So who's going were ? Will Lorenzo go to Honda ? Will Rossi stay at ducati ? Will Pedders stay at Honda Will the CRT bikes give up wasting money on a uncompetitive bike.
Hmmm I don't Honda could afford Lorenzo, Stoner from what I have seen is on around 4M euro per year, Honda offered 8M to stay... I think Lorenzo is on more than that currently, but it's not all about money. One thing I'm sure of is Cal will get a factory ride if he continues this year as he's started.
I noticed JL has changed his tune a bit about staying with yamaha! $$$$ But yamaha don't have the big funds without a major sponsor. Agree with you about Cal, he deserves a factory ride. Suppo said they are now in talks with pedders (not surprising as Puig is Mr Repsol's man) Lorenzo is spanish so a repsol all spanish riders fits the bill ? That leaves Yamaha, I wouldn't rule out Nicky Hayden to replace Spies as the USA is a big yamaha customer and nickys more popular than Spies ? So it all stems on what Lorenzo decides ? VR has said he wants to stay at ducati, but if the new engine/bike coming soon fails he will be off. Yamaha could do with a big sponsor and that they wont refuse ? So could it be VR and Cal in the factory team ?
13 (2013) is an unlucky number, in an unpredictable dodgy climate I'm not sure where 13 will be for us for Moto GP fans? Valentino is traditionally superstitious, or will he bow out ... despite the nay sayer, I still think he's podium material on the right Bike. If things go well with Stoner again, he might do one more year, he's admitted he's in it for the money and is wise enough to know when to bow out at the top .. its a dangerous job and he's a family man now who has more than secured his financial future and lovely wife and kid too. Lorenzo is still very very hungry, this is our only real hope this year to upset the Honda juggernaut. Lorenzo will be back next year for sure, even if he wins the title this year ... and I hope he does, he deserves to. Danny, well how long have Honda been hedging their bets with him? ... I'm sure he tries, but year after year he's always consistently just never been quite there ... a safe bet for Honda who look at factory wins as much as anything. We'll see. I don't want to put the commentators curse on Cal, but he's looking so good ... another Ron Haslam maybe? I dunno. said it before but I think this is Colin Edwards last year, Nicky has still got a job, but he seems to treat it as a job, nice guy that he is. PS: I hope Suzuki can make a come back to this class next year, if they cant its just a matter of time before Yamaha bow out too, in this tight financial climate we really need Ducati to rock the boat again, nobody's buying much of anything anymore. PPS: can you imagine Val on a Suzuki, that would have been great last year when the Bike was available, and more his style ... life is all about what ifs though. PPPS: just read about Caseys retirement plans on Moto GP.com, (they pulled the news flash, but its true) this really throws the cat amongst the pigeons next year.
Honda won't have have 2 Spaniards on the team unless Bradl or Bautista pull their fingers out they won't be offered a factory ride, Dovi had his bite of the Cherry. Danni or Jorge but not both on the Honda that's for sure
HRC have already said there will NOT be two spaniards in the Repsol team next year. I can't see them wanting to bring Dovi back either. He had a good run in the factory team but never looked capable of being a champion.
If HRC can lure Jorge Danni is history, I've warmed to Danni maybe a Yamaha ride would be a good move. One thing though I bet Suppo is crapping himself
DP shows no sign of winning a championship Repsol want a Spanish Rider to win Lorenzo sees Rossi maybe returning and will want the best bike. Ergo, Lorenzo to Honda VR to Yamaha with Dovi or Cal NH to stay at Ducati, maybe with Barbera. Casey to V8s
Its pretty much a done deal that repsol want pedders and suppo will offer a contract for 2 yearsJL wants far to much cash. What ever happens at yamaha a yank will be on one of the bikes. Nothing will change in racing. The big bucks dictate who ridesOn what. Sad but the way it is.
Yup yanks good or bad are here in part to sell bikes, BS is struggling to adapt but it's big £££ for Yamaha to keep him on board, NH leading Ducati on occasion got to be a good thing for him.
Rumour in #MotoGP paddock is @calcrutchlow has been offered a 2-year deal with Ducati but he's not going to make a commitment at this stage
Well it wont be Rossi ? He's not a quitter and the duke is getting better and they do have the 3 day test in a weeks or so time. My guess is Nicky ? I expect Cal will keep his options open and hope lorenzo go's to honda (which won't happen) If Spies gets dropped it will be difficult to get that ride as Yamaha USA will want a yank on it. (they pay spies)
I hope Ducati sought the bike with the new engine etc.... Even Better if Cal is impressed by it and sign's Cal a brit on a Duke in motogp is what we all want ?
This could be perfect for Cal and Ducati as he seems the only rider left when Stoner goes that can wring the neck of the Duke and get the best out of it.
What's happening with the rule book re:CRT/factory next year? Apparently there's a whole raft of CRT teams banging down the door to get on the grid next year, so will we see the gap between the factory and privateer teams narrowed via rev limits/ECUs?
Just what people thought before Rossi hopped on it too! I reckon it's career suicide to even contemplate getting on the Ducati.
Love me Ducs but what I want to see is a Brit on a Brit bike in the premier classes ......... so unless someone pumps millions into Triumph or Norton I'll never be more than 90% happy !
