2012 Silly Season

[gm2]

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

[gm2]

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

[gm2]

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

[Speeddog]

DePuniet is testing on the Suzuki 800. 

[EvilSteve]

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.

[gm2]

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

[Spidey]

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.

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.   

[EvilSteve]

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).

[gm2]

spending another year in M2 is just a waste of time.

not from repsol's POV...

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

[fastwin]

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.   

What he said. 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'.

[Spidey]

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. 

[zooom]

here's a shocker ( insert sarcasm)

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

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

[fastwin]

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.

[zooom]

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

[fastwin]

Thanks! Missed that one like my son swinging at the plate. But he can field.

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