2011 Silly Season

[derby]

With all the money he's bringing X-lite, I wouldn't be surprised if it was them. I just came back from madrid and saw no fewer than 20 X-fuera helmets, no Pedrobot, no Rossi.

i doubt nolan is making enough money to float a factory gp team.

[El Matador]

i doubt nolan is making enough money to float a factory gp team.

hence:

On a more serious note, have you heard of the state of the spanish economy? It's right up there on par with the Spanish work ethic and sobriety levels.

The only company making serious money in Spain right now is Repsol, but they're taken. Maybe El Corte Ingles, but that would be hilarious. Almost as of Macy's was sponsoring a team.

[derby]

yeah, i saw that. 

fwiw, i am kinda surprised telefonica hasn't stepped up yet. not showin' a lotta faith in jorge for 2011.

i'm pretty sure yamaha corporate can bankroll the team for a year. they don't want to, but they can.

does anybody know how the piano business is doing? 

[Speeddog]

2010 Net Income was a smaller loss than 2009......

http://www.global.yamaha.com/about/ir/publications/pdf-data/2010/ann/an-2010e-003.pdf

[zooom]

I think it speaks less about the money people are able to freely throw around and more about the unsureness of the ability to repeat the success another year...nothing against Jorge, cause I am sure he'll be up there in the mix without a doubt, but the confidence level to put your money out there with the thought it is going to have your name plastered on the top of the podium everytime (almost like it was this past year with Jorge) for to get a name recognition return for some business and sales opportunities, it just doesn't look as likely due to many factors floating about in variable form...at least IMHO

[El Matador]

yeah, i saw that. 

fwiw, i am kinda surprised telefonica hasn't stepped up yet. not showin' a lotta faith in jorge for 2011.

i'm pretty sure yamaha corporate can bankroll the team for a year. they don't want to, but they can.

does anybody know how the piano business is doing? 

I'm actually kinda surprised as well. I don't think it has anything to do with Jorge, really. More of the state of things.

I think it speaks less about the money people are able to freely throw around and more about the unsureness of the ability to repeat the success another year...nothing against Jorge, cause I am sure he'll be up there in the mix without a doubt, but the confidence level to put your money out there with the thought it is going to have your name plastered on the top of the podium everytime (almost like it was this past year with Jorge) for to get a name recognition return for some business and sales opportunities, it just doesn't look as likely due to many factors floating about in variable form...at least IMHO

You really think there are three other better-looking packages on the grid for net year?

[zooom]

  You really think there are three other better-looking packages on the grid for net year?

not saying that there are better packages on the grid per sey, but that there are a lot of new things in the shuffle that make it not the clear ultimate package of awesomeness that 2010 was....

-Honda finally figured something out with the RC212V
-Casey was batshit fast and comfortable with the 2011 RC212V out of the gate
-Pedrobot was coming around to some reasonable results on that machine before he broke, and he is currently healing well and expected to be in full 100% to go form by the 1st race.
-Simoncelli looked to be getting comfortable as if he finally figured that bike out as well also, and could be a pain in someone's ass in prevention of progression through the pack as long as he keeps the rubber rolling on the pavement.
-The Ben is a worthy contender to put a possible wrench in the proverbial monkeyworks for Jorge
-Valentino and JerryB can come out of the dark with who knows what from under their sleeve to be a fly in the ointment as well


and these are just a few of the variables that can stain the idea that Jorge is guaranteed to be on top of the podium in the same manner as he did this past year which makes for reasonable problems in the marketing for a sponsor from my POV

[derby]

and these are just a few of the variables that can stain the idea that Jorge is guaranteed to be on top of the podium in the same manner as he did this past year which makes for reasonable problems in the marketing for a sponsor from my POV

he doesn't need to be on top of the podium for sponsor exposure, just on the podum (or fighting for it).

if winning races was a requirement for sponsorship, most of the grid would be sitting in the stands watching a handful of bikes race it out.

[gm2]

i still say stoner is gonna be a real problem.

[zooom]

he doesn't need to be on top of the podium for sponsor exposure, just on the podum (or fighting for it).

if winning races was a requirement for sponsorship, most of the grid would be sitting in the stands watching a handful of bikes race it out.

I don't think winning is a requirement per sey...but exposure I am sure is...and well, for someone who is questionable with spending the money ( like FIAT for example wasn't exactly a cash cow, but they got their money's worth through Vale and through Jorge over their term-but it was Vale that brought them on board and he was clearly going to be a dominant force to be reckoned with after the Bridgestone/Michelin debacle)....so someone who is on the fence with spending the millions here, wants some level of return...just having your name on the side of a bike while it circulates isn't enough sometimes...having your name on the leathers on the steps with a trophy can be....

[derby]

I don't think winning is a requirement per sey...but exposure I am sure is...and well, for someone who is questionable with spending the money ( like FIAT for example wasn't exactly a cash cow, but they got their money's worth through Vale and through Jorge over their term-but it was Vale that brought them on board and he was clearly going to be a dominant force to be reckoned with after the Bridgestone/Michelin debacle)....so someone who is on the fence with spending the millions here, wants some level of return...just having your name on the side of a bike while it circulates isn't enough sometimes...having your name on the leathers on the steps with a trophy can be....

care to bet that jorge is off the podium more than on next year? (i'll take the "jorge is on the podium" side)


"guarantee" is a funny word but, given his performance over the last few years coupled with the well-developed yzr-m1, you can be reasonably sure that a yamaha is going to be on the podium each race.

[zooom]

care to bet that jorge is off the podium more than on next year? (i'll take the "jorge is on the podium" side)

if it was "off the podium more than he was last year", I'd take that bet in a heartbeat...to say he'll be off the podium 9 or more times next year is a huge leap of stupidity, as the odds are definitely against that by alot...

"guarantee" is a funny word but, given his performance over the last few years coupled with the well-developed yzr-m1, you can be reasonably sure that a yamaha is going to be on the podium each race.

at least 1 M1 will be on the podium alot for sure(regardless of who the rider is)....each race...now THAT is a bet I'll take...I'll bet that there is at least 1 race next year that doesn't have a Yamaha on the podium.

[gm2]

at least 1 M1 will be on the podium alot for sure(regardless of who the rider is)....each race...now THAT is a bet I'll take...I'll bet that there is at least 1 race next year that doesn't have a Yamaha on the podium.

at least 1.. very safe.  how many races with no yamaha on the rostrum would you wager?

[zooom]

at least 1.. very safe.  how many races with no yamaha on the rostrum would you wager?

Ooooo...you tempt and bait me sir....out of 18 races....

do we get an over/under on this one?....LOL

[ducpainter]