World Superbikes and Supersport 2007
Here's my outline list for WSB 2007:
Xerox Ducati - Bayliss & Lanzi
Caracchi Ducati - ??
Sterilgarda Ducati - Xaus & ?? (Iannuzzo??/Giovanni Bussei?)
Pedercini Ducati - Dean Ellison & ?? (Clementi??)
Foggy Ducati?? (Hodgson?? & ??)
Alstare Suzuki - Biaggi & Kagayama
Alstare Engineering Suzuki - Neukirchner??
Celani Suzuki - Alessandro Polita
Yamaha Italia - Haga & Corser
Yamaha France - Nakatomi & ??
PSG-1 Kawasaki - Nieto & Laconi
Ten Kate Honda - Toseland & Rolfo
Klaffi Honda - ?? & ??
DFX Honda - Fabrizio & Martin
Bertocchi Honda - Brookes & Muggeridge
Any other new teams/WSS teams moving up, although I think all the WSS riders are bizarrely staying there so far.
Riders probably looking for work or possible: Pitt, Hodgson, Neukirchner, Craig Jones, and others.
Riders who have retired: Frankie Chili (to be DFX manager), Norick Abe (to be a development rider in Japan), Marco Borciani (to manage Sterilgarda Ducati without riding anymore).
Steve Martin dropped from DFX team
From mcnews.com.au
Steve Martin was today unexpectedly informed that his ride with the DFX Honda World Superbike team was no longer available, due to lack of finances for the Italian squad.
Just days before being due to leave his home in Switzerland for the next round of the championship at Donington in the UK, the vastly experienced Aussie rider was clearly disappointed and bemused by the news, commenting, Im absolutely gutted. Not just for me but also my whole bike crew.
Just before the start of the season I was reassured by DFX that they definitely had sufficient money to run both me and Fabrizio for the whole year, and on that basis I decided to continue with the team, despite still having other options of rides at that time. So to now be told, just two races into the season, that the team doesnt actually have enough budget is unbelievable and puts me in a position that could have been avoided.
Its also so disappointing after how much progress weve made with the bike during testing over the off-season, to now not be able to progress with that and turn it into some good results.
But most of all Im a racer and just want to race, as I know Im as capable and competitive as ever to run with the front of the field.
Ive obviously spent the day on the phone talking to everyone to try and secure funding or avenues for another ride, but as expected, so early into the season is not the time of the year to be trying to find either of those.
The DFX team will continue to run with team-mate Fabrizio in the 2007 Superbike World Championship as he is a Honda Europe rider, and therefore financed from that source.
Steve will still be at Donington for the third round of the championship on 30/31 March - 1 April, and plans to remain in Europe for the remainder of the racing season, rather than return to his native Australia, in order to try and secure sponsorship or an alternative place on the World Superbike grid.