Yamaha reshuffle

[Wim_Impreza]

Does anyone know what Andrew Pitt is currently up to????

Yes, he will ride in the British Superbikes in Mallory Park as a replacement of Ian Lowry.

[rallyrazz]

it would be great to see sete gibernau take the vacent Yamaha bike

[Cryogeneric]

I see a lot of people saying Spies can't take the seat because of the rookie rule... but the rookie rule doesn't actually stipulate anything about being a "replacement rider". If he can't, than neither can anyone else that doesn't have at least 9 GP races of experience. This of course includes test riders and makes the choice of replacement riders very limiting.

That being said, I don't think Spies or Edwards will move up. Spies would have to decide whether he wants to stick with Houseworth or work with Burgess and this creates a very difficult situation. I think it will be a former retired GP rider. McCoy or Nakano come to mind.... Rossi would likely request that Gibernau NOT be his ringer.

[AndyRAC]

I wonder if Dorna will have any influence in this decision? If so, it's likely to be an Italian/ Spanish rider.........yet another one!

[patnicholls]

I see a lot of people saying Spies can't take the seat because of the rookie rule... but the rookie rule doesn't actually stipulate anything about being a "replacement rider". If he can't, than neither can anyone else that doesn't have at least 9 GP races of experience. This of course includes test riders and makes the choice of replacement riders very limiting.

That being said, I don't think Spies or Edwards will move up. Spies would have to decide whether he wants to stick with Houseworth or work with Burgess and this creates a very difficult situation. I think it will be a former retired GP rider. McCoy or Nakano come to mind.... Rossi would likely request that Gibernau NOT be his ringer.

Yes, I'd heard the '9 race' thing elsewhere - and of course there have been four races this season, Spies has done four previously (Donington, Laguna and Indy with Suzuki in 2008, plus Valencia last year) so after one more with Tech 3 he'll have nine under his belt. I'd say he'll take it (because he's part of the future - Edwards is a faithful servant but they've been there before), Ben will be allowed his guys in but Burgess will come alongside.

I think Sete's time has been and gone - great rider (clear 2nd best of the 990 era) but it was over in 2006, really. Likewise Nakano who suffered with injuries last year and faded out, and McCoy's time at the front of a MotoGP field has also sadly passed.

[NinjaMaster]

I think Sete's time has been and gone - great rider (clear 2nd best of the 990 era) but it was over in 2006, really. Likewise Nakano who suffered with injuries last year and faded out, and McCoy's time at the front of a MotoGP field has also sadly passed.

Agreed.

According to Julian Ryder, a Tech3 rider is the most likely replacement, though not Spies or Edwards but Yuki Takahashi.

[Cryogeneric]

Agreed.

According to Julian Ryder, a Tech3 rider is the most likely replacement, though not Spies or Edwards but Yuki Takahashi.

Well, Yuki didn't complete 9 races so he's still technically a rookie. If he rides as a wild card, the rules state that a rider can only wild card up to three races maximum. So, that would eliminate Yuki if Rossi is out for more than three races.

The truth is, the rules don't stipulate restrictions on "replacement" riders. So if there are no restrictions, then Ben can do it. But if Ben can't because the rookie rule, than neither can Yuki or any other rider that hasn't completed 9 races. As for wild card rides, those are 3 races max.... so who knows what's going to happen, but I do believe Dorna will come up with some rules regards replacement riders.

[racer69]

Haven't the team indicated they won't bother replacing him until they have to (ie..Dorna will make them after 3 races?)

I think Spies is better off staying on the Tech3 bike for the moment

[NinjaMaster]

Well, Yuki didn't complete 9 races so he's still technically a rookie. If he rides as a wild card, the rules state that a rider can only wild card up to three races maximum. So, that would eliminate Yuki if Rossi is out for more than three races.

The truth is, the rules don't stipulate restrictions on "replacement" riders. So if there are no restrictions, then Ben can do it. But if Ben can't because the rookie rule, than neither can Yuki or any other rider that hasn't completed 9 races. As for wild card rides, those are 3 races max.... so who knows what's going to happen, but I do believe Dorna will come up with some rules regards replacement riders.

It wouldn't mean Yuki is eliminated, just that he's restricted to only 3 races and they would have to find another rider. Assuming, of course, that they follow the rules, though Dorna have been known to do a little 'moulding' or look away from time to time.

Haven't the team indicated they won't bother replacing him until they have to (ie..Dorna will make them after 3 races?)

I think Spies is better off staying on the Tech3 bike for the moment

I would imagine that Fiat and the other sponsors would be keen to see two bikes on the track to represent their $$$$.

I agree about Spies. Continuity with the same bike and team for the year is best for his development. It's hard enough without jumping back and forth between teams.

[ShiftingGears]

I agree about Spies. Continuity with the same bike and team for the year is best for his development. It's hard enough without jumping back and forth between teams.

On the flipside, he could learn a thing or two working with riders and engineers of Yamaha Factory Team calibre, which could be quite beneficial to him.