2012 Silly Season

[desmoquattro]

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

[gm2]

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

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.

[Jester]

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

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

[gm2]

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

[zooom]

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

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

[Spidey]

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

[gm2]

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

yeah.

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

[Spidey]

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?

[derby]

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).

[zooom]

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 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....

[gm2]

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.

[OT]

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...  

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

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

[fastwin]

Say so long to Crutchlow at Tech 3? Really?

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

[duccarlos]

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

[gm2]

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