2013 Silly Season?...maybe spoilers

[Jester]

I cant see Rossi going for anything other than a "Factory" team, even if it means staying with Ducati.

I'm pretty sure winning another race before he retires is more important than being on a factory team.  A factory spec Honda/Yam in either his own team or a satellite would have to have more appeal than being a backmarker for the last half decade of his career.  That's assuming Ducati doesn't somehow prove they can build a GP bike worth a darn.

[zooom]

I think the key for Rossi isn't so much a factory team, but more having factory equipment....so if he ends up riding something other than the Duc next year, you can bet it will be his leverage to get as much factory supported equipment as he can muster....he wants to win races and that to all of us is more than apparent...

[duccarlos]

There's no incentive for the factory to provide him with the latest and greatest equipment if he would beat the factory teams. repsol for one would not want to see Rossi on a factory supported Honda. Yamaha would be more willing to play ball.

[TitanMonsterS4R]

Crutchlow on a Ducati....eeeWHHAATTTTT

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2012/June/jun2012-ducati-in-talks-with-crutchlow
 

[thought]

Was just about to post that too... I'd actually really rather him on another bike, shame to waste talent on the duc.

But I can't see yam giving him up to Ducati unless they resign Rossi to the factory team.  IMO he's way more marketable than dovi and spies just isn't having the kind of performance to support a factory slot.

[duccarlos]

+1 I would hate too see Crutchlow's career ruined by going to Ducati at this point. I think their might be internal debates within Yamaha about going after Rossi. Like the article stated, the bean counters would love to have him back to secure a real sponsor.

[thought]

I think best possible scenario for yam would be lorenzo/Rossi factory, spies/cal tech 3... Keeping spies mostly for the marketing potential over dovi, who is a good rider... But kinda vanilla and I can't think of anyone who really cheers for him even though he always does pretty well.

It just if rossi's ego can take the hit knowing he won't be considered top dog in return for a bike he can ride... Along with a pay cut.  But yam really does need a heavyweight sponsor soon.

I wish Suzuki was on the table to come back this year though... Would make it interesting to see if Rossi would go to them

[gm2]

rossi has already been on a solo team in the past, and won.  if he does it again you can be sure the deal includes latest greatest throughout the year.

rossi didn't want to be lorenzo's teammate when he was.  that's no doubt even more true now..

and he would start fabricating his own bikes from scratch before he went to suzuki.

[gm2]

Crutchlow on a Ducati....eeeWHHAATTTTT

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2012/June/jun2012-ducati-in-talks-with-crutchlow
 

not the first time it's come up..

http://superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jun/120607duccrutch.htm

Crutchlow to the Duc?

 

[duccarlos]

It's not a question about Rossi affording or wanting his own team. The politics involved with having HRC providing a factory bike specifically for Rossi would have consequences with Repsol. It was ok to provide for Sic, who was just starting and I'm sure Repsol was eyeing anyway. Rossi on a Honda will be competing for podiums that Marquez, and presumably Pedrosa, would be in line to take.

[derby]

It's not a question about Rossi affording or wanting his own team. The politics involved with having HRC providing a factory bike specifically for Rossi would have consequences with Repsol. It was ok to provide for Sic, who was just starting and I'm sure Repsol was eyeing anyway. Rossi on a Honda will be competing for podiums that Marquez, and presumably Pedrosa, would be in line to take.

you mean like when they did this?



..and then the next year:

[duccarlos]

That was then. Now he's less of an investment, I.e. they have no idea when he'll call it quits. Plus Repsol seems to have more influence now with Dorna.

[gm2]

That was then. Now he's less of an investment, I.e. they have no idea when he'll call it quits. Plus Repsol seems to have more influence now with Dorna.

call it quits: at least not for 2 years.  and until then he still IS motogp.

[ZLTFUL]

One thing Rossi still most definitely is is marketable. I mean look at Yamaha still struggling for a major sponsor since he left. That alone speaks to his power over the sponsorship dollars in MotoGP.
And every time one of his major sponsors has left the sport altogether, he has come back with another big name to take its place.

Yamaha's major team sponsor for 2012: JX Nippon Oil and Energy Company (Who? I mean that isn't to say they aren't a huge corporation but again...who?)
Ducati's major team sponsor for 2012: Philip Morris, Telecom Italia, Generali, Enel, Riello, Shell, Diesel

And while Ducati may not be winning races, there is no doubt that they have one of the richest sponsorship lists in the paddock. And largely in part because of Rossi.

[duccarlos]

Honda is not Yamaha. They have the sponsors. Yamaha is desperate, but Rossi left because of Lorenzo and will not come back while he's there. They will not field a fifth bike, they are pleading the FiF. So what is left? Again, Rossi will not be able to bring a sponsor to compete with Repsol, so why would they give him a full spec bike that will just piss off Repsol, unless they are trying to get a large enough sponsor that is less vocal. in the end, Rossi will need to check his ego at the door. if he really wants to win again, I would do everything in my power to get back on a Yamaha. I might just try to bump Dovi off the Tech 3 bike.