Valencia test

[The Don]

What they could do is offer Stoner twice the pay cheque of Rossi, punt Rossi and then have a winning team again. just saying [quote author=desmoquattro

[gm2]

who wants to bet Rossi is wearing Repsol orange and black in 2013?

[Cider]

who wants to bet Rossi is wearing Repsol orange and black in 2013?

Hard to believe that just twelve months ago that idea would have seemed nuts.  Now it's actually plausible.

[Spidey]

who wants to bet Rossi is wearing Repsol orange and black in 2013?

With Casey back in Red?  Aw, shit.  Now we're gonna have to start a Silly Season 2013 thread.  And it's not even 2012 yet.  

[Jester]

who wants to bet Rossi is wearing Repsol orange and black in 2013?

I can see Rossi riding a factory Honda under his own team/sponsors, but not back with the offical team.  They have Stoner/Pedrosa/Marquez in line for those seats already.

[gm2]

With Casey back in Red?  Aw, shit.  Now we're gonna have to start a Silly Season 2013 thread.  And it's not even 2012 yet.  

or both of them in orange and black, battling it out.

or by that time casey has retired in a fit of rebellion against spec ECUs.

[Triple J]

who wants to bet Rossi is wearing Repsol orange and black in 2013?

I'll take that bet. Honda will have Stoner (and likely his 3rd title) and Pedrosa, with Marquez lined up for 2014 to replace Pedrobot. Why pay Rossi? He could be on a Honda though if Ducati don't get their shit together.

[desmoquattro]

I'll take that bet. Honda will have Stoner (and likely his 3rd title) and Pedrosa, with Marquez lined up for 2014 to replace Pedrobot. Why pay Rossi? He could be on a Honda though if Ducati don't get their shit together.

I think he'll be on an 1199 Panigale by then...and Claiming Rule Teams will have taken over MotoGP.

[Triple J]

I think he'll be on an 1199 Panigale by then...and Claiming Rule Teams will have taken over MotoGP.

That would be cool. Seems it would be a massive pay cut for Rossi though so I doubt it. I could see Hayden on the 1199 though.

[Spidey]

That would be cool. Seems it would be a massive pay cut for Rossi though so I doubt it. I could see Hayden on the 1199 though.

Hayden is too good of a rider to go to WSBK in 2013.  He's had shitty rides the last coupla years -- first a Honda designed exclusively for Douchey McNeverGonnaTakeTheTitle and then on the Duc. 

[desmoquattro]

Hayden is too good of a rider to go to WSBK in 2013.  He's had shitty rides the last coupla years -- first a Honda designed exclusively for Douchey McNeverGonnaTakeTheTitle and then on the Duc. 

So is Rossi for that matter. But MotoGP is changing too, and it may devolve into something like a spec series with Claiming Rule Teams. In that case, WSBK may become the premier racing series.

[Spidey]

In that case, WSBK may become the premier racing series.

That's not going to happen either.  Dorna's not stupid enough to allow the brand to deteriorate that much just to achieve cost-cutting and/or close racing.  People will continue to watch GP even if its boring as fack because it's undisputed that it's the best of the best.  

[derby]

So is Rossi for that matter. But MotoGP is changing too, and it may devolve into something like a spec series with Claiming Rule Teams. In that case, WSBK may become the premier racing series.

right, cause f1 with spec tires and control ECUs turned into nascar...

just because the bling bar is being lowered to allow more teams to participate doesn't mean the show is going to get worse or the laptimes are going to get slower.

[desmoquattro]

right, cause f1 with spec tires and control ECUs turned into nascar...

just because the bling bar is being lowered to allow more teams to participate doesn't mean the show is going to get worse or the laptimes are going to get slower.

Oh, I know. But to me this seems less like lowering the bling bar and more like reinventing the series...if it ends up being like Moto2, the lap times are definitely slower...even if the show gets better. It all depends on where they take it. I think it also depends on the number of available seats: if there isn't an HRC or factory Yamaha seat available, and if Suzuki pulls out or runs a non-competitive bike, I can see Rossi jumping to a series with more promise.

[Triple J]

Hayden is too good of a rider to go to WSBK in 2013.  He's had shitty rides the last coupla years -- first a Honda designed exclusively for Douchey McNeverGonnaTakeTheTitle and then on the Duc.  

Agreed. I still think it more likely he go to WSBK than Rossi though.

For instance, what if Ducati is his only available factory ride in GP (likely), but the bike is still a POS. Would he rather:

1. Stick with the factory Duc in GP, and be frustrated.
2. Switch to a CRT team in GP, and be frustrated.
3. Move to WSBK with the resurrected factory Duc team with the real possibility to win a world championship.

I'd likely pick #3. That is provided that Ducati offered him the seat (which I imagine they would).

Rossi on the other hand will always have a factory GP ride available...because he's Rossi.