MCN reports that Edwards agreed to join Tech3 Yamaha
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sp...chthreeyamaha/
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MCN reports that Edwards agreed to join Tech3 Yamaha
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sp...chthreeyamaha/
alex de andelis may stay in 250cc with aspar again for next year, however, he could be driving with parmac or gresini
MCN online today reports that Colin Edwards will be at Tech 3 next season, and Sylvain Guintoli will be at D'Antin Ducati - both 'pre-contract' agreements.
Rumour mill update time:
On the World Superbike side of things Ruben Xaus has been offered a new 1098 Ducati for next year but not a spot on the factory team but rather for him to continue on the Sterilgarda team. He is also high up on the Ten Kate list.
Also Fonsi Nieto has been linked to Ten Kate but also the Alstare Suzuki team to replace Max Neukirchner on the Suzuki Europe bike. He's also been linked to the Kawasaki MotoGP team and of course to stay at the soon to be factory PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki team.
Carlos Checa is linked to the PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki team for 2008. Not sure if this is to replace Nieto or Regis Laconi or to ride a third bike.
Ten Kate is supposedly going to be split into two teams, a full HRC team and the usual Hannspree mob. Ryo Kiyonari is likely at the HRC team (although is also linked to LCR Honda) while Kenan Sofuoglu is likely to join Roby Rolfo at the Hannspree team. The other bike is anyones guess at the moment (I've heard Carlos Checa, Shinya Nakano and Makoto Tamada's names mentioned alongside many others)
Meanwhile in MotoGP. It looks like all but three rides are now spoken for (not counting Team KR who may or may not be back). So this is the way 2008 is shaping up.
HONDA
Repsol HRC - Nicky Hayden & Dani Pedrosa
Gresini - Toni Elias & Alex de Angeles (was supposed to be announced at Brno, but wasn't)
Konica JiR - Shinya Nakano
LCR - TBA
YAMAHA
Fiat Yamaha - Valentino Rossi & Jorge Lorenzo (may be with Fortuna branding)
Tech3 - Colin Edwards & James Toseland
DUCATI
Marlboro Ducati - Casey Stoner & Marco Melandri
D'Antin - Sylvain Guintoli & TBA (Guintoli not signed but likely)
SUZUKI
Rizla Suzuki - Chris Vermuelen & Loris Capirossi
KAWASAKI
Kawasaki MotoGP - John Hopkins & TBA
That means only three rides left (supposing de Angeles, Guintoli and Nakano do as expected). And that leaves six current riders fighting for those three rides (Ant West, Randy de Puniet, Carlos Checa, Alex Barros, Alex Hofmann, Makoto Tamada) plus any other 250 rider looking to step up (Andrea Dovizioso) or superbike rider switching series (Fonsi Nieto, Michel Fabrizio, Ryo Kiyonari).
Now completely "things I've heard" rather than "things that have some solid proof" it seems that Dovi has his pick of D'Antin Ducati or LCR Honda, Randy de Puniet has the inside running at Kawasaki and Alex Barros or Alex Hofmann have the best bets at D'Antin (if Dovi chooses Honda). Outside of Dovi and Kiyo, I'm not sure who else is on LCR's radar (although someone told me de Puniet and West were).
OK, that's all for now. ;)
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2007/Aug/070819-rds.htmQuote:
Originally Posted by patnicholls
Edwards: Has He Or Hasn't He?
by staff
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Edwards--has he or hasn't he signed to race MotoGP in 2008?
There are news reports from England that claim Colin Edwards II has signed to be James Toseland's teammate on the 2008 Tech 3 Yamaha team.
If he has signed to ride there next season it will have a huge impact on the current US silly season.
Update: knowledgeable sources say that as of 9:00 PM Sunday night in Brno that Colin Edwards hadn't signed to race anywhere in 2008.
I think you're right, I don't think Colin Edwards has signed for anyone yet it's just everyone expects him too. I mean Valentino Rossi has made it clear he wants Colin to stay at Yamaha, Colin wants to stay at Yamaha and the only seat left is at Tech3. I'd be really, really surprised if he doesn't sign with them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mach24
I forgot to mention in my post above that Sergio Gadea has resigned with the Aspar Aprilia team for 2008. He will remain in the 125 class. Gabor Talmacsi is expected to step up to the Aspar 250 team to replace Alex de Angeles if de Angeles goes to Gresini as expected.
"Kawasaki will not look beyond current riders Randy de Puniet or Anthony West to be John Hopkins' teammate next year, autosport.com has learned, with a decision expected in the next two weeks.
The Japanese manufacturer is understood to be reluctant to run a third bike next season, having invested heavily in luring Hopkins for 2008, so the team are now finalising who to put on their second machine.
There have been rumours linking Carlos Checa or Shinya Nakano with the second ride, but autosport.com understands that the team are only considering de Puniet or West.
A decision is expected after the next race at Misano in two weeks' time.
Although de Puniet has had the better results, there are suggestions that West has put a better case forward considering he has only had one day of testing since joining the team at the British Grand Prix.
The Australian is to have a further two-day test at Brno today and tomorrow, with the focus being on qualifying tyres. He has struggled so far to extract the single lap pace from the rubber."
Hope Ant can test well and then use his knowledge of the Misano circuit to push the teams confidence in his favour.. DePuniet crashing a bit more would help too, joking, joking.. But not really :lol: ..
I reckon Kawasaki are mad if they don't chase Dovizioso really hard. As much as I love Westy and dePuniet shows some speed, neither of them have ever been title contenders before (for one reason or another) and Dovi is a 125 World Champ and clearly the next best to Lorenzo in 250.
Kevin Magee mentioned last night that Carlos Chuca was likely to be riding a Kwak superbike next year. I'd rather they chase Guintoli, Hoffman or West out of GP or even Neukirchner or Roger-Lee Hayden.
Kawasaki couldnt afford Capirossi (after signing Hopper) I highly doubt they could afford Dovi (being a young hot prospect).. Plus, Andrea will remain loyal to Honda, im sure.. Honda will come good in the long run and IMO, Dovizioso will be riding for Gresini or LCR Honda come 2008... DeAngelis will end up riding for the Honda team that Dovi doesn't (if that makes sense) .. Id love to see Ant join Sylvain (rumouredly signed) at D'antin, it would be a real 'ex 250cc privateer battlers team' heheh..
I can't see Dovi commanding a pricetag as big as Loris and most reports are he's pretty annoyed that Honda basically give him no assistance in his quest to win the 250 World title. Unless Honda give him assurance that he will get Nicky's ride in 09, I think the lure of being in a factory team rather than an also-ran Honda privateer team would be a significant carrot. Not saying it will happen but Kawasaki should make a big play for him.
A West/Guintoli pairing at D'Antin would be fantastic and greatly deserved for each rider. It would give top privateers hope that hard work can pay off.