Rumours Mills 2008/09

**leopard** · 9th Jul 08, 08:04

The idea is good.

This might have tendency not to teach the riders certain level of loyalties to teams. They would do at their utmost for the money, not because they perform the job as they are part of community and each personal have their own tasks all of which would do the job with pride.

Incidental bonuses maybe a way-out, team may give riders incentive once they can perform their job exceeding certain minimum target, contract can mention the rules or enough a verbal agreement, but the number is not mentioned explicitly therein.

**ChrisS** · 9th Jul 08, 10:06

Thats not a new trend. performance bonuses are common practise for unproven riders.

Rod Richardson · 13th Jul 08, 06:12

Harley Davidson has apparently signed to purchase 100% of the shares in MV Agusta/Cagiva and deal should be finalised in several weeks.
Could be interesting to see how things unfold over the remainder of the year.
On the Aussie scene, Kev Curtain's finishing positions on Trinder's MV Augusta are on the improve. Scored 2 x fifth placings at Lakeside Queensland yesterday.

**Mach24** · 14th Jul 08, 08:07

Originally Posted by Rod Richardson

Scored 2 x fifth placings at Lakeside Queensland yesterday.

Lakeside closed many years back, the racing was at Queensland Raceway near Ipswich.

Rod Richardson · 14th Jul 08, 08:18

Originally Posted by Mach24

Lakeside closed many years back, the racing was at Queensland Raceway near Ipswich.

Ahhh well...........Another case of my fingers going faster than my brain....shows how old I am. I can't remember when I last forgot anything.

**ChrisS** · 14th Jul 08, 13:18

So HD Agusta then, I wonder what they will do with the 2 extra exhaust pipes on the F4

**racer69** · 16th Jul 08, 08:19

Originally Posted by Rod Richardson

Ahhh well...........Another case of my fingers going faster than my brain....shows how old I am. I can't remember when I last forgot anything.

DOn't worry, its much better to think of them racing at Lakeside than watching them at QR (not that i think QR is that bad of a track, just that Lakeside was one of the best in Australia, even with the motorcycle bus stop they had round the back)

**Roby44** · 16th Jul 08, 08:57

Lakeside.....I can remember that!!

Team Stranglers...

**neninja** · 19th Jul 08, 10:38

Yamaha have confirmed that Rossi has signed a new contract

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Jul/080718j.htm

**T-D** · 19th Jul 08, 13:58

anyone else hear about the toni elias to wsbk yamaha italia replacing corser?

**jonny hurlock** · 20th Jul 08, 01:40

Originally Posted by T-D

anyone else hear about the toni elias to wsbk yamaha italia replacing corser?

interesting, his not had a good season on the alice team this season at all

http://moto.gpupdate.net/en/news/200...maha-contract/

glad to see edwards staying on the tech3 yahama for the near future

Rod Richardson · 26th Jul 08, 08:57

I missed this article in June but thought it may be of interest to members.

Damo Cudlin Wins on Weird Prototype Kalex AV1 Scores Pole and Victory in Pro Thunder... World Endurance regular Damian Cudlin has been filling his time between endurance races by competing – with some success – in the IDM German Supersport Championship. After this weekend, he can also add “winning Pro Thunder races” to his cv.

Damian gave the prototype Kalex AV1 it’s dream road race debut with pole position and the race win at the first round of the German Pro Thunder Championships at Schliez. The AV1 uses an Aprillia Mille engine, but the the KALEX engineering company have designed and built the rest of the machine from the ground up. The bike uses a computer designed frame, swingingarm, and Carbon Fibre body. Cudlin has taken on a development role in the team and he surprised the paddock with the new bike's rapid increase of speed. After a timid start, the KALEX team transformed the bike over the practice sessions as Cudlin got comfortable with the unique machine.

“This bike is really unlike anything else I’ve ever ridden. It’s incredibly light weight and it’s braking power is mind blowing. It’s also one of the most agile bikes I’ve ever ridden. It’s a buzz to ride.” Using the final qualifying session as a chance to 'see what this thing could do' Cudlin stormed to pole position. “Getting pole was a real surprise as we were really treating it all as a testing session, but once I got comfy on it, I really wanted to see what the bike was capable of. It sure surprised a few people.”

Action photo: Dennis Witschef
Starting from pole, Cudlin blasted into the lead and was never headed in the 12 lap race, winning by 5 seconds and leaving a hoard of Ducati 1098’s in its wake. “I’m really happy to have steered the AV1 to its first race win and am so pleased for the KALEX crew. They’ve really done a great job with this machine and I’m really excited to be playing a part in something with so much potential. I’m sure this won’t be their last race win.”

Cudlin will do more development work with the KALEX group as plans for production of more AV1’s grows.

**Dr. Gellar** · 28th Jul 08, 05:40

What a coincidence!

While thinking about some MotoGP-related issues and threads, I remembered this bike and started checking out information about it yesterday and this morning. Glad to hear they have been successful racing it so far...very cool!!

**leopard** · 28th Jul 08, 05:46

Would they be another Ilmor, with their short project in motogp?

**Dr. Gellar** · 28th Jul 08, 05:57

Originally Posted by leopardsleeping

Would they be another Ilmor, with their short project in motogp?

If they were to compete in what MotoGP is now...probably. They would need to come up with a "prototype" engine for the bike if so. I'm guessing this team is even smaller than what Ilmor was or would have been. It's too bad, cause it would be really good for MotoGP if smaller efforts such as these guys, if they were interested (as well as former teams such as Team Roberts, WCM and Ilmor), could compete. But the way things seem to be at the moment, only big factories and manufacturers can play. And even they can't seem to fill the grid unfortunately...

**leopard** · 28th Jul 08, 06:27

Originally Posted by Dr. Gellar

If they were to compete in what MotoGP is now...probably. They would need to come up with a "prototype" engine for the bike if so. I'm guessing this team is even smaller than what Ilmor was or would have been. It's too bad, cause it would be really good for MotoGP if smaller efforts such as these guys, if they were interested (as well as former teams such as Team Roberts, WCM and Ilmor), could compete. But the way things seem to be at the moment, only big factories and manufacturers can play. And even they can't seem to fill the grid unfortunately...

If they are frightened of that the japanese bikes and those are currently competing in motogp, why wouldn't they try the smaller classes which the top-4 manufacturers didn't pay the same focus as they give for motogp. It seems more they come without a clear and proven concept that they can survive any longer rather than only entering motogp as an acid test case.

**Dr. Gellar** · 28th Jul 08, 06:59

Originally Posted by leopardsleeping

If they are frightened of that the japanese bikes and those are currently competing in motogp, why wouldn't they try the smaller classes which the top-4 manufacturers didn't pay the same focus as they give for motogp. It seems more they come without a clear and proven concept that they can survive any longer rather than only entering motogp as an acid test case.

From what I get looking at their website and reading elsewhere, this is a VERY small effort, as in just a few guys working on this project in their spare time. I'm guessing they are very content racing in Germany's Pro Thunder series at the moment. I'd doubt they have any intentions of actually competing in MotoGP (just a guess), but what they've done is still nothing short of amazing and totally cool!!

**ChrisS** · 28th Jul 08, 10:25

I think they just 2 guys making their own bike. Their initial intention was just to make their own bike for them to ride. If they do go into production they will probably have to use more standard parts to pass as road legal and save on costs. Their Aprilia/Rotax RSV engine is about to go out of production too.

**leopard** · 28th Jul 08, 11:13

If not, they only modified here and there one of existing bikes to meet standard requirement of racing. Modification may include engine bore-up, or cannibalize the original part with those designed specifically for racing. Then they name the bike with their own. It doesn't seem easy to run a project producing bike for personal use from economic point of view.

**ChrisS** · 19th Aug 08, 15:41

So as far as I can tell this is how the grid looks so far. confirmed riders in bold. I have no idea whats going on with Alice and LCR so if anyone else can fill that please do

Yamaha
Valentino Rossi
Jorge Lorenzo

Repsol Honda
Dani Pedrosa
Andrea Dovizioso

Ducati Marlboro
Casey Stoner
Nicky Hayden

Tech 3 Yamaha Team
Colin Edwards
James Toseland

Rizla Suzuki
Chris Vermeulen
Loris Capirossi
Ben Spies*

San Carlo Honda Gresini
Shinya Nakano
Ben Spies*
Marco Melandri**

JiR Honda***
Alex de Angelis

Team Scot Honda***
Yuki Takahashi

Kawasaki Racing Team
John Hopkins
Marco Melandri**

LCR Honda

Aspar Suzuki/Kawasaki/Ducati

* American Honda seems to be willing to help meet Spies financial demands inorder to have an American rider on a Honda bike

** Melandri favours Kawasaki because he feels he will be able to have a direct impact to the bike development rather than waiting for HRC to hand him down parts

*** Scot and JiR will split next season. Scot wants to run their own team most likely moving their 250cc rider to MotoGP. Montiron (JiR's manager) said he also plans to run a team next season