2013 Silly Season?...maybe spoilers

[Jester]

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.

Regardless if Rossi was beating the Repsols, and that's not a given, they would still be at the sharp end of the race and get race coverage.  As far as Honda goes, I doubt they care which bike of theirs is up front so long as it has a Honda badge on it.  I can't see Rossi going to a satellite team that won't even float the cash for brakes, unless Yamaha agreed to provide him factory equipment, which they've already stated they won't do for Tech3, let alone provide a 5th bike in the championship.  Rossi remains the figurehead of the series despite his results and all the manufacturers need him around in some capacity to boost their own viewership and sponsor dollars.  Rossi on a Honda seems the most likely scenario if he leaves Ducati. 

The bigger questions lie with Dovi and Spies.  Where do they go?  If Crutchlow goes to factory, and Bradley Smith is coming to Tech3 ( undeserved ), then one of them is going to be forced to sign with Ducati if Rossi defects.  Suzuki or another manufacturer really needs to rejoin the series or we're going to see wasted talent on the grid in the near future.  There are too many talented kids coming through the ranks along with established vets to contend for seats.  Its a win/lose scenario.  Someone will end up on the outside looking in.  You could already argue a case for Depuniet and Edwards if you cared to.

Perhaps Abraham's father should fire his own son and sign someone else.

[duccarlos]

HRC does not care, but Repsol and the Spanish twins sure as hell do.

Rossi on a Honda is a good fit only because they're the only ones willing to provide an additional bike, but at what cost? Would they be willing the alienate the most important sponsor of the series? He has a way back to Yamaha, not an ideal way, but it gets him back on "his" bike.

Outside of the factories is a total mess. CRT bikes suck balls and soon enough the vets will need to make some tough choices. I see many jumping ship to WSBK. It's a tough call, but like you mentioned, there are quite a few young guys that you can start building a team around. Ans speaking of undeserving, do you really think that Marquez' riding this year warrants a factory ride? Satellite yes, but not factory.

Depuniet is doing a decent job on the ART, but Colin can't seem to do anything with the Suter. CRT should follow Aprilia's formula. Just get some small manufacturers to build a whole bike (cheap) and sell it to whomever wants it. They will be able to build a package that can at least fight it out among the backmarkers.

[duccarlos]

I forgot to mention the spy photos of the Suzuki. The article said that they might be back in 2014.

[gm2]

Ans speaking of undeserving, do you really think that Marquez' riding this year warrants a factory ride? Satellite yes, but not factory.

i think marc, pol, and crazy joe all should be in GP next year in some shape or not-CRT-form.  and yeah, i think marquez deserves a factory ride.  but i always thought the rookie rule was nonsense.

[thought]

'Rossi on a competitive bike next year'

"In 2013 we will see Rossi fight for the win... again." says Dorna boss

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-racing-news-moto-gp/rossi-on-a-competitive-bike-next-year/20904.html

So... Yam or Honda?  Because when he says competitive, he sure aint talking about ducati.

And I'm guessing this is the sign that Carmelo is finally stepping in during the negotiations to get Rossi the ride he needs to keep the series alive.

And maybe this is what Honda/Repsol had to give up in order to kill the rookie/4 bike per manufacturer rule.  They get Marquez in Repsol colors but Carmelo insists that Rossi gets a factory Honda?  It would explain a lot and why Dorna was so willing to move on something they were pretty dead set against before.

[ZLTFUL]

'Rossi on a competitive bike next year'

"In 2013 we will see Rossi fight for the win... again." says Dorna boss

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-racing-news-moto-gp/rossi-on-a-competitive-bike-next-year/20904.html

So... Yam or Honda?  Because when he says competitive, he sure aint talking about ducati.

And I'm guessing this is the sign that Carmelo is finally stepping in during the negotiations to get Rossi the ride he needs to keep the series alive.

And maybe this is what Honda/Repsol had to give up in order to kill the rookie/4 bike per manufacturer rule.  They get Marquez in Repsol colors but Carmelo insists that Rossi gets a factory Honda?  It would explain a lot and why Dorna was so willing to move on something they were pretty dead set against before.

I would lean more towards the Honda than Yamaha at this point. Still interested to see what Ducati brings to the table in July. If the Ducati takes leaps towards being competitive with a rider other than Casey, does Rossi stay?

I haven't fully written Ducati off. Racing is their life. Don't they have more Corse employees than production employees? But unless they pull a complete 180 from where they are now, Rossi is gone from Ducati next season.

But I still disagree with you Carlos. I think sponsors that left when Rossi went to Ducati (Philip Morris being pretty adamant about the livery being theirs and theirs alone) would be more than willing to come back if they could have the larger portions of the bike for their logo. And I reiterate...Rossi may not be winning but he still is the face of MotoGP. I have friends who aren't into motorcycle racing at all who recognize Rossi but couldn't pick out Stoner or Lorenzo in a line-up of Stoners and Lorenzos.

[duccarlos]

I've never said that Rossi does not bring the sponsors, what I did say was that Repsol would be pissed off if Rossi got a factory Honda that would consistently beat the Douchebag Spanish twins. Thought aluded to something that I agree with. I think Dorna might have gone to Repsol and told them that they would abolish the Rookie Rule if they STFU when they made a deal with HRC to move Rossi onto a factory backed private team. The cost of getting their golden boy.

How is it that Yamaha can't pull any big sponsors? They have, by far, the most consistent bike on the grid. Lorenzo, Crutchlow and Dovi are almost always on screen, either following the leader or the battle between teammates. I understand that Lorenzo and Dovi are not the most outgoing of the bunch, but still, with that much airtime you would think that sponsors would be lining up around the corner.

[gm2]

How is it that Yamaha can't pull any big sponsors? They have, by far, the most consistent bike on the grid. Lorenzo, Crutchlow and Dovi are almost always on screen, either following the leader or the battle between teammates. I understand that Lorenzo and Dovi are not the most outgoing of the bunch, but still, with that much airtime you would think that sponsors would be lining up around the corner.

that is a weird one..

[gm2]

And maybe this is what Honda/Repsol had to give up in order to kill the rookie/4 bike per manufacturer rule.  They get Marquez in Repsol colors but Carmelo insists that Rossi gets a factory Honda?  It would explain a lot and why Dorna was so willing to move on something they were pretty dead set against before.

perhaps.  but read that LCR interview on motomatters re the rookie rule.  complicated issue in the case of marquez; if he goes to LCR or Gresini, those teams - and sponsors - get blown up.  but only for a year.  makes no sense for anyone.

[zooom]

 

How is it that Yamaha can't pull any big sponsors? They have, by far, the most consistent bike on the grid. Lorenzo, Crutchlow and Dovi are almost always on screen, either following the leader or the battle between teammates. I understand that Lorenzo and Dovi are not the most outgoing of the bunch, but still, with that much airtime you would think that sponsors would be lining up around the corner.

MAYBE it is how much Yammie is telling said potential sponsors would have to be ponying up up front and therefore scaring them away?!?!?!

[duccarlos]

I hope not. That is suicide if all of a sudden you're not getting the same results in subsequent years.

[gm2]

MAYBE it is how much Yammie is telling said potential sponsors would have to be ponying up up front and therefore scaring them away?!?!?!

it's because valentino isn't there.

but to carlos' earlier point, it is fairly odd that they haven't picked up mid-level sponsor by now, like they did in wsbk in 2009.  sterilgarda was all over that after ben's 4th pole.  must be the GP price tag.

[Jester]

it's because valentino isn't there.

but to carlos' earlier point, it is fairly odd that they haven't picked up mid-level sponsor by now, like they did in wsbk in 2009.  sterilgarda was all over that after ben's 4th pole.  must be the GP price tag.

What I don't understand is the price tag portion.  Why wouldn't they lower the price for the sponsor?  Lets say they could get five million instead of ten million or whatever the price may be.  Wouldn't five be better than zero?

[zooom]

What I don't understand is the price tag portion.  Why wouldn't they lower the price for the sponsor?  Lets say they could get five million instead of ten million or whatever the price may be.  Wouldn't five be better than zero?

I think it depends on the marketing exposure they think they can yield from the expendature in that whole ROI index of things....

[duccarlos]

And this is why I dislike bean counters. If you look at it black/white it's a simple resolution: "we need a sponsor. we have the best bike on the grid and everyone knows it. our bikes are always on tv. let's lower our standards a bit to gain big name sponsors that will need to pay up the big bucks next year to have their logo next to the '1' plate".