Thread: Rumours Mills 2008/09

Originally Posted by jim mcglinchey

Honda out of AMA too now.

Why the feck has nobody on here anything to say about this critical issue??????

Kawasaki also out. Perhaps AMA will become more like WSB with factory assisted teams rather than full blown factory teams.

Also, Tommy Bridewell to race FIM STK1000 and Italian Superstock.
http://www.worldsbk.com/pubb_EN/news_ext.php?id=2774

Autosport - not entirely sure on their accuracy regarding bike news - reckons Marco Simoncelli plans to race the first two rounds of WSB with Aprilia:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72566

Be interesting to compare he and Ruben Xaus's riding styles then, being they are both really tall.

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/moto...n_to_one?.html

Onde 2000 could be having Niccolo Canepa on their books too, because Pramac team could only afford one drive that will be kallio, because of no Alice sponsorship next year

BikeSport News reports that Jon Kirkham will take the Jentin Yamaha seat in BSB for 2009:

http://www.bikesportnews.com/article...AHA_BSB_SEAT_1

Looking forward to seeing how that works out - Kirkham was a cut above the rest in the Yamaha R1 Cup and did well on a one-off BSB outing at the end of the year, and the Jentin squad are an excellent tight-knit squad who had a great 2008 with Simon Andrews (who's moved onto Kawasaki for 09).

Hopkins To Join Stiggy Motorsports In World Superbikes?
Submitted by Kropotkin on Sun, 2009-02-01 22:28.

The MCN London Motorcycle Show at the ExCeL London exhibition center provides all the necessary ingredients for scandal and rumor: Over the course of four days, the motorcycling press, manufacturers, racers, teams and bikers are packed together with little more to do than gossip and gawp at bikes and biking celebrities.

So it is hardly surprising that along with the news emanating from the show comes the rumor that John Hopkins could be moving to World Superbikes. With the chances of a rescue package for Kawasaki in MotoGP fading every day, the American could end up riding a Honda alongside Leon Haslam for Stiggy Motorsports.

At the moment, that seat is held by Roberto Rolfo, but the Italian is still suffering from a fractured shoulder picked up early last year. Rolfo had decided not to have surgery to stabilize the shoulder, as any operation would have required a very lengthy period of physical rehabilitation, causing the Italian to miss most of the 2009 season. But after a difficult test at Portimao, where Rolfo didn't ride much, and only managed to finish second-from-last when he did, there is a good chance that he may be forced to change his mind about surgery.

This would leave the ride open for Hopkins, and as Rolfo brings with him a lot of personal sponsorship, any money that Hopper could bring would be more than welcomed by the Scandinavian team. With Hopkins' Monster sponsorship covering his salary, the American could effectively ride for Stiggy Motorsports for free. And with John Hopkins and Leon Haslam, both riders with proven talent, the team could well be a serious threat in the already crowded World Superbike championship.


http://www.motogpmatters.com/news/20...rts_in_wo.html

Clearly Hopper enjoyed Westy so much as a teammate that he's decided to team up with him again at Stiggy (albeit in different classes).
Also, am I correct in believing that Leon Haslam also has a Monster Energy sponsorship of his helmet?

Originally Posted by NinjaMaster

Also, am I correct in believing that Leon Haslam also has a Monster Energy sponsorship of his helmet?

Both Haslam and HM Plant team mate Cal Crutchlow had Monster Energy sponsorship in BSB last year, both appear to have carried the dollars over to WSBK & WSS in 09'.

Westy has retained his Monster sponsorship also..

Stiggy Monster Racing?

Monster certainly appear keen to spend some money in motorcycle racing which is nice to see after a few years of disappearing sponsorship $ from two-wheeled racing. I read somewhere rumours of them becoming involved with the Tech3 Yamaha team.

Originally Posted by NinjaMaster

Monster certainly appear keen to spend some money in motorcycle racing which is nice to see after a few years of disappearing sponsorship $ from two-wheeled racing. I read somewhere rumours of them becoming involved with the Tech3 Yamaha team.

I think the Tech3 rumors were that Hopper would replace Edwards and take his monster sponsorship with him.

Originally Posted by ChrisS

I think the Tech3 rumors were that Hopper would replace Edwards and take his monster sponsorship with him.

True but Rossi now having a personal sponsorship deal with them and the fact they also sponsor the Rinaldi Yamaha MX1 team also lends some weight to it. All will be revealed in good time I guess. Be nice to see Tech3 get a sponsor.

Speaking of Rossi's monster sponsorship. Looks like 2.5 mil euro doesn't buy you much ad space on Rossi's helmet, just a small m logo on the side of the visor and a logo at the front. Though Rossi drinking a monster energy drink before and after the race will be a much greater ad than the logos.

big pic, not dial up friendly
http://images.yamaha-racing.com/phot...2120249421.jpg

Not really rumours but Fonsi Nieto will continue with the Alstare Suzuki team (but not with a factory bike) whilst Joan Olive will continue with the factory Derbi team in the 125 class. He joins Pol Espargaro and Efren Vazquez at Bainet Derbi.

note in this pic with the sepang test of caprirex, no rizla sponsorship, are they sponsoring suzuki this year? i know they not sponsoring suzuki in bsb this year, but not in motogp?

http://www.motogp.com/en/photos/2009...at+Sepang+test

still in talks is the last I've heard of it..

I hope not: suzuki's look far better without the Rizla sponsoring..

Originally Posted by Corny

still in talks is the last I've heard of it..

I hope not: suzuki's look far better without the Rizla sponsoring..

However without the Rizla cash perhaps there will be no Suzuki in MotoGP to look at......

Originally Posted by Mach24

However without the Rizla cash perhaps there will be no Suzuki in MotoGP to look at......

Rizla cash was never a big deal for Suzuki. Its believed that Rizla paid very little for the sponsorship, an amount that was more suited for Superbikes than MotoGP.

It's entirely possible that one of the conditions of the BSB Rizla sponsorship was a MotoGP option, whereby they got a bargain deal - I've read that many other teams were extremely unhappy about the Rizla deal as it devalued MotoGP sponsorship for every other team.