Rumours Mills 2008/09

[ChrisS]

Kawasaki has officially confirmed that Marco Melandri will ride for them in 2009

[jim mcglinchey]

Good luck Marco!

[patnicholls]

At the completely ridiculous (probably) end of the rumour mill, Angel Rodriguez (ex-125s, now leading the Spanish CEV Supersport championship) to Alice Ducati next year?

http://www.bikesportnews.com/article...-SEAT_PUZZLE_1

To be fair, that'd be quite nice to see - Angel - through Matt/mx311 - has competed in our very own Fantasy League a couple of years ago, as are a couple of riders this year who did not wish to be named. Especially since one of them's in last position!

[jonny hurlock]

whats going on with nakano and Ben Spies for next season? ive heard elias is off to Gresini, heard spies could be staying in ama for next season with yamaha?

[ChrisS]

LCR Honda will continue in MotoGP in 2009 with Randy de Puniet. de Puniet was on a 2 year contract for 2008-09 and Honda agreed to supply the team with bikes (and I'm guessing if they will run de Puniet, lots of spare parts) for 2009

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/C...ement+for+2009

[ChrisS]

whats going on with nakano and Ben Spies for next season? ive heard elias is off to Gresini, heard spies could be staying in ama for next season with yamaha?

Do you have a source for Spies staying in AMA with Yamaha?

Yamaha is the only manufacturer that said they will support the AMA/DMG series next season. It will be a great blow to the manufacturers if their star rider and champion chooses to stay to AMA rather than following them to the new USSB series

[NinjaMaster]

Pretty sure I read an interview from Spies that said he wouldn't be racing in the U.S. no matter what with the current situation. Dunno what worthy options are left for him in MotoGP or WSB though.

[MrJan]

Steve Parrish on BBC said that SPies was all but confirmed as an AMA rider with Yamaha next season with the gurantee of MotoGP after that.

Suzi Perry also said that Elias was a Gresini rider next year and that he never rides for the same team for 2 years

[tha_jackal]

Spies has priced himself out of the MotoGP market for now.. Greedy b'stard.. Anywho, Yamaha in 2010 with a few more wildcards next year sounds pretty good IMO..

[Ranger]

Correct me if I'm wrong but this is what we have so far for 2009:

Fiat Yamaha:
#46 Rossi (the champ going into '09)
#48 Lorenzo

Marlboro Ducati Corse:
#27 Stoner
#69 Hayden

Repsol Honda:
#2 Pedrosa
#4 Dovisioso (open secret here)

Rizla Suzuki:
#7 Vermeulen
#65 Capirossi

Monster Kawasaki:
#21 Hopkins
#33 Melandri

Honda Gresini:
#24 Toni Elias
-vacant- (but probably #56 Nakano)

Tech 3 Yamaha:
#5 Edwards
#52 Toseland (have they both been confirmed?)

Alice Ducati:
-vacant-
-vacant-

Team Scot:
-vacant-

New team??
-vacant-

Simoncelli, Kallio and Bautista are probably in contention for those last 4-5 vacant seats along with AdA, RdP, Guintoli and West.