Hayden/Ducati... and silly season

[ducpainter]

well if this guy says it's true...

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080909a.htm

What does he know?   

[desmoquattro]

That unknown Ducati is frequently being attributed to Gibernau.

[Spidey]

That unknown Ducati is frequently being attributed to Gibernau.

I'm blocking that from my memory.   

[desmoquattro]

I'm blocking that from my memory.   

 I figured as much.

[gm2]

some of these are facts, some are "99% done", some are relatively confident predictions..

Ok, so what does 2009 look like right now?  Any of the Alice spots confirmed?

Marlboro Factory Ducati      Stoner/Hayden
Alice Ducati    Elias /...maybe Simoncelli?
(Unknown) Ducati    Gibernau

Fiat Factory Yamaha      Rossi/Lorenzo
Tech 3 Yamaha    Edwards/ Toseland (already signed)

Respol Factory Honda      Pedrosa/Dovizioso
Gresini Honda      De Angelis/_________
JiR Honda       Spies
LCR Honda     RDP

Monster Factory Kawasaki     Hopper/Melandri/..maybe (third bike?)

Rizla Factory Suzuki      Capi/Vermeulen/ _____  (third bike?)

[desmoquattro]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70452

Even Bubba's talking like it's a done deal now...

"I really want to feel again like a teammate, I mean to be in a team where everyone works in the same direction and shares information. I can't wait for that moment to come.

"I have a lot of respect for Casey, for the way he's grown as a rider and the way he does his job. He minds his own business and lets his results do the talking. I'll have no problem with him."

He added: "The bike (Ducati) has great potential because of its engine and its power. Casey rides it very well, he's strong, and deserves great consideration for it. But I don't want to talk too much before trying it myself.

[gm2]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70452

i'll still never understand why the situation/relationship is this bad for nicky @ repsol:

Hayden, whose teammate Pedrosa made a shock switch to Bridgestone tyres after the last race, said he was never in a position to do the same, but he claimed he was not surprised by the Spaniard's move.

"I've never been put in the conditions to choose. Once they told me that I would have just wasted my time had I even only thought about asking for Bridgestone tyres.

"But I'm not surprised they've given them to him. Besides, at Misano I didn't even have the same fork Dani had... No way would I think they'd let me try the new tyres.

"Honestly it was a shock at the beginning for me. I thought something like this would never happen, instead it has... There was a time when I thought of Bridgestones too, but I was told that's a decision for Honda to make, and that in any case there was no chance for me to have those tyres."

good thing he's leaving, as we've all said...

[tufty]

i'll still never understand why the situation/relationship is this bad for nicky @ repsol:

Hayden, whose teammate Pedrosa made a shock switch to Bridgestone tyres after the last race, said he was never in a position to do the same, but he claimed he was not surprised by the Spaniard's move.

"I've never been put in the conditions to choose. Once they told me that I would have just wasted my time had I even only thought about asking for Bridgestone tyres.

"But I'm not surprised they've given them to him. Besides, at Misano I didn't even have the same fork Dani had... No way would I think they'd let me try the new tyres.

"Honestly it was a shock at the beginning for me. I thought something like this would never happen, instead it has... There was a time when I thought of Bridgestones too, but I was told that's a decision for Honda to make, and that in any case there was no chance for me to have those tyres."

good thing he's leaving, as we've all said...

I know he won't, but it would be nice if he publicly slagged off Repsol Honda when his contract expires. It's a shame that they've treated a great racer and good guy like they have, but it's absolutely unfathomable considering he won a world championship for them.

I say, Nicky, screw loyalty and tell it how it really is...

[gm2]

you're right, i doubt he'll totally go off about it once the ink is dry.  but he has in the past said some (relatively) scathing things.. like when he first saw the '07 bike, "i thought they were joking"

[pennyrobber]

I know he won't, but it would be nice if he publicly slagged off Repsol Honda when his contract expires. It's a shame that they've treated a great racer and good guy like they have, but it's absolutely unfathomable considering he won a world championship for them.

Rossi has spoke unfavorably about Repsol Honda's treatment of their riders. The focus is having their bike on the podium, the riders are merely a tool to achieve that end.

[gm2]

Rossi has spoke unfavorably about Repsol Honda's treatment of their riders. The focus is having their bike on the podium, the riders are merely a tool to achieve that end.

...so you'd think, especially after rossi left and promptly showed them how wrong they were, that they'd LOVE the guy that gave them back the championship.  apparently the spanish trifecta of Dorna/Repsol/Pedrosa makes him irrelevant, title or not.

[darylbowden]

Well, it's pretty much official.  Straight from the horse's mouth: http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=12949

[Grampa]

  yeah for our team

[COWBOY]

Wow.  Only Champion since Rossi left  and ...

"I fully plan on doing the whole season. Unless they lock the door over there on me, I plan on going in there and getting on the bike. It could happen. Honestly, there’s probably people in that box that if I didn’t show up probably would never notice, but I plan on going.”

[sh]

I know it has been said, but I can't help reiterate ... it is UNBELIEVABLE that repsol honda would treat their active world champion like that.  people in that team need to get fired.  especially if pedrosa fails to claim a championship (and I hope he never does).