I haven't seen any reference to this on here. https://www.crash.net/wsbk/news/102...s-conference-scheduled-will-he-stay-or-retire Thoughts?
Someone tell him about Skype ffs. edit: Tbf to him hes what 39 this year and however good that duc is now hes not going to break any records is he. Hes won a gp world title and the wsb title, so if his mindset really isnt with racing, theres not much point is there.
Presumably has last PDR was fairly decent, so suspect he is in line for an 'inflation beating' pay rise should he decide to stay for one more year, and make some more hay whilst the sun shines, so possibly something to do with negotiating..... Doesn't look like his heart isn't in it and can't see who would replace him and deliver the same results TBH.
Although I’ve never had children of my own, this, “Because now my daughter starts to be bigger and understands that: Daddy is out, Daddy is travelling, Daddy is not at home... So it’s not easy!” says volumes to me. Andy
Not sure the Ducati would suit JR’s high corner speed style. The Ducati is more brake late and hard and as soon as you can pick the bike up onto the fat part of the tyre, squirt. Andy
Can’t see Kawasaki letting him leave when he’s signed until the end of next year at the earliest. Nor Toprak from Yamaha. If I was SR45 id be asking my agent to build any bridges he may need to as quickly as he can and go back grovelling with his tail between his legs lol
All that drama for a one year extension https://www.crash.net/wsbk/news/1025458/1/alvaro-bautista-announces-new-world-superbike-deal
Exactly, press conference to say he's re-signed until the end of 2024. Reading between the lines that'll be him hanging his leathers up, one last paycheck. The question is who do Ducati replace him with, it would be good to see JR on the bike, but I doubt he'd be their priority and maybe he's past his peak now? Toprak, maybe, I'm not so sure, he's a big guy and Bautista is tiny. Axel Bassani must be getting a seat in the factory team soon, probably replacing Rinaldi who hasn't set the world on fire. .....Iannone was testing with Pirro, maybe that's an option, his ban is up end of the year, would he wait 12 months? More likely they give Rinaldi the flick, get Iannone on his bike, Bautista's No.1 rider, then in 2024 move Iannone to be No.1 then Bassani as the 2nd rider.
Sam Lowes was saying he'd like to try wsb while his brothers there before they both retire. I guess a LOT would depend on results, now he seems to have found some kind of mojo. My money would be on a ytoung italian though, bassani or locatelli.
Do you think a team will engage with Iannone ? 4 years is a long time to be out of top class class racing. Probably be a bit naive of me but I’d really like to see new blood. Andy
