2011 Silly Season

[desmoquattro]

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-racing-news-moto-gp/rossi-hints-at-2011-ducati-move/11959.html

VALENTINO ROSSI has said he is "not 100% sure" he will stay with Yamaha MotoGP in 2011 - giving his biggest hint yet that he may go to Ducati.

[gm2]

nothing new whatsoever: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/160531/1/ducati_to_make_a_bold_bid_for_rossi.html

[Spidey]

More rumors about Stoner to Honda

http://www.motomatters.com/news/2010/06/17/stoner_to_honda_further_details_emerge.html

[zooom]

I like the idea somewhat of Smrz on the Beemer

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2010/Jun/100616smrz.htm

[gm2]

i think there's about a 99.9% chance that stoner goes to repsol

[zooom]

i think there's about a 99.9% chance that stoner goes to repsol

if the contract is actually signed...then I agree with you...but if for some goofy letigious reason it isn't signed and he keeps crashing and finishing poorly....then I don't give that probability of chance as high a percentage...

[gm2]

he's already won a title and has 20-some-odd race wins.  let's be fair: nicky won in 2006 b/c valentino lost, not b/c nicky won.  so, saving that, repsol hasn't won since valentino left at the end of 2004.  livio is there.  they want someone who can win.  minus the "sabotage" he was stupid fast on the honda in 2006.  the relationship with marlboro got damaged last year.  despite the crashing, he's always retarded fast.  he's going.

[gm2]

...i also think that valentino is going to ducati*.



*if JB will go.

[Speeddog]

I'd be happy with most any rearrangement of the riders, as long as the 'bot isn't on a Duc.

[Spidey]

If Stoner goes to Respol, where else is the 'bot gonna go?  Maybe Suzuki for the salary?  It wouldn't be to win.  If Ducati gets stuck with Pedro and Hayden, they might end up being in the worst shape of the three competitive rides.   Rossi or Lorenzo HAS to come to Ducati, dammit. 

Maybe I'm just incorrectly assuming that Honda would hold onto Dovi over Douchemake the beast with two backs McTwatwaffle.  But Dovi has a contract and Pedro doesn't.

[gm2]

why do you assume it's pedro getting bumped?  or does dovi still have a contract next year?

[Spidey]

I just added to my post while you posted.

Frankly, I'm not sure why I assume that, other than the contract situation.  But Repsol could easily buy Dovi out of his contract or send him to Suzuki for more $. 

[Spidey]

I may be wrong about the contract situation.  I know that Dovi is signed for 2010 with an option to extend to 2011.  But I don't know if that's his option or Honda's.  

Where's derby when ya need him?   

[gm2]

ah yeah, it's an option.  Honda's option.

[Spidey]

Oh, I thought it was a solid contact for 2011.  Then he's gone.  Unless Crashy McSmurfdick asks for too much scratch or they finally realize the Puig is such a dick that it's not worth it.  Wow, a Pedro/Stroner Repsol pairing leave Ducati in a bind.  Marlboro would have to throw down some serious $ to get either Rossi or Lorenzo.