Silly Season 2012

[ales17]

Well the season of 2011 is close to start so I guess it's time to start 2012 Silly Season!

Let's open the Silly Season rumors for 2012 season!



Repsol Honda - 2
- Casey Stoner - 2012
- Dani Pedrosa - 2012

San Carlo Honda - 2
- Alvaro Bautista
- Michele Pirro - FTR CBR1000RR (CRT) [/b]

LCR Honda - 1
- Stefan Bradl

Marlboro Ducati - 2 (Marlboro Alice)
- Valentino Rossi - 2012
- Nicky Hayden - 2012

Pramac Ducati - 1
- Hector Barbera - 2012

Cardion AB Ducati - 1
- Karel Abraham - 2012

Yamaha Team - 2
- Jorge Lorenzo - 2012
- Ben Spies - 2012

Monster Yamaha - 2 (Monster)
- Cal Crutchlow - 2012
- Andrea Dovizioso - 2012

Paul Bird - Aprilia/FTR (CRT)
- James Ellison

NGM Forward - Suter/BMW (CRT)
- Colin Edwards

IODA Racing FTR?/Aprilia - 1 (CRT)
- Danilo Petrucci

Speedmaster FTR?/Aprilia - 1 (CRT)
- Ant West

Mapfre Aspar - Aprilia - 2 (CRT)
- Randy De Puniet
- Aleix Espargaro

BQR - FTR/Kawasaki - 2 (CRT)
- Yonny Hernandez
- Ivan Silva

Laglisse - BMW/Suter - 1 (CRT)
- Carmelo Morales
- Xavi del Amor

Gapam - BMW - 1 (CRT)
- Federico Sandi



Out of motoGP
Rizla Suzuki motoGP
- Toni Elias
- Loris Capirossi
- Hiroshi Aoyama


New in motoGP
NGM Forward
BQR
Laglisse
Catalunya Caixa team
Paul Bird
- Carmelo Morales
- Yonny Hernandez
- Stefan Bradl
- Danilo Petrucci
- Ant West
- James Ellison
- Michele Pirro
- Ivan Silva
- Xavi del Amor


Rumors
Option
Agreed

[ales17]

Thread will be locked and opened when 2012 SS really starts!

[Rusty Bucket USA]

You read it here, first:
- If Laverty finishes in the first 3 of WSBK this year, expect him to be partnered with Crutchlow next year at Tech3, that is, if Edwards agrees to retire to a development rider role at Yamaha.

- If Hopkins somehow runs the table in BSB, he will be in the running for said seat at Tech 3, if Hamamatsu officially gives up on MotoGP.

- Or, if Edwards doesn't leave, yet, the CRT's are going to have some good talent available.

[Wil55N]

A Suzuki Podium within the first 5 races.

[Bigguy]

My predictions:

Dovi to Gresini (if he's lucky - don't piss off HRC)
Bradl to Tech 3
Spies to stay where he is.

[ieism]

CAn we speculate about what teams are in Motogp next year? And what engines the CRT teams will be using, anybody with a technical background have any idea what you can use in 2012?

Because a lot depends on what teams decide to move up to Motogp next year from Moto2.
Marc VDS: Suter/BMW: Will we see Kallio back or is Morales more than their testrider?
Interwetten: Will they run a Suter with Luthi? He seems capable, and the team has some experience.
Viessmann Kiefer Racing: This team has their $%!t together. All they need is a fast german engine in a Kalex frame. A german rider would be nice.


Ianonne ? Not so sure his Speedmaster team is ready for it, and I don't see a competitive seat for him elsewhere. He is likely to stick with his team untill Uccio and Rossi start their own team with JB. He must be Italy's great hope for the future, so they better not wait too long.

LCR may be very tired of Elias by the end of the season, but I don't think they will be eager for this years Moto2 champion ( Ianonne? )on their bike next year. Maybe a fast WSB rider.

[RatsMC]

I'm not sure there will be that many Moto2 teams moving up. I may be wrong but I don't think there is enough money in the series to see more than maybe two teams move. If they do, I think it is also questionable whether they will take their riders or any Moto2 riders.

If I were a team first entering the series, trying to get up to speed as quickly as possible, I'd want a former MotoGP rider to give me some gauge of how far off I am.

[ales17]

If Tech3 is to replace Edwards I think he has a great chance to get a ride in one of the CRT teams!

[Faster1]

If Tech3 is to replace Edwards I think he has a great chance to get a ride in one of the CRT teams!

personally,,, as a life long Edwards fan (but realistic) I think that it would be a mistake for Colin to stay on as a CRT team member.. I mean that it really depends on his expectations,, but if he still thinks that he has the chops,, I would go to WSBK instead of an "intentionally handicapped" (read: not allowed to win or get in the way of the factory boys),, (read again : grid filler).... WSBK might be second tier, but at least you have a chance based more on, your ability,, instead of mounting a bike and busting your ass for 10th place.

,i'm just sayin,,,

[ales17]

But are you sure that CRT bikes will be so far behind!?
They will have 3 litters more gas and will be able to get more out of the engine as they will have twice as much engines as prototype teams!

I'm aware they will be far behind in development regarding stability but the should be close in power department. I was hoping they would be ahead actually!

[Faster1]

But are you sure that CRT bikes will be so far behind!?
They will have 3 litters more gas and will be able to get more out of the engine as they will have twice as much engines as prototype teams!

I'm aware they will be far behind in development regarding stability but the should be close in power department. I was hoping they would be ahead actually!

I'm not sure friend,,but I certain that ever since time began,, "Factory bikes win or factories go home" ask Kawasaki and soon to be Suzuki.

[WayneG]

But are you sure that CRT bikes will be so far behind!?
They will have 3 litters more gas and will be able to get more out of the engine as they will have twice as much engines as prototype teams!

I'm aware they will be far behind in development regarding stability but the should be close in power department. I was hoping they would be ahead actually!

Jeremy Burgess was interviewed by Darrel Beatie on tv here the other night. His opinion of the CRT bikes was that they will not even be in the same ballpark as the factory bikes. He said "it will cost them a lot of money to finish somewhere lower than 15th".

[ales17]

I totaly agree with the line "Factory bikes win or factories go home"

But I was hoping to see some fierce battles between CRT and factory teams!

[RatsMC]

The CRT will not be allowed to get close to the front. The rules are very specifically set up to prevent that.

As soon as a CRT starts interfering with the factory riders, it only takes a vote of the MSMA to ankle them.

As to Edwards, He'll go to WSBK over a CRT because he knows he can win there and will be a hot property.

[Domino]

The CRT will not be allowed to get close to the front. The rules are very specifically set up to prevent that.

As soon as a CRT starts interfering with the factory riders, it only takes a vote of the MSMA to ankle them.

As to Edwards, He'll go to WSBK over a CRT because he knows he can win there and will be a hot property.

I'm not sure Edwards wants to go backwards. As he's fond of saying: "Been there, done that, got the t-shirt". I suspect he'd probably retire once the decent GP opportunities dried up for him, that way he can also remain a Yamaha spokesman

[ieism]

I'm not sure there will be that many Moto2 teams moving up. I may be wrong but I don't think there is enough money in the series to see more than maybe two teams move. If they do, I think it is also questionable whether they will take their riders or any Moto2 riders.

I've read in GPweek that Blusens, Pons, Kiefer and Marc VDS are to move up. But I don't know how reliable that publication is. I sure would like to know if any news emerges on all this, I even heard Norton are pretty serious too (though i've heard that before).

[Tormo4ever]

Wow, silly season already ... my biggest woe for 2012 is Dani. Seems he was already having trouble with his upper left body in Le Mans, so that injury may not be out of the way. It looked to me like a hard fall at Le Mans, but many people say he gest badly injured too easily. Do we have a premature retirement in the cards? He has definitely been forced to consider this option these last few months.

I think Spies must remain in the factory teamm, and i am sure this year him and yamaha will turn things around. He ll end up doing well because he has the talent i believe , although surely this must be the mentally hardest season for him in a few good years.


Not too sure Suzuki will remain though. The suzuki fiasco in moto gp over the years is a really bad thing for the series. I hope they, too, can turn things arund. Lately , they ve only been a liability to most of the riders that have raced for them. It sucks when it gets to a point where a satellite honda, yamaha or duke are preferred by riders than your factory ride.

I still don t really understand very well the whole crt thing. i need to do some mtm reading. But the thought of a two tier class doesn t really appeal to me, i hope the differences won t be that obvious ... With what we know, is there an option for ant crt to be beating the satellite dukes, hondas or yamahas?

[brigdonia]

I think Dani will stay at Repsol Honda, they need a Spaniard in the team to keep sponsors happy and its not like there is a viable 'as quick' alternative out there ...yet (I think we'll possibly see Marquez take Dani's factory ride in a few years/eventually).In the top flight there is only one other 'fast/faster as Pedrosa' and he's signed for Yamaha already! although I do really rate Bautista, I just don't see Honda taking him over Dani P, unfortunately I think taking the ride at Suzuki has proved as massive mistake for his career...

[Tormo4ever]

I don t know, say dani can t race next year, repsol may push a spaniard, but except marc, who i don t think will go mot gp in 2012 (i think he d get eaten up), who else is there? Lorenzo is the only spanish guy HRC would gladly take,a nyone else would be unjustifiable for a factory honda. Álvaro has been away from racing to win for too long now ... And don t even get me started on Toni .. I think that repsol bike would probably go to Simoncelli if he keeps improving and chills out a bit. But say Yamaha don t deliver this year and Dani stops, Lorenzo to Honda? He d have no problem with it if the honda is the best bike out there, and he d love a match up against casey.

[brigdonia]

Lorenzo has a contract with Yamaha next year I think, no?

[JanBros]

I'm not sure there will be that many Moto2 teams moving up. I may be wrong but I don't think there is enough money in the series to see more than maybe two teams move. If they do, I think it is also questionable whether they will take their riders or any Moto2 riders.

I've read in GPweek that Blusens, Pons, Kiefer and Marc VDS are to move up. But I don't know how reliable that publication is. I sure would like to know if any news emerges on all this, I even heard Norton are pretty serious too (though i've heard that before).

read in an intervieuw with Bartolomey that they would like to, but are not sure at the moment. now they are 2.5sec behind the 800's, and when the factory's go to 1.000's they will even be quicker. he said they wouldn't enter if the gap is too big.

[AL-2]

Any team that goes the CRT route will have to be very patient. It will probably take them a couple of years to start to getting close to the satellite teams, the factory teams will be a big step beyond that. The factories have been doing this for a long time and have an immense knowledge base and engineering capability. The CRT's will be starting from nothing. The electronics alone are going to be a long hard road. They will have to be prepared to design, build and test several different chassis in the first season. Ironically, with Honda raising game as far as the transmission, the engine mechanical components may be the easiest part.

[Bigguy]

CRT teams will never be near the factory teams. If they are there will be a rule change in my opinion.

[Wil55N]

There is discussion that Moto2 does not prepare riders well enough for MotoGP. CRT teams may fill that gap. Although I question what team would really want to fund that stepping stone.

Kawasaki to make announcement mid year that they will be returning to MotoGP 2013

[Squidpuppet]

Kawasaki to make announcement mid year that they will be returning to MotoGP 2013

Is that a rumor, hope, or did you hear something that you can share?