that sucks :(
freaking politics, makes me sick.
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that sucks :(
freaking politics, makes me sick.
Kevin Magee on the Australian WSB coverage alluded to Andrew Pitt being offered a BSB Honda ride. One assumes it would be in place of James Ellison at Swan Honda while he recovers from a broken leg.
That is worth taking for Pitty i reckon...
Unofficial: Stoner signs for Repsol Honda
Reports from Italy state the deal's done
Posted: 11 May
NEWSFLASH: Casey Stoner has signed to race for Repsol Honda MotoGP in 2011 - that's the latest from trusted Italian media source SportsMediaSet.it
The Australian is reported to have been lured away by Ducati MotoGP's former manager, Livio Suppo, following months of speculation as to whether Stoner would stop with Ducati.
It's believed Stoner fell out of favour with Ducati bosses over last year's 'mystery illness' which arguably cost the Italian team the 2009 MotoGP title.
It's also alleged the 2007 MotoGP World Champion also became disillusioned with the team after Ducati attempted to poach Jorge Lorenzo from Fiat Yamaha, offering the Spaniard almost double Stoner's reported salary.
Reports also say Ducati have put a two-year deal on the table for Valentino Rossi. The multiple World Champion has until June to decide on whether he wants the offer.
Nothing official, we know but the original source is a trusted one.
We'll keep you posted for definite confirmation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6Cqff0tnwM
Cool - who is he replacing, Pedrosa or Dovi or do they intend to run 3 bikes, haha...
I think the Italian press are being a little mischievous (I will be polite at this stage). Interesting story, but the press know that if you fling enough mud around, some will stick to something....
Info courtesy of Wim_Imprezza
Andrew Pitt rides again
World Supersport champion Andrew Pitt joins Motorpoint Yamaha team
Saturday, June 5th, 2010 http://www.motorpointbsbteam.com/wp-...tt-300x199.jpgDouble World Supersport Champion Andrew Pitt has joined the Motorpoint Yamaha team for the next round of British Superbikes.
The 34 year-old from New South Wales in Australia spent Friday testing at Mallory Park with Rob Mac and the guys, clocking up 40 laps around the famous Leicestershire track. Until recently he had been competing in World Superbikes before the collapse of his Reitwagen Motosport BMW team.
Andrew, who replaces Irishman Ian Lowry, will test the R1 again next week before the season resumes in earnest on June 25.
“I have followed the BSB series and watched the bad luck Rob’s team have had since the injury to Neil,” says Andrew. “Hopefully I can help turn their luck around and get their season going. Rob’s phone call could not have come at a better time. We both need to turn our year around and hopefully Mallory will be the start we both require. I know there is a steep learning curve ahead of me but that is something I enjoy. The bike feels great and I can’t wait for Mallory and the chance to start racing again.”
Adds Rob Mac: “Our intention when we signed Neil Hodgson was to have an experienced race winner alongside a young gun like Dan Linfoot, building a strong team for the season on that basis. Unfortunately, we never had that opportunity.
“With the arrival of Andrew, I have chance to put that back in place. Andrew is a World champion with experience on many machines including Yamaha and we now have an opportunity to give all of our partners the team they were promised and hopefully the results to match. Andrew has to learn the tracks but again he is very experienced and should be able to step up to the challenge.”
Continues Rob Mac: “I am sure Ian Lowry would have settled down with the bike given more time, and under different circumstances we may have had more time. He has his Spanish series to concentrate on and we wish him well with that.
“This has been the most frustrating season I have ever had and I need to do everything I can to get the team working. Andrew will replace Neil as a wise experienced head to help the whole team get back on track whilst Dan will benefit from Andrew’s feedback and experience as well as having someone to share the pressure on race day.”
That's great news. Pitty is too good a rider to not have a ride. Hope he can make a real good fist of things.
Jeremy Burgess was a guest on Channel "One" Australia during the broadcast of the MotoGP races from Silverstone and expressed the view that he believes that 600cc is the way to go for MotoGP to survive and grow.
Yeah, I heard that and disagreed with it. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Rod Richardson
Pretty sure he also mentioned this being Colin Edwards last year in MotoGP.
Have also read that BMW want Marco Melandri in WSB next year with the view to take him back into MotoGP when they are said to join in 2012.
Didn't they say the same about 800cc?
Moto 2 money woes:
Hard times are hitting a few teams including;
JIR Moto2…..Pasini split with the team due to alleged problems with sponsors,
MZ …………Ralf Waldmann has “stepped out of the team” due to lack of funds and having to attend to the mechanical work and
RSM Team Scot…apparently also suffering funding problems.
I personally think that the background of Stoner's departure from Ducati (which seems rather likely at the moment) derives from last year's "illness". I feel that this was the moment, when Ducati might have lost a bit of belief in Stoner and started either consciously or unconsciously looking for a new lead rider, which also has become visible in bike design in order to make it more comfortable to a possible new lead rider. So based on that clearly Casey doesn't feel himself very comfortable in Ducati either any more.
After talk of Jakub Smrz' Team PATA B&G Racing switching to BMW for next year or even the rest of this year, it's just been announced that they've swapped to Ducati's Italian rival - Aprilia. Hopefully this is the competitive bike he deserves.
Pretty much my take on the situation too. I believe Stoner was (rightfully) pretty peeved that Ducati made an almighty bid for Lorenzo last year and the early bike troubles this year wouldn't have helped. Couple Livio Suppo's move to Honda and Stoner's desire to win titles for multiple manufacturers and it all adds up.Quote:
Originally Posted by jens
The first shot of Chris the V's 2011 (and end of 2010?) ride.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/photog...sakiZX-10R.jpg
:lips:
Stealthy...That is one good looking bike....hope it goes as good as it looks.
And not before time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rod Richardson
[img]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MICROS%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png[/img]http://http://www.worldsbk.com/image...saki_ninja.jpg Testing underway
Testing underway with Yanagawa at the helm.
http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/late...aks-cover.html
With Casey signing with Honda, Rossi rumoured to be signing with Ducati, and the logical move up to the Fiat team for Big Ben, I have to ask. Who will Suzuki sign for 2011 ? Surely, they can't keep Loris another year. If they can stretch the budget to include a second team, they may have a chance of fielding a competitive bike in the future. Who then, for Suzuki in 2011 ?
Suzuki's line-up is a good question, but I think Bautista will stay with them. The latest P5 must have been an encouraging result.
Suzuki is a quandry indeed. Bautista should definately stay and ideally team sky-blue should chase one of the aliens as hard as possible. Problem is, none of them would go there regardless of the money thrown at them. So who do they target? Should it be the best up-and-comer from Moto2 or WSB (Iannone, Simon, Luthi, Camier, Crutchlow)? This may make the factory team too 'green' so which experienced rider options are there? DePuniet (surely Tech3 bound), Melandri? Factory money might get them there but their current privateer bikes are more competitive so you would think it would have to be on the promise of a competitive I4 1,000cc bike in 2012. Like Kawasaki, Suzuki need to get serious or get out.
Maybe Suzuki can hire Edwards, if he gets ousted from Tech3 due to underperformance? Generally Suzuki's choice can surely be only a rider, who simply doesn't have many options. I think for instance Elias would be a decent choice if he can't get a better ride.
But overall I'm a bit surprised Suzuki is still participating in MGP by looking at the Japanese exodus in various motorsport series in the last few years. Has the tradition got something to do with it? Suzuki has been racing in the top class of bikes since the 70's.
On the strength of his season last year I would have said that Edwards would be a good choice but to me, it seems that the young guys have passed Colin by, that he would be no better than sticking with Capirossi. Melandri and De Puniet are the new experienced riders but I'm not sure of their skills as riders to develop around.Quote:
Originally Posted by jens
I don't think Edwards would sign with Suzuki again IMO. Jens, you are spot on. Elias would be perfect for the Suzuki gig.BTW, BMW for Motogp in 2011/2012 ?
Karel Abraham to ride a 6th Ducati in MotoGP next year.
Suzuki and Tech3 trying to pinch De Puniet from Checcinello's team for the 2011 season.
Suzuki to withdraw from MotoGP to focus on WSBK!
...and Ducati to quit WSBK to focus on MotoGP!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mach24
Don't talk nonsense. Ducati will still supply Motogp and WSB teams with customer bikes. They will focus all factory support on the Dakar.
There is a suggestion in the link that Suzuki are already being looked after to keep them in GP.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mach24
http://www.autosport.com/features/article.php/id/2934
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/161..._a_ducati.html
Karel Abraham on a private ducati in motogp next season, another ducati o its way then
what an absolute joke!Quote:
Originally Posted by jonny hurlock
politics in the extreme..
i thought motogp was supposed to be the 'pinnacle' of the sport..
:rolleyes:
Can understand that sentiment, but don't entirely agree with it. The more bikes the better, it can only be good for the sport to have another team - sponsors, mechanics, additional tv interest/coverage from Karels corner of the world.
Sure there are a lot of guys who 'deserve' a shot at MotoGP, but it's not a secret that unless you bring your money to this gig, then there's no gig. Tell me it is any different at the pinnacle of 4 wheel racing... of course not, it's worse over there.
And who else really 'deserves' to go to MotoGP, who hasn't already been there? In my mind there's a real dearth of top shelf riders around the world lately.
cal crutchlow could be on his way to tech 3 next season, in mcn newspaper this week other motogp teams could be intrested with him teams such as LCR and Gresini
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/162...favourite.html
Broc Parkes and Echo CRS go their separate ways as from 24th.
Where shall he land this time????
Spies' appointment to Yamaha Moto GP team confirmed at long last.
The WSS Kawasaki team is maybe a possibility for him because Lascorz is injured. Parkes had his best results by far on a WSS machine, so I hope he will return to the World Supersport.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rod Richardson
A good option for both parties. Parkes gets a fast bike and Kawasaki get a front-running supersport rider.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wim_Impreza
By this image, seems Chris Vermeulen's teammate will be Joan Lascorz on the 2011 Kawasaki Superbike.
http://www.mcnews.com.au/NewsArchive...kiWSB_2011.jpg
The WSB silly season is ramping up now that MotoGP is getting finalised. Strong rumour of Melandri signing to ride for Yamaha WSB next year, Toseland or Fabrizio to replace Xaus at BMW, Sykes, Lascorz or Haga to partner Vermeulen at Kawasaki, Althea to become the 'factory' Ducati team next year in a similar arrangement to the Japanese and BMW factories with established teams.
rumour that Randy de Puniet will racing with Rizla Suzuki MotoGP next season.