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  1. #1
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    Rumour Mill 09/10

    "Last year, we complained about the silly season starting early, yet in 2009 it seems to have started even earlier yet. With a host of young riders on the verge of entering MotoGP, there is already a veritable tsunami of speculation concerning who will be filling which seats next year. Marco Simoncelli and Alvaro Bautista look almost certain to move up to the premier class from 250s, and over in World Superbikes, Ben Spies is widely tipped to move across to MotoGP, while there are even whisperings of a couple of the standout young British riders - such as Leon Haslam and Johnny Rea - taking a chance.

    With all these young guns getting ready to kick the door down, and any increase in the numbers of bikes on the grid extremely unlikely - whether or not the Grand Prix Commission decides to go to a single bike for 2010 - that means that some of the riders already in the series are going to have to make way. Some are safe by virtue of their nationality - James Toseland's seat in MotoGP is safe (though not necessarily his seat at Tech 3) for as long as the BBC has a deal to televise MotoGP, or until another British rider can be found to take his place, and Yuki Takahashi is safe as long as Hiroshi Aoyama decides to stay in the 250cc / Moto2 class next year - but others are less fortunate.

    One possible candidate for the transfer list is Colin Edwards. Despite the fact that the Texan is having a pretty good year and is a fair bet for at least one podium this season, the Yamaha veteran is simply becoming too expensive to maintain. The economic downturn has hit motorcycle sales in the US very hard, and as Yamaha is paying for most of Colin Edwards' considerable salary, it looks unlikely that they will be able or willing to do a similar deal for 2010.

    This leaves Colin Edwards looking elsewhere, most notably towards World Superbikes, a series where he took two World Championships. According to the British weekly Motorcycle News, Edwards is already talking to Aprilia about a return to World Superbikes to ride their impressive RSV4 machine. Edwards has a good relationship with Aprilia, having ridden their terrifying RS3 Cube machine in the early days of MotoGP, and with the demise of the 250 class, the Italian factory is investing an increasing amount of resources in the World Superbike championship.

    Edwards' father confirmed that the Texan has been talking to Aprilia about World Superbikes next year in a post on Colin Edwards' fan forum. Even more interestingly, he also mentioned that Edwards had also been talking to Ducati. Colin senior did state that nothing firm had come from any of these talks so far, but a factory ride is the only place where Edwards would be able to retain anything like his current salary level, and after 6 years in MotoGP, a factory ride in the premier class is highly improbable. This leaves World Superbikes as Edwards most likely option.

    A move to either the Ducati or Aprilia factory teams in World Superbikes faces a good many obstacles, not the least of which is the fact that the teams' current rosters are already well entrenched. If - and it's still a big if, this early in the season - Noriyuki Haga wins the 2009 World Superbike crown, he is unlikely to want to go elsewhere, and even less likely to be sacked. Michel Fabrizio's strong form, allied to Ducati's preference for at least one Italian rider in the factory squad, makes Fabrizio a strong candidate to keep his ride too. Over in the Aprilia garage, Max Biaggi looks like being a firm fixture with the team for next year, and has scored some outstanding results on what is a brand new bike, untested before this season.

    Yet Aprilia looks like being the most likely destination for Edwards, if he does decide to move to World Superbikes. Biaggi's team mate Shinya Nakano has had a solid, if not spectacular season, scoring top ten finishes where Biaggi has been top five. Aprilia may well feel that a rider with the amount of development experience that Colin Edwards has would be a better bet for helping to develop the still new RSV4.

    Of course, this is still just early speculation, based on early reports of talks. Deals are a very, very long way from being signed yet, and a couple of podiums - or better yet, a win or two - could completely turn Colin Edwards' position in MotoGP around. There's still a long way to go before contract season begins in earnest."

    http://www.motogpmatters.com/news/20...k_in_2010.html
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  2. #2
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    Nice work Jake, I was thinking we needed this thread the other day.

    Also from MotoGPmatters, talk of Talmacsi and Pasini making a direct team swap after Toth, Aspar and Talmacsi's manager were seen in discussions in the Toth team hospitality tent.
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  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by NinjaMaster
    Nice work Jake, I was thinking we needed this thread the other day.

    Also from MotoGPmatters, talk of Talmacsi and Pasini making a direct team swap after Toth, Aspar and Talmacsi's manager were seen in discussions in the Toth team hospitality tent.
    i heard Gábor Talmácsi could be going to scot racing motogp team for the second rider for the rest of the season, while jorge lorenzo to honda in 2010
    GP2 Pickems Champion 2006, MotoGP Pickems Champion 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

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    Yuki Takahashi could be out after Catalunya, honda hasn't back him, also because of Gábor Talmácsi money coming in

    also Marco Simoncelli could be on a honda with Gresini next season (note rookies for motogp will not be allowed on work bikes next season expect suzuki no satellite bike)
    GP2 Pickems Champion 2006, MotoGP Pickems Champion 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

  5. #5
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    Simoncelli announced he will be Yamaha or Honda mounted next year in MotoGP and told Ducati thanks but no thanks. Speaking to Gresini and Tech 3.

    Bautista to Tech 3 or Suzuki.

    Vermeulen said to have talked to Tech 3 also.

    Aspar announced he will run a MotoGP team next year though no manufacturer confirmed. Likely Yamaha or Ducati though both are stretched for resources as is. Replace Tech 3 as Yamaha's satellite team with Tech 3 to concentrate on Moto2? Maybe take over of Gibernau's team? Or perhaps, out of left field, a take over of Hayate with Kawasaki support (my own hypothectical given most other avenues look almost as unlikely)?

    Casey Stoner to enter negotiations with Ducati for 2010. Also, Lorenzo and Pedrosa to stay put next year as well.

    Surely the only spot left for Ben Spies on the MotoGP grid is Suzuki?

    Toseland I would imagine would be saved by Dorna wanting a Brit on the grid. He of course still has the rest of the season to pull up his socks and prove he belongs there as well.

    Barry Veneman to complete WSS this year on Andrew Pitt's 2008 bikes.

    Lots of variations and water to pass under the bridge before the season is out.
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    Quote Originally Posted by NinjaMaster

    Barry Veneman to complete WSS this year on Andrew Pitt's 2008 bikes.
    At present, Andrew Pitt will be asking for those back for himself!
    "Of course, what many people tend to forget is that Glen Richards was 2nd in the 1993 Australian 125cc championship" - Jack Burnicle on BSB at Snetterton, June 2008

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    marco simoncelli has signed for gresini honda in motogp for 2010..

    see more @ http://www.motogp.com
    I opened up all the windows..the air is cold, the tub is boiling hot..It's like Sweden, man. Sweden!

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by tha_jackal
    marco simoncelli has signed for gresini honda in motogp for 2010..

    see more @ http://www.motogp.com
    So, I guess De Angelis will make the way, or was this the last straw for Toni Elias on a factory bike?

    And I don't know if Tech 3 wanted Marco, but if they did, then I don't know whether this is a wise choice on Simoncelli's part, because clearly Yamaha is the best bike right now.

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    Tech3 did indeed want Marco but have had to open discussions with Alvaro following the revelations that Simoncelli was having talks with Gresini. You would assume that the clincher for Gresini is for Marco to get Elias' factory bike instead of a customer Yamaha and perhaps he sees a more direct path to a full factory ride with Honda than Yamaha?
    It narrows things down for Bautista and Spies.
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    Do TV rights fit in with the rumour mill thread??

    Australian Auto Action reports that One (Channel 10) in Australia has secured exclusive rights for MotoGP for the next 5 years.

    Is this only for free-to-air, or will this affect FOX Sports live coverage which they have had of every class since 1997?

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