that is a spot on analogy......... sorry ninja, i use a sledgehammer way too often online :( , when i should use a blow up one instead :p :Quote:
Originally Posted by NinjaMaster
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that is a spot on analogy......... sorry ninja, i use a sledgehammer way too often online :( , when i should use a blow up one instead :p :Quote:
Originally Posted by NinjaMaster
I think this bridgestone tyres thing is getting out of hand, Honda and Yamaha have deep ties with Michelin and aren't going to jump ship at the first sign of trouble, even Rossi personally has benefited greatly from Michelin over the yearsQuote:
Originally Posted by racer69
Besides Michelin may be down this season but a company with its recourses and know how will make a comeback.
That was a month ago this is nowQuote:
Originally Posted by T-D
http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=11147
The Alex de Angelis thing is a tough one.
I think I underrate him - never quite expect him to be in the championship running but then notice just how many second places he does get. Admittedly, one race win in 100+ odd isn't enough, but he has had some horrendous luck in there amongst other things. Pedigree-wise he's not quite a Lorenzo or Dovi, but you could do a lot worse.
Possibly the most interesting mover will be Dovi - aside from Dani he's the only Honda rider in all GP classes to win any races this year, so they will want to hang onto him. But after the nightmare that they've had in the top class this season, will he go there if a D'Antin Ducati came up, for instance?
Could Dovi be a possibility for a Kwak or Suzuki seat? He is sick of not get support from the Honda factory and his only Honda options next year are privateers so would he be keen to go for a factory ride, even at one of the lesser manufacturers?
de Angelis went all the way to Laguna Seca just to watch the racing! That's pretty cool if you ask me.
:laugh: .. And you dont think he would have dropped into a few team garages to let them know he hopes to head into GP's next year? To tell that his services are available and that he hasnt been out of the top four in any race in the 250s this year?Quote:
Originally Posted by The Phantom
Pretty good opportunity with no other 250 riders around IMO.. Surely there was an ulterior motive, other than 'just watching the racing' ;)
alex doesn't have an agent to contact the teams? i'd be surprised that he would have needed to go across the atlantic merely to have some exclusive fac time with the teams.
sometimes being there in person even if its just to shake a few hands smile for the cameras and talk for a few minutes can help you more than an agentQuote:
Originally Posted by T-D
Yeah I'd have to agree Jackal, he was doing a bit of PR while enjoying the Californian sunshine ;)
True - but its hide time he and everyone else stop blaming/crediting tires for the championship standingsQuote:
Originally Posted by ChrisS
Toseland to Yamaha.. Looking likely..
Question is, with what team and as whose teammate?
http://blogger.xs4all.nl/daisy/archi...01/268140.aspx
My guess would be a Michelin shod Tech3 Yamaha alongside Colin Edwards.
Mmm, or it could be that Yamaha start another team? And have Toseland alongside Lorenzo? With Rossi in his own team and Edwards joining Guintoli at Tech 3? Yamaha is set to go full scale and match it with Honda.. ;)
BBC reports he will be racing for Yamaha factory team.
how safe is Guintoli at Tech3? wasn't he there because of Dunlop? though I think he did a good job so far
JT's move does open a massive door of opportunity at Ten Kate, especially with the rumour that they may fancy expanding to four Superbikes as well as the two Supersport machines.
It seems fairly likely that Roby will stay, as he brings a very good sponsor and also has improved markedly over this season as he gets to grips with a four-cylinder bike. We all know he's a smart rider from his time in 250s so should continue to get better.
Kenan seems a shoe-in to move up, strolling as he is to the WSS title with Ten Kate.
As for other possibilities, some thoughts from me:
- Kiyo and/or Jonny Rea to move from BSB to WSB, or Leon Camier for a real outside bet[/*:m:q1o8plo4]
- Michel Fabrizio to go to the top Honda team at Honda's behest[/*:m:q1o8plo4]
- Andrew Pitt to get another shot at WSB following his excellent stand-in WSS rides for Ten Kate this year[/*:m:q1o8plo4]
- Other top WSS runners to move up (Charpentier [prob not], Harms, Jones?)[/*:m:q1o8plo4]
- Or even someone from Superstock 1000?[/*:m:q1o8plo4]
If Ant West isnt in GP next year, then Ten Kate would be silly NOT to look at him as an option for one of those four bikes.. He took it to Sofuoglu during his wildcards in WSS while learning tracks, tyres and the bike and would really go well @ Ten Kate on a big SBK IMO..
Overall though I hope he stays in GPs :) But Ten Kate wouldnt be a bad fallback option at all... (Like Ninja has stated earlier i believe?)
Cheers!
if I was ten kate for next season I would like to buy in with Rolfo is Kiyo because he got exprenince with the bike also a possiable double bsb champ, or if he goes to moto gp (might happen) it will be Johnny Rea (red bull money)Quote:
Originally Posted by patnicholls
Kiyonari is an HRC rider, if he moves to world SBK would that mean HRC support for Ten Kate (or even an HRC team?)
Sofuoglu?
Considering Ten Kate are expanding to four WSBK bikes next year the options are almost endless.. Id bet one of Rea or Camier will get a go.. Kiyo maybe? Ant West, if he isnt in GPs? Barros, Edwards, Pitt?
its likely,though Ten Kate may choose a more experienced rider that can be a title contender from the start. If Ten Kate runs 4 bikes like its rumoured then Sofuoglu could get a seat at the junior team
I think there maybe a few Motogp riders to choose from towards the end of the year. With so many newcomers to Motogp, someone has to leave.
most of the MotoGP guys are midpack riders and midpack riders in MotoGP are pretty much midpak riders in SBK as well
Edwards could be an option if he is out but I dont think he is, he also ruled out SBK
I think Ten Kate should give Fabrizio a seat. He is young but he has been racing for a while now and knows all the circuits
Apparently Ten Kate were to announce the 2008 rider line up at Brands this weekend, but have backed away from doing so.
I must say I was very surprised to see JT on the prime HRC bike at Suzuka only to be followed by an announcement of his move to chief rival Yamaha in the week following.
Seems JT may have pulled a shifty on Honda/Ten Kate?
It will be very interesting to see where Johnny Rea & Kiyo end up in 08'.
rea neil hodgson's have the same manager as jt--roger burnett. he is pushing hard to get rea out of bsb and into wsbk next year because that's the only way to motogp. he was not sanguine about neil's options in wsbk however.
leon haslam was also in the paddock stoking rumours of airwaves switch to wsbk. leon also wants to be in wsbk again next year.
if ducati have a clue they will dump lanzi for rea or haslam.
Ten Kate WSBK Lineup for 08 as 'rumoured' by Fox commentators:-
1. Kenan Sufoglu
2. Anthony West
3. Robby 'Hanspree' Rolfo
4. Broc Parks
I like the looks of that.. Although, im not completely sure Parkes has prooven himself as a potential regular WSBK front runner.. Id also prefer that Ant stays in GP's.. But as far as a fallback option goes, that looks like a good one...
5. XausQuote:
Originally Posted by tha_jackal
6. Rea
7. Kiyo
8. Brookes
9. Edwards
10 Barros
11 Checa
12 Pitt
I am sure there are a few more sniffing around.........
The commentators also mentioned the return of Virginio Ferrari as the manager of a/the Kawasaki superbike team. I would love to see him return running a new factory squad alongside the current PSG-1 team to add more dept to the field.
It was announced in the past week or two that Kawasaki and PSG were forming a stronger partnership with Factory support for 08'.Quote:
Originally Posted by NinjaMaster
wasn't SBK going to announce whether or not they are going stateside in 2008 and release a provisional calendar at Brands?
Yeah, I see that he has already been taken on as team manager for PSG-1. Hopefully this is the start of a new, more competitive Kawasaki.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mach24
SBK are never very reliable on when they make their announcements. Hopefully they can organise a return to the US.
I agree, Chris - Fabrizio is one of the top Honda guys not on a top bike.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisS
However, it's possible that Brookes could/would perform as well if given access to the top level machinery.
I think Fabrizio's stint in Motogp has given him a boost and I think he will do well in the Ten Kate stable. When looking at his performance at Brands he could do even better on a Ten Kate bike.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Phantom
Ten Kate demand their riders perform at their maximum every race. Have a look at how consistent Toseland has been and Vermeulen before him. Now look at Carpentier the past two years and Sofuglu (sp?) this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rudedawg
Fabrizio is too inconsistent to be considered for Ten Kate - some weeks he is awesome and rides very well (like at Brands last weekend), other weeks he's pretty average.
Andrew Pitt has a pretty good relationship with Ten Kate and did a very good job subbing for Carpentier earlier in the season. Plus he had 2 pretty good seasons with Yamaha Italy. PossibleQuote:
Originally Posted by Mach24
Rea and Kiyo are both contracted with HRC, not sure when those contracts are up, so that may prevent them from going with Ten Kate.
I reckon Brookes will stay with Stiggy next season.
Xaus hasn't raced a 4 cylinder production bike since before the Crimean war - he may be back with the factory Ducati team next season, or will stay with Sterilgarda and ride a 1098 with them.
Checa? Who knows
Edwards? May well still be in motoGP next year
Barros? Could be told to F-off after the way he ditched Klaffi at the end of the 06 season
Just my 2c worth tho
That's a fair comment. He might be one of those riders that needs everything perfect to be comfortable to push hard.Quote:
Fabrizio is too inconsistent to be considered for Ten Kate - some weeks he is awesome and rides very well (like at Brands last weekend), other weeks he's pretty average.
I was wondering about Neukirchner too - he was a rising star not so long ago but now nothing?
None of Vermeulen, Muggeridge, Parkes, Charpentier even Toseland were very consistent before heading to Ten Kate. I think Fabrizio would be a consistent top 5 runner with Ten Kate. Said that, I don't think he will be picked up by them next year.Quote:
Originally Posted by burger
In something a little different, I read also that Valentino Rossi is being investigated by the Italian Tax Office over undeclared income of a possible $90mil(AUD). Perhaps he has been on the dole all this time and his racing has just been a little cash job on the side!
so soup reports that JT's replacement will be ... Neil Hodgson.
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2007/Aug/070807a.htm