Silly season 2013

[Squidpuppet]

Marquez and Honda may not be the only beneficiaries of dropping the rookie rule for 2013, according to MotoCuatro Ducati is thinking about signing Espargaro in case Rossi leaves.

Pol or Aleix?

[dave_m]

Marquez and Honda may not be the only beneficiaries of dropping the rookie rule for 2013, according to MotoCuatro Ducati is thinking about signing Espargaro in case Rossi leaves.

Pol or Aleix?

Pol Espargaro

[RatsMC]

Re. the Rookie rule, looks like it is going to be another case of 'Honda wants so Honda gets'.

Rather, this is Repsol getting what Repsol wants. Dorna's primary interest is in attracting and keeping sponsors. Deep pockets like Repsol get what they want.

[Gar]

In this case Gresini and LCR are getting what they want too.

[MiniNinjaMk5]

I was under the impression that most of the teams are almost entirely financed by the factories? Read an article recently in an old RiDE magazine on the loss of Tobacco sponsorship and how it has knocked the wind out of the sport, even the likes of Repsol are barely paying for a fraction of what it costs to run a team. I'll see if I can get the magazine out and find a figure.

Marquez and Honda may not be the only beneficiaries of dropping the rookie rule for 2013, according to MotoCuatro Ducati is thinking about signing Espargaro in case Rossi leaves.

Pol or Aleix?

Pol Espargaro

Surely his brother will warn him about that bike?

Watching Hayden at Silverstone on Sunday it seemed obvious that to make the bike fast, it has to be ridden consistently 'over the edge' - coming within 0.001% of crashing and not actually doing so was Stoner's speciality on that bike, and Rossi has freely admitted he is not willing of doing that (whether he is capable of it or not). So perhaps another hot young talent is the only way for Ducati.. really, I can't see anyone who already has a career to risk following in Rossi's footsteps. Although I would like to see Pedrosa have a go on it

[Cam D]

I wonder if Dorna might relax the four maufacturer (prototype) bikes only rule? That would open things up a bit. The Bradley Smith situation also makes me wonder if the manufacturers will weigh in on the CRT gig. I could see Honda and Yamaha putting in a team.

[TwoStroke Institute]

I was under the impression that most of the teams are almost entirely financed by the factories? Read an article recently in an old RiDE magazine on the loss of Tobacco sponsorship and how it has knocked the wind out of the sport, even the likes of Repsol are barely paying for a fraction of what it costs to run a team. I'll see if I can get the magazine out and find a figure.

Factories cover factory teams costs namely paying for a alien rider, costs more or less the same for a CRT, sattelite and factory team to attend a GP. Gresini and LCR have budgets propped up by Dorna as a slice of TV revenues. Bunger money NEVER covered the costs of racing, what it did allow was more $$ for R&D and promotion, which factories have funded. The downside of bunger money was it sent rider salaries to astronomical levels.
Ducati is still the best funded team with 66% of it's costs covered by Marlboro and other sponsors

[Zaphod]

.............what's this about Honda not being averse to Rossi on a full factory sattelite bike (Gresini) ?


Does this bode for an interesting development sometime shortly after Laguna ?

[dave_m]

.............what's this about Honda not being averse to Rossi on a full factory sattelite bike (Gresini) ?
Does this bode for an interesting development sometime shortly after Laguna ?

Nakamoto ruled out Rossi riding for the Repsol HRC team a couple times, but said Rossi at a satellite team (Gresini or other) would be possible. Exactly what spec of bike they are willing to support is still a little unknown though, although I can't see Rossi going unless it's got factory support. After Lorenzo resigned with Yamaha, I think this is by far Rossi's best chance at a competitive ride next year. I think Bautista might be out regardless if HRC already have two Spanish riders (Pedrosa/Marquez) on the Repsol team.

EDIT: I'll post mine a bit, but anyone else have any lineup predictions for next season? I'm breaking them into "this is what I think the team lineups will be" and "this is what I want the team lineups will be".

[Zaphod]

Rossi to pull the pin on the Duc experience shortly after Laguna.

Annouces he will ride a factory spec Honda for Gresini. Brings enough $$$ with him to make it a two bike team and rides alongside Alvaro.

Re-discovers some of his mojo due to enjoying being a thorn in the side of Marquez, Pedrosa and HRC.

Spies to I don't know where..........Crutchlow joins Factory Yamaha effort with Lorenzo.


Espargaro decides to stay another year in Moto2, rather than commit career suicide by riding a Duc.

Duc elevate Erratic the Tow Truck to the full factory bike, where-upon he finishes 7th to 5th, and crashes out when he is running any higher in the order.

.........leading to numerous hrs of forum debating as to why he got the seat instead of KA, Espargaro, RdP.....and any number of other hypothesies.

....Including many statistical arguments to prove that all Ducati's problems are, in fact, Rossi's fault.




Vermeullen to a CRT team........or........

Vermeullen and Espargaro to Suzuki in 2014.


Pedrosa to stay at HRC till 2014, then HRC pull out the "wall" from retirement and make Bradl Marquez's team mate.


Iannone to ride alongside Dovi 2013/2014 at Tech 3.

[Gar]

Spies to I don't know where..........Crutchlow joins Factory Yamaha effort with Lorenzo.

I think Crutchlow has made it pretty clear that he won't be on a Yamaha next season. I think Spies is probably going to Yamaha mounted but I don't what color (whether he serves it or not), so to me it look like Lorenzo, Spies, Smith and Dovi at Yamaha.

Either that or I'm wrong, which is not unlikely.

[Zaphod]

If he's (Crutchlow) not on a Yamaha, where is going to be ? HRC is out, you'd have to be slightly unbalanced to want to go to Ducitti, Gresini and LCR are spoken for..........can't see him going to a CRT team for love or money........

I'm guessing, but Yamaha would have to be his best option, surely ?

[dave_m]

2013 MotoGP Lineup prediction: (what I think will happen)

Yamaha: Lorenzo, Spies
Tech3: Dovi, Bradley Smith
LCR: Bradl
Gresini (factory) Honda: Rossi
Repsol Honda: Marquez, Pedrosa
Ducati Factory: Hayden, Crutchlow
Ducati Satellite: Barbera, Pol Espargaro
CRT: Bautista, Abraham

2013 MotoGP Lineup wish list: (what I want to happen, but might be less likely)

Yamaha: Lorenzo, Dovi
FIAT (factory) Yamaha: Rossi
Tech3: Bautista, Pol Espargaro
Tech3 CRT: Bradley Smith
LCR: Bradl
Gresini (factory) Honda: Hayden
Repsol Honda: Marquez, Pedrosa
Ducati Factory: Crutchlow, Barbera
Ducati Satellite: None
Suzuki: Spies
CRT: Abraham
Philip Island Wildcard: Stoner on the Podium with Ducati

EDIT: updated to not punish Spies quite as much

[Zaphod]

What have you got against Hayden, Crutchlow and Spies ?

[CLX]

Lorenzo signing with Yamaha blew my wish list into not so fun to imagine. I'd try to fit Rea, Melandri and Haslam somewhere somehow.

[Zaphod]

.....factory BMW motoGP bike would work for Melandri and Haslam........

[dave_m]

What have you got against Hayden, Crutchlow and Spies ?

I'd like to see almost everyone end up on decent rides, so I "switched" Spies to Suzuki, but Crutchlow said he would go to Ducati...so...

[Zaphod]

Lying semi-concious for 6 min on the side of the track at Silverstone appears to have done more dammage than first thought.

Cal want's to take a bit of a rest and get back to normal.

.....Ducati !!??....what's he thinking ??!!

[Cam D]

With Rossi’s contract up at the end of the year, and various star gazers have him going to every team in the paddock, the question was asked how this would affect his future with Ducati.

“For me, under my point of view, the only important thing is the competitiveness of the bike,” he said. “The rest of the contract for me is not a big problem. So I know that Ducati, in Ducati they work a lot and they try to bring something for the next races so we hope to do this step as soon as possible. Because the problem is one. If we are able to fix that problem we can go a lot faster.”

When Rossi struggled earlier in the year he was told that significant engine upgrades would be available for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca. Rossi doesn’t think his contract will be resolved until after the Czech Grand Prix, which follows the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix that ends the summer break.

“Yeah, I think in Laguna is important,” he said, adding that it was difficult to say if the new engine would be ready for Laguna. “Depends from a lot of things, because Ducati work under different point of view. But, yeah, we have to make a step as soon as possible. Laguna maybe will be an important race for understand if we can do, but is not the last chance.”

Read more: http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_1206 ... index.html

[DaveP]

And it is said that the Paul Bird Team will have their own chassis ready by the end of this year with a 2 man team....

[dave_m]

According to Forbes, Rossi made $30 million last year ($17 million salary / $13 million endorsements), so there may be a pretty big salary difference between staying at Ducati or riding a competitive bike. And MCN is reporting that Ducati have made a two year offer to Crutchlow.

[Squidpuppet]

Rossi to pull the pin on the Duc experience shortly after Laguna.

Annouces he will ride a factory spec Honda for Gresini. Brings enough $$$ with him to make it a two bike team and rides alongside Alvaro.

Does that make five bikes provided by Honda? Which, I'm OK with, it just cant happen with the current rules.

Iannone to ride alongside Dovi 2013/2014 at Tech 3.

Where does Smith go?

[Squidpuppet]

2013 MotoGP Lineup wish list: (what I want to happen, but might be less likely)

Yamaha: Lorenzo, Dovi
FIAT (factory) Yamaha: Rossi
Tech3: Bautista, Pol Espargaro
Tech3 CRT: Bradley Smith
LCR: Bradl
Gresini (factory) Honda: Hayden
Repsol Honda: Marquez, Pedrosa
Ducati Factory: Crutchlow, Barbera
Ducati Satellite: None
Suzuki: Spies
CRT: Abraham
Philip Island Wildcard: Stoner on the Podium with Ducati

Five Yamahas? I'm all for it though.

[dave_m]

Five Yamahas? I'm all for it though.

I'm certainly not going to put money on it happening, but it'd be fun to watch. I think the rule limiting the factories to 4 prototype bikes each is out as well, it sounds like they may have a maximum lease price instead.

[Squidpuppet]

Five Yamahas? I'm all for it though.

I'm certainly not going to put money on it happening, but it'd be fun to watch. I think the rule limiting the factories to 4 prototype bikes each is out as well, it sounds like they may have a maximum lease price instead.

That would be good. I never understood what that rule was for to begin with. I guess if Carmelo can back pedal for Repsol $$ and MM, he can/would do the same for Fiat $$ and keeping Rossi in the show (and competative) helps all Parties.