2013 Silly Season?...maybe spoilers

[gm2]

http://www.motomatters.com/news/2012/07/02/nicky_hayden_on_cal_crutchlow_the_right_.html

[Triple J]

http://www.motomatters.com/news/2012/07/02/nicky_hayden_on_cal_crutchlow_the_right_.html

Why does everyone assume they're offering up Hayden's bike? Maybe Ducati knows that Rossi is gone, and are offering up his bike? They let Hayden's contract expire, so I guess that's it, but if Rossi is leaving then I'd expect Hayden to stay and just get a new teammate.

[gm2]

"penciled in" probably means "if they can keep rossi".

plus, they can pay cal less than nicky and he's an unknown on that bike.. which means maybe he's the other guy that can win on it.

[duccarlos]

I doubt Nicky was getting alien money anyway. They know that Nicky won't get another factory ride, so they can string him along all they want. Vale and Cal will decide soon enough, so they if needed they'll make him an offer.

[ab]

I hope he leaves Ducati.

Any guesses where he will end up?

[ZLTFUL]

Isn't this the same as the conversations going on in the silly season thread?

[derby]

Isn't this the same as the conversations going on in the silly season thread?

yes and... yes. 

[tufty]

Yawnda to keep Pedrosa... again! If they sign Marquez too, Dorna will have a real credibility problem imo.

[duccarlos]

Yawnda to keep Pedrosa... again! If they sign Marquez too, Dorna will have a real credibility problem imo.

How do you figure? Why would Dorna care if the HRC/Repsol want to have an all Spanish team?

http://www.motomatters.com/analysis/2012/07/05/2012_sachsenring_motogp_thursday_round_u.html

"I never had any contact with HRC, so going there was never a possibility for me," Rossi said, despite rumors in the English-language media that placed the Italian in the Repsol team

[ducpainter]

How do you figure? Why would Dorna care if the HRC/Repsol want to have an all Spanish team?

http://www.motomatters.com/analysis/2012/07/05/2012_sachsenring_motogp_thursday_round_u.html

...and not a single word about Nicky.

[duccarlos]

Quite obvious they set the pecking order. Heard on FP1 coverage that there are rumors that Cal already signed the contract. If that is the case and Rossi's choices are slowly disappearing, then Nicky is up a creek. He mentioned that he has had some offers from WSBK. I would not mind seeing him on an 1199 next year.

[tufty]

How do you figure? Why would Dorna care if the HRC/Repsol want to have an all Spanish team?

For the same reason that Carmelo really wanted the Ben to ride a factory bike and is begging Rossi to stay, worldwide interest. Two Spaniards on a Spanish team, one of only 3 factory teams dominating Spanish owned and run MotoGP's isn't going to attract viewers. It looks a little "keep it in the family" doesn't it?

Maybe it's just me.

[Spidey]

I don't get this silly season at all.

There are two riders for 2013 who can win a championship -- Rossi & Lorenzo.  Lorenzo is not marketing gold, but he's with Yamaha.  So that's done.  Rossi is marketing gold and can/will win a championship.  It is not in Honda, Dorna or Repsol's interest for Rossi to stay at Ducati or to go to a satellite bike (even a Honda).  It's not in Yamaha's interest to let him go go Honda.  WTF?   How is Dorna going to let their best asset stay on a Duc?   

Put Hayden on a Honda, and he is better than any non-alien 'cept Spies (Crutchlow is not *really* a known entity at this point).  Why would he go to WSBK?!?  Anyone who can should snap him up immediately.   

Crutchlow can't ride the Duc b/c no one can.  What's the advantage of a "factory" ride that routinely gets beaten by his current satellite team?

[Speeddog]

I's in Honda and Repsol's interest for Rossi to stay on the Duc, as he's no threat there.

I'm sure DORNA wants him on a Honda or Yamaha.

The only advantage of Ducati for Cal is that they're offering him a factory ride contract *now*.
Apparently he's not received any other factory offers.
He'd be better off staying put at Tech3, IMO.

[gm2]

remember carmelo's totally bizarre 'valentino will be on a competitive bike next year' statement ~last week.  something's already done or virtually done.