passing off track is cheap in GP & SBK, just my opinion.  If someone did it to Rossi I'm guessing you would probably not feel the same, but I'm just assuming your lips are glued to his ass  :-* ;D

zing!

Do you actually believe that it is "passing off track" or more that he misjudged his speed going in and had nowhere else to go?  "Passing off track" implies that it was on purpose.  No racer in their right mind would CHOOSE to go through the dirt, especially when that turn happens to be a 30-ft elevation change.

And, FTR, Rossi was in front before he left the pavement, so the pass was already made. ;)

Well I suppose your right that it wasn't intentional so it wasn't a pass off track, but my lips are partially glued to Stoner's whiny ass so.......  [cheeky]

self-inflicted zing!

on the contrary -- i WISH that kind of thing happened more often in GP.  i don't care who wins, i just want to see racing like laguna in GP rather than only getting it in wsbk/wss.

not everyone feels a need to be right.

it also doesn't stop us from having an opinion.... ;D

+1

Arguing rossi vs stoner is better than crickets chirping.  This board is a snooze without these pissing contents.

At least we aren't arguing tires!

That reminds me!  I think Rossi is getting better tires from Bridgestone than Stoner is and that why he has been doing so well.  It's all a conspiracy I tell ya.

no, it is because japanese chip makers have conspired to supply Casey's bike with faulty chips that compute 1+1 as 0.5 which is the real reason he has to keep the throttle cracked wide open.

and the chip in Marco's bike reads something like, "ehhhhhh, it's about, ahhhh dis much, ya, dat's about good enough...."

Passing 'Off track' is not permitted by the rules that state that no advantage may be gained by deviating from the course. Ducati would have been within their rights to protest, Honda would have(remember the 'sweeping' incident at Qatar in 07)

Rossi should have been disqualified.

you mind linking to the exact wording of that rule?

what advantage?  he was already ahead.

Remember those secret special tires I mentioned?  They run better off track.  Conspiracy.  Shhhhh.  ;)

http://www.fim.ch/EN/rules/Sportifs/ccrGP/2008/GP_sport_en.pdf (http://www.fim.ch/EN/rules/Sportifs/ccrGP/2008/GP_sport_en.pdf)

'Riders should use only the track and the pit-lane.However,if a rider accidentally leaves the track then he may rejoin it at the place indicated by the marshals or at a place which does not provide an advantage to him.Any infringement of this rule duringthe practices or warm up will be penalised by the cancellation of the lap time concerned and during the race, by a ride through.
Further penalties (such as fine – disqualification – withdrawal of Championship points)may also be imposed'

Rossi rejoined the race ahead of Stoner, the same place he held when he went off track in the first place.  As stated by gm2, the pass had already been made.  He ran it too deep, but Rossi was in first when he ran it off track.

noooooooobody would take that line, at that section, look at it and say.... "that is where I make my move"

+1.  If anything he lost some position.  He went off the track about a bike length ahead of Stoner...he came back on just about even with him.  Nevermind he used Stoner to stay on the track after he re-entered.  [laugh]

Best GP race in a couple years...and Capo is saying Rossi should be disqualified?  ??? WTF!  [roll]  Even Casey seems to have backed off his intial statements...I think he was just amped/frustrated when he made his initial remarks.

they didn't touch (at least not after the crested the 'screw).

Stoner: Maybe I Overreacted

http://superbikeplanet.com/2008/Aug/080814y.htm

I thought they did...just watched it again and guess not.  Took a few times in slow motion though to confirm...they were CLOSE!  :o

ok

i'm not stirring shit. i'm over it... (really! ;D)


BUT

I find this rossi quote interesting, considering what he and his defenders said about this incident ;)


(thanks for the link to the link derb [cheeky])

you didn't remember that incident? i was pretty sure it'd also been brought up in at least one of the other recent threads.

this really made my day   [laugh]

Some very deep insight  (http://www.vtec.net/forums/one-message?message_id=782699&page_number=1)on Hayden

w0aH: on topic!   ;)

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Aug/080818-691.htm

Thanks [thumbsup] Good link! Fingers crossed!

http://www.visordown.com/motorcyclenews/view/motogp_whos_going_where_in_2009__the_latest/5352.html (http://www.visordown.com/motorcyclenews/view/motogp_whos_going_where_in_2009__the_latest/5352.html)

Pretty much a done deal... [thumbsup]

lotto other interesting speculation in there too

It looks like Tony Elias is going to WSB and taking Troy Corser's ride at Yamaha... A bit of a shame, It takes one of the more exciting riders out of GP's.

And puts him into a series that's far more interesting and fun to watch IMHO.

Ducati N.A. must be salviating over Hayden's impending signing. With him on a Duc, sales should stay strong or get even stronger. Unless he's the 2nd comming of Marco Melandri...

I agree 100%, but that is my point. MotoGP needs to be making an effort to get exciting and crazy nutters like Tony Elias to race in their series, otherwise it might just become too dry or like the Yoshimura Suzuki show... er... AMA Superbike, that's it.

Yeah, but Elias is already in GP and it hasn't stopped Stoner and Rossi from pulling an AMA Superbike. 


Interesting tidbit in that article about Spies ending up on a Honda.  I'd much rather than than him with Rizla.  For some reason I feel if Spies ends up on the Suzuki he'll be the 2nd coming of Hopper. 

They can always promote Hector Barbera to the 800's for some entertainment  [evil]

yeah, it's mcn, but:

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2008/august/18-24/aug1808-melandri-goes-to-kawasaki/

I can't wait for Nicky to get on the Duc.  While I'm not one to subscribe to the line of thought that he's a dirt tracker, and Casey is a dirt tracker, so he'll go well on it.  Just excited to see him leave HRC.  Whether or not he can ride the Ducati doesn't matter to me.  I'm just glad to see him leave HRC. 

...just as long as Ducati writes his post-race interviews for him and doesn't let him go off-script  ;D

(http://www.dailyprobe.com/arcs/091603/boomhauer.jpg)(http://resources.motogp.com/files/images/xx/2008/MotoGP/Misc/non/215340_Nicky+Hayden+at+the+Indianapolis+press+conference+in+April-1280x960-apr28.jpg.preview_big.jpg)

worried about marco.  i think he needs to be back on a honda.  but i'm glad he's going somewhere...

nicky and HRC are just a bad marriage and it's become a habit.  i agree, even if the duc doesn't work out, he needs to get out of there.  and i think he's still plenty hungry enough; if he gets a small passionate crew behind him (and pete benson??).. and some bridgestones.. he's at least going to look like he's having fun out there again.  he's one of those riders (like a lot of american riders, actually) that when he's in a good mindset he gets results.  he hasn't been there since 2006.  time to change something.

just as i said with burgess, i don't think ducati would welcome benson coming in and telling them how he's going to run "their" rider.

plus, benson has been at repsol honda for just over 10 years.

I see your autosport.com propaganda and raise you with my visordown.com fiction...  ;D

http://www.visordown.com/motorcyclenews/view/wsb_elias_tipped_for_yamaha_squad/5358.html

"Move over Haga, new nutter coming through."

[laugh]

melandri confirmed:

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Melandri+confirms+Kawasaki+move+for+2009

Marco and the Hopper...motivating each other to strive for mediocrity...

I would hardly consider 4th & 5th in 2007 season mediocre.

more nicky/ducati info:

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motog-hayden-to-ducati-announcement-expected-soon/

The bit about Simoncelli on page 2 is interesting as well :)

Thanks for the Brno race spoiler guys.  ;)

doh.  [bang]

that was two days ago, though...  ;D

heh, yeah actually that was.. and i didn't even think about it.  removed.  just don't click on my quoted text in tufty's post.  ;)

I've been busy.  :P

I only know who finished second.   ;D

if you click on that elias article and actually read it, you'll know who won too.  feel free to edit my quote in tufty's post!

I stopped reading.   ;) [laugh]

shouldn't you be watching a race (that happened 3 days ago)?

He's busy breaking a hip chasing a toddler.

Well yes...

and I did.

not far off. ;D

Oh stop it with your factual basis for an argument.  ;)
My point is based on their performance this year. I like both of them and hope that as a team they perofrm better than they have this year.

I was being a smartass. I do that from time to time.  [beer]

Seriously?  [roll]



 ;)

Shut up there you!  >:(

 [beer]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Aug/080825a.htm

Thanks for the (un)update.  ;D

I would really like to see what Nicky can do on the 'sedici.

I'm thinking they may not release anything formal til Indy. 

when rossi left honda, his contract wouldn't allow yamaha to announce anything until the end of the season. furthermore, if i remember correctly, rossi's honda contract was through the end of the year and he couldn't even test the yamaha until january.

i expect similar for hayden.

speaking of (un)updates.... "Suzuki set to confirm Capirossi for '09" is about the most over-reported non-event i've ever seen. there's been what, 20 articles about the fact that it's going to happen?

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/LCR+Honda+expect+to+retain+De+Puniet+in+2009

http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?t=186906

well if this guy says it's true...

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080909a.htm

Gresini re-signs de Angelis

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70444

Ok, so what does 2009 look like right now?  Any of the Alice spots confirmed?

Marlboro Factory Ducati      Stoner/Hayden
Alice Ducati    ______/______
(Unknown) Ducati    _________

Fiat Factory Yamaha      Rossi/Lorenzo
Tech 3 Yamaha    Edwards/________  (Toseland)?

Respol Factory Honda      Pedrosa/_______
Gresini Honda      De Angelis/_________
JiR Honda       ___________
LCR Honda     ___________

Monster Factory Kawasaki     Hopper/Melandri/______ (third bike?)

Rizla Factory Suzuki      Capi/Vermeulen/ _____  (third bike?)

What does he know?   ;D

That unknown Ducati is frequently being attributed to Gibernau (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=10738.msg183130#msg183130).

I'm blocking that from my memory.   ;D

 I figured as much.

some of these are facts, some are "99% done", some are relatively confident predictions..

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70452 (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70452)

Even Bubba's talking like it's a done deal now...

"I really want to feel again like a teammate, I mean to be in a team where everyone works in the same direction and shares information. I can't wait for that moment to come.

"I have a lot of respect for Casey, for the way he's grown as a rider and the way he does his job. He minds his own business and lets his results do the talking. I'll have no problem with him."

He added: "The bike (Ducati) has great potential because of its engine and its power. Casey rides it very well, he's strong, and deserves great consideration for it. But I don't want to talk too much before trying it myself.

i'll still never understand why the situation/relationship is this bad for nicky @ repsol:

Hayden, whose teammate Pedrosa made a shock switch to Bridgestone tyres after the last race, said he was never in a position to do the same, but he claimed he was not surprised by the Spaniard's move.

"I've never been put in the conditions to choose. Once they told me that I would have just wasted my time had I even only thought about asking for Bridgestone tyres.

"But I'm not surprised they've given them to him. Besides, at Misano I didn't even have the same fork Dani had... No way would I think they'd let me try the new tyres.

"Honestly it was a shock at the beginning for me. I thought something like this would never happen, instead it has... There was a time when I thought of Bridgestones too, but I was told that's a decision for Honda to make, and that in any case there was no chance for me to have those tyres."

good thing he's leaving, as we've all said...

I know he won't, but it would be nice if he publicly slagged off Repsol Honda when his contract expires. It's a shame that they've treated a great racer and good guy like they have, but it's absolutely unfathomable considering he won a world championship for them. :o

I say, Nicky, screw loyalty and tell it how it really is...

you're right, i doubt he'll totally go off about it once the ink is dry.  but he has in the past said some (relatively) scathing things.. like when he first saw the '07 bike, "i thought they were joking"

Rossi has spoke unfavorably about Repsol Honda's treatment of their riders. The focus is having their bike on the podium, the riders are merely a tool to achieve that end.

...so you'd think, especially after rossi left and promptly showed them how wrong they were, that they'd LOVE the guy that gave them back the championship.  apparently the spanish trifecta of Dorna/Repsol/Pedrosa makes him irrelevant, title or not.

Well, it's pretty much official.  Straight from the horse's mouth: http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=12949

 [clap] yeah for our team

Wow.  Only Champion since Rossi left  and ...

"I fully plan on doing the whole season. Unless they lock the door over there on me, I plan on going in there and getting on the bike. It could happen. Honestly, there’s probably people in that box that if I didn’t show up probably would never notice, but I plan on going.”

I know it has been said, but I can't help reiterate ... it is UNBELIEVABLE that repsol honda would treat their active world champion like that.  people in that team need to get fired.  especially if pedrosa fails to claim a championship (and I hope he never does).

same info.. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70483

i just watched the video.. it's even better than reading it.  ;D

How could it be better than reading it?  Did the video have the dueling banjos in the background, like I hear when I read anything he says?  I think not...my version is bette.  ;D

T

It really is.  CEII at the end is a nice little treat.

The phrasing is interesting. "over there", "in that box".  He's already gone.

I love how his comments have gotten more and more openly critical.  All that talk about the tension and wall between them...with Dani sitting right next to him.

Linky goodness?

(Btw, I could have sworn he was from Kentucky.)

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D


He is. But he and his brothers spend part of the year in California training and testing at the numerous tracks here. There's a back issue of RRW that featured their "crib."

http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2008/Nicky+Hayden+Press+Conference

hahhha.. caption....

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2008/mgp/indy/1/Thurs02.htm

Man, Nicky looks like he's hurting. Hope he can make the race.

in the press conference he claims he's good to go "especially because of all the lefts", but who knows.

considering this is the 2nd time he's seriously hurt himself doing supermoto, maybe he should... not do that.

would someone PLEASE get that make the beast with two backsin bumpkin a hat that fits for the love of GOD!

LMAO!  [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]

i think your fashion sense is lacking. that IS the proper fit for that style hat.

He needs a different style hat then.

It makes him look stupid.

what do you know, ya olde fart?  :P

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/news/168838-0/content.html

"Hey y'all...in racin' there's teams and stuff...and I mean...uhhh...it wouldn't sit right with me iffin' I wasn't there to meet my ob-lig-a-gations and stuff..."

Don't get me wrong...I love the south and Nicky is a great thing for Americans in MotoGP...but every time he opens his mouth I think to myself...seriously? This is what is representing us to the world of Moto GP? And I don't care what you say...people who wear ball caps like that look like total asses. You can be comfortable without coming across as a total make the beast with two backstard.

All that being said, back on topic, it is pretty much all but official that the Kid is going to Italy. Speculation at this point is moot. Lets turn our focus to something interesting like what helmet designs Rossi will have next year for his 9th world championship...

IMO:
The MotoGP guys are just a group of folks that happen to be really good at doing something we like to watch.
They don't necessarily hold up any better or worse to close scrutiny than any other group.
Expecting them to be role models or international ambassadors is asking a bit much, as the talent that got them to where they are isn't in that area.
I doubt that Mother Teresa would have been very good at riding a MotoGP bike........

I've said it before, but it bears repeating...
(http://www.dailyprobe.com/arcs/091603/boomhauer.jpg)(http://www.europastar.com/europastar/photos/05_2006/tissot.jpg)


The Dalai Lama, on the other hand, could probably levitate that Honda around corners ;D Hell...he'd probably beat Melandri these days.

That pretty much sums it up. Next topic, please.

Quiet you... And anyone else who dissed nicky :P

Nicky moving to Ducati is like a dream come true for me :)

He's a good rider...

and a really hard worker.

I think with a real ream behind him he'll do well on the Duc.

All that doesn't change the fact that his hat makes him look dumber than Gomer Pyle. ;)

i just don't understand why nicky get's all the lip when dovizioso and hopkins often wear the same style flat-brim baseball caps.

They don't talk....

They look just as dumb. ;D

wish I could ride near as well as any of 'em

well i thin kthe thing that does it is he has the hat and also the southern accent which honestly if you are not from the south is the stereotypical hick accent, and the only exposure most people have to that is the scene from "deliverance" so that is not the best thing.

also yes he is a motorcycle rider, and syaing they are not role models is true, NO SPORTS OR ENTERTAINMENT star should ever be a role model or represent a country or such, but unfortunately that is not true, children look up to sports stars bc they can do that sport well, sad but true.

 afterall what do you call olympians?  they may "represent" the country but they are there bc they are the best at what they do and they are held to some sort of role model status and should not be bc they are again just doing a skill that they were born with better than anyone else, that doesn't make them an ambassidor or better than anyone.

motogp riders are such an exclusive club that they are under scrutiny all the time as they should be afterall if you get paid that much to essentially do something that most people do for fun, they are going to be held to that higher standard of acting and looking the part.

+123ty bazillion  ;D

re the third kawi... checa, maybe.

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/news/168972-0/aspar_targets_checa_for_motogp.html

melandri (finally) confirmed on the green bike:

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Kawasaki+finalise+Melandri+signing+on+two+year+contract

Is this a third bike or is West out?

Bartholemy didn't mention him.

It hasn't been finalized yet, but it's likely to be there.  Almost certain to have a Spanish rider given the sponsorship.

lcr renews rdp:  http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=34211

Does Dorna need a Frenchman THIS badly?

I am simply dumbfounded that this guy still has a ride.  He had better be paying LCR.  Although, I'm pretty sure they sabotage the forks over there on a regular basis, so maybe that's why he's been crashing so much...

honda says goodbye:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080915a.htm

ducati says hello:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080915d.htm

"We are really happy to have Nicky join us," declared Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse CEO and Ducati Motor Holding Product Director. "We are certain that his never-say-die attitude, riding style and character will be great additions to our team in 2009. I would like to thank HRC for allowing Nicky to start testing our bike immediately after the Valencia Grand Prix.

good on them for allowing him to ride the duc before january.

<snip>

good on them for allowing him to ride the duc before january.
[/quote]
Yeah...

they should button up their shirts before their hearts fall out.

Hayden were the only rider to give Stoner compliments last season, so this is payback [thumbsup]

no he wasn't.  just about everyone did, including rossi.

Reading between the lines of that press release is interesting.  The strong praise was for Nicky's character and personality, not his riding.

Ok, I was unofficially excited and apprehensive before.  Now I'm officially excited and apprehensive.  I *really* hope he can ride the Duc and get it set up properly. 

Ditto. It's a huge marketing coup for Ducati. Just imagine how big Ducati Island will have to be next year ;D

Oh, and there's nothing like having two former world champs on your racing team [thumbsup]

Now all we need is for Pedrobot to not win a championship on a Honda...talk about some grand absolution for Nicky.

Hope the Kid does well on the Duc. Once again, while I am the biggest Ross fanboy on the planet, I wish nothing but the best for Duc/Casey/Nicky. They are always welcome to finish second to Vale.  [evil]

Besides, Pedro, Biaggi, and Gibernau are the only 3 riders I really have any hatred for. The rest of the riders have redeeming qualities I admire.

like capirossi punting his aprilia teammate into the gravel in the last turn of the last race to "win" his 250gp championship? redeeming quality indeed.

I think he meant Capirossi's wife.  ;D

from the other-worst-kept-secret department....

Dovizioso hints at works Honda deal (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70650)

Ducati Corse hereby announces that Nicky Hayden will join its factory MotoGP team for 2009. The 27-year-old from Owensboro, Kentucky, will line up alongside Casey Stoner and will make his debut on the Desmosedici GP9 on the 27th October in a test immediately following the Valencia Grand Prix.

From that article they state he will be on a GP9, isn't Stoner still on the GP8?

Stoner's on the GP8 right now, but won't be after the season is done.  They're going to start testing the GP9 (next years' bike) right after the last race, which is Valencia. 

Triple J is wise...Derby...not so much.  [evil] ;)

Any scuttlebut on Spies' performance?  Nothing concrete as far as a seat in the GP paddock?

I'm looking forward to seeing Nicky in that sexy red leather suit next year! [cheeky]

JiR has a week left on their Spies option. There is some hoopla regarding the JiR/Scott split but likelihood is good he will be on Dovi's bike as he is going to Repsol.

+11ty billion  ;D  :-*

Hayden signed my Ducati shirt Thursday at Indy with a big azz grin when I said I hoped he would be riding with the Duc boys next year [thumbsup]

i hate you  :'(

hayden introduced to us ducati dealers this morning (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080916ew.htm)

 ;D

Stoked!

it will be SPANKTASTIC mmmmmmm yummy!! yummy!!  [evil]

As promised I have now joined the ranks of you Rossi boys....

I am now a card carrying leg humper too!!  [evil]

Hayden Ducati rulez!  <insert headbanging smiley>


I think I'll even start buying my caps larger so they'll fit over my ears, yo!  LOL. 

<<<<<<<<<  WORD!  [beer]

Nice.  Mind if I use that in another forum?

It's odd to see this attitude coming from Honda. As someone once observed, Honda spends more on office supplies than Ducati spends on, well, everything.

And Hayden + Ducati = w00t!

I wonder how the wine and sake budgets compare?  [laugh]

(http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=1625;type=avatar)

 [clap] [clap]

elias to gresini:  http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70690

Good for him, I like Elias a lot.  Now, let's hope that Ben gets a spot on the JiR bike.

<fingers crossed>
spies on a duc, spies on a duc, spies on a duc.  It's never gonna happen, and I'm not sure how well he'd ride it anyway, but it's fun to think about.  I just hope he ends up with a ride.

So does this mean that Sete is gonna get that Alice Duc or are they going to go through with plans to put together a satellite team?

so then spies on the alice team? can they afford him?

I'm just making that up.  There's nothing to back it up other than me thinking "wouldn't it be neat if . . . "

i get it.. we all do that  ;)

like nicky on a ducati... sometimes it happens  [thumbsup]

who knows, maybe.  it's one of the supposed possibilities.  but i think that JiR really does have an option on him for a few more days.

one way to look at that situation is that ducati already has an american on their bike. from a marketing standpoint, they really don't need another.

nicky was more or less shoved down respol honda's throat by american honda. honda was grooming him "for something great," but didn't really want to put him in the motogp class (yet?). the DID want him to stick around in the ama for at least one more year and defend his championship but, as i've said before, when the opportunity for a motogp ride presents itself, you take it or you risk never getting the chance again. those rides just don't open up very often. just ask colin about waiting for honda to "make good" on "promised" rides.

honda was put in a position that they either give nicky a ride on the a-team, or they would've wasted all their investment with him defecting to yamaha.

so... now honda is "ass out" with no american rider in motogp. reports have said that it won't happen, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see jir to find some magic marketing dollars to help out with ben's salary.

What is his asking price?  For some reason, I have $2m stuck in my head.

he makes $3M riding for yosh, so he's not really interested in taking a paycut.

A friend over at AMS told me that Spies on Alice is a possibility...

This might have also been said? But isnt there a rumor that Spies could be on a third Suzuki team possibly ran by Schwantz? Or going to World SBK? In all the interviews during and after Indy he seemed kinda miffed that he didn't have a ride yet?

Back to Hayden on a Duc, big party Oct 27th on the first day for him testing the Duc [drink]

all possibilities yes.  but the schwantz team bike rumor died quite a while ago.

http://www.nickyhayden.com/

The video is pretty cool of him talking about going to Ducati and Casey.

it's mcn, but...

no biaggi on the 1098R next year. he's gonna be on the other italian bike:

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2008/September/15-21/sep1908-biaggi-signs-for-aprilia/

funny how nicky joked about taking an aprilia ride

that probably had something to do with colin 'fireball' edwards sitting next to him.  ;D

(http://www.speedzilla.com/forums/attachments/street-track/11416d1188948791-aprilia-rsw-500-v2-sale-edwards_fire_1.jpg)

(worldsbk) silly season update:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080919b.htm

they evidently havn't heard the aprilia/biaggi news yet.  ;D

also, remember me talkin about kiyo in the wet superpole? there it is. enjoy!  [thumbsup]

That is badass.

confirmed:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080919cu.htm

"Biaggi was our number one choice, I'm delighted to have him back with us"

I am not sure 'delighted' is the word they should be using with Max :P

of course they're delighted. he's been a new man since going to worldsbk. oh yeah, and he won them three 250gp world championships.  ;D

Zemke to ride a Ducati in WSBK next year?!

http://www.motoblog.it/post/15336/ducati-si-assicura-anche-zemke-in-superbike#continua

Uhh, can someone translate this?  All I could read was the headline...

The 2009 are dyed more and more to stars and stripes for Ducati: I engage after it of Nicky Hayden in MotoGP, from Bologna company has put to sign an other beautiful blow having made sure itself the services of (former) Honda pilot LOVES Sbk Jake Zemke for season 2009. Zemke will run with Jakub Smrz in the baby formation that will be born the next year from the fusion between the Guandalini Team and the Team American Boulder Motorsport. I engage that it constitutes a great blow for Ducati that thus consolidates its heavy artillery for the next year since besides the formation of Borciani Mark - that we remember schiererà Polita and Brendan Roberts - it will be able to now count also on a brace of pilots like Smrz and Zemke.

looks like zemke and smrz on boulder motorsports ducatis.  [thumbsup]

The 2009 is increasingly tinge to stars and stripes for Ducati: after the engagement of Nicky Hayden in MotoGP, the company has made Bolognese sign another hit securing the services of (former) Honda AMA Sbk Jake Zemke for 2009 season. Zemke correrà insieme a Jakub Smrz nella neonata formazione che nascerà il prossimo anno dalla fusione tra il Team Guandalini e il Team americano Boulder Motorsport. Zemke will run together with Jakub Smrz in the newly training that grows next year by the merger between Team and Team Guandalini American Motorsport Boulder.

Un ingaggio che costituisce un grande colpo per Ducati che così consolida la sua artiglieria pesante per l’anno prossimo visto che oltre alla formazione di Marco Borciani - che ricordiamo schiererà Polita e Brendan Roberts - potrà ora contare anche su una coppia di piloti come Smrz e Zemke. An engagement which is a big blow for Ducati so that consolidates its heavy artillery for next year given that over the formation of Marco Borciani - that note will deploy Polita and Brendan Roberts - can now also count on a pair of pilots and as Smrz Zemke.

42 seconds too late, homie.  ;D

i was too busy pasting it to daryl in the IM window.  ;D

That's English?

Maybe according to Babelfish ;D

corser to bmw:  http://superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080925a.htm

more corser:

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wsbk/news/169455-0/corser_completes_bmw_%27dream_team%27.html

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/news/169460-0/scot_gets_honda_for_takahashi?.html

"Gianluca Montiron's JiR team is thus facing an uncertain future, whilst Ben Spies, who had been linked to JiR, looks to have seen his final chance of a 2009 grand prix ride evaporate"

 >:(

Ruben Xaus will be with BMW as well for Motogp. [thumbsup]

huh?

I think he is confused. 

Xaus and BMW are running in WSBK. As far a I know.

No BMW in MotoGP, yet. 

dovi confirmed at repsol honda:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080926c.htm

wish they would get busy announcing the spots we don't already know.

From the article:

Unlike we did with Hayden, "HRC will provide Andrea with the best possible technical support to help him reach his full potential and we look forward to enjoying a happy and successful relationship." 

 ;)

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70846

asked whether the two riders would receive equal treatment, HRC president Masumi Hamane replied: "We will give the new parts to the rider who is in the better standing... we won't have a wall down between the two garages."

apparently HRC still only makes parts one at a time..

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080926rn.htm

HRC boss Hamane-san told a prickly press conference that there would be 'equal conditions for both factory riders,'
and that he would prefer one tyre manufacturer for his team rather than the split garage he has at the moment: 'we
don't want a wall.' Dovi refused to be drawn on how he views his new team-mate but did say that he would prefer a
'good relationship,' but 'if he doesn't want it, it doesn't matter.

Isn't that just stupid?  The only reason I can see for that is to test--on the same track and with the same bike--the new parts v. the old parts. 

well, yes.

remember nicky's experimental '06 clutch?  the one that dani didn't have.. the one that constantly burned up cuz it was inside the engine... while nicky was vying for a world title...

wtf?  they don't have test riders??

a lot of what they do is a total mystery.  or, as rossi alleged, they really don't think the rider matters at all.

guintoli tests the yamaha wsbk machine for some strange reason.. and sykes goes to yamaha wsbk... so sylvain goes to rizla bsb??
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2008/October/1-7/oct0108-Sylvain-Guintoli-signs-for-Rizla-Suzuki/

shinya back to kawi.. maybe
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2008/October/1-7/oct0108-Nakano-to-clinch-shock-Kawasaki-deal/

rumors are neil hodgson and chaz davies to british superbike.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Stoner+to+see+out+the+season+in+order+to+test+GP9 (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Stoner+to+see+out+the+season+in+order+to+test+GP9)

I wonder if Stoner was a little worried about Nicky doing so well and we all know who will put in the most laps when it comes time to test the bike. Nicky always seems to put in the marathon test sessions? I think it is a good call though and him and Nicky should be able to sort it out pretty well testing together [thumbsup]

Mika Kallio and Niccoló Canepa to Alice Ducati... probably.

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/news/170181-0/alice_tipped_to_confirm_kallio,_canepa_at_sepang.html (http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/news/170181-0/alice_tipped_to_confirm_kallio,_canepa_at_sepang.html)

I've totally lost track of what's going on.  Is Sete confirmed yet?  Last I remember, they were still trying to get his sponsors together for a 5th Duc. 

Still a rumor regarding your twin.   ;D

A more comprehensive list...

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/MotoGP+grid+for+2009+taking+shape (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/MotoGP+grid+for+2009+taking+shape)

Check out the pic, Thumbelina Pedrosa is a miserable little git isn't he?

I hate you.  <crosses arms, pouts>

"the little Spaniard..."    [laugh]

I dont understand how anyone living the life of a world class professional motorcycle racer like he is can be so unhappy all the time. Colin Edwards hasnt won a race in his whole time in his time in MotoGP, yet he seems very happy most of the time. I just dont get it.

A 3 foot stick up the arse would make anyone unhappy...especially when they're as short as Thumbelina  ;D

:-*

A 3 foot stick? Wouldn't that leave 18 inches of wood sticking out of his head? [laugh]

[laugh] [clap]

That's why his nose is always in the air ;D