Tech3

[Japhrodisiac]

Qatar and preseason looking great for the Tech3 team, it makes one wonder about next season't choice to move up (by contractual obligation) Brad Smith from Moto2 to the GP squad. Bradley is no slouch, but is he a match for either Crutchlow in latest form, or Dovi? Methinks not. Speculation then involves the 2nd seat at the Yamaha factory, but if Spies does have a bad season, IMO Yamaha's interests would be better served by moving Spies down to Tech3 rather than letting him go.

My take is that Spies will have a good season and keep his seat. Dovi and Crutchlow will both do well leaving Tech3 in a quandry re Brad Smith. will they have to run a CRT for him then? Rumours are that they are designing a CRT bike right now.
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[Gustav O]

A pre-mature move to promise a GP seat to Bradley in my opinion. Especially when they signed Dovizioso. Tech3's CRT project is on hold since the suggested budget cap on the sattelite bikes came about. makes it difficult for Tech3 as you point out.
I really like Spies but he has to up his game if he wants to keep his seat.

[Faster1]

(by contractual obligation)

,,not that I'm questioning your statement, but I'd like to see that written somewhere,, only because it would be the second stupidest move made by a team/rider in recent history. ,, nothing against Bradly personally, but
A.) IMO he's probably only the 5th or 6th fastest rider on the moto2 grid right now with questionable consistency for the last 2 years.
B.) The riders on the 4 Yamaha bikes ALL deserve at least another year to get used to the 1000s. How can a decision to ax any of them be made before the start of the season. (no way Yamaha builds a 5th bike. Even with a title sponsor, Honda couldn't keep THAT going)

And I can't see Smith keeping up with any of them (apologies to B Smith fans)

[Squidpuppet]

(by contractual obligation)

,,not that I'm questioning your statement, but I'd like to see that written somewhere,, only because it would be the second stupidest move made by a team/rider in recent history. ,, nothing against Bradly personally, but
A.) IMO he's probably only the 5th or 6th fastest rider on the moto2 grid right now with questionable consistency for the last 2 years.
B.) The riders on the 4 Yamaha bikes ALL deserve at least another year to get used to the 1000s. How can a decision to ax any of them be made before the start of the season. (no way Yamaha builds a 5th bike. Even with a title sponsor, Honda couldn't keep THAT going)

And I can't see Smith keeping up with any of them (apologies to B Smith fans)

It was officially announced a long time ago. Done deal for 2013 AND 2014.

Smith's new contract will see him remain with the Tech 3 Racing Team in the ultra-competitive Moto2 World Championship in 2012. He will then move to the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 MotoGP Team for 2013 and 2014 having agreed the long-term deal with Tech 3 owner Herve Poncharal during last weekend's Motorland Aragon race.

If Cal and Dovi continue in their current form (and I suspect they will) it is going to be a crappy deal for one of them.

http://www.teamtech3.fr/moto2/index.php ... ain-aragon

[Nachlauf]

Well, when they signed the deal with Smith they didn't know yet who would race for them in 2012. Back then they were talking to several riders. If memory serves me well RdP, Hopper, Dovi and Bautista were among them. They also hadn't completely ruled out the possibility to sign Bradl. They only knew Edwards would leave. And let's be honest, Cal wasn't shining brightly last season. So knowing all that the decision to sign the deal with Smith wasn't completely moronic.

Now the only thing that is clear for next year is, that Smith will have a contract. It is not known if they unfreeze their CRT project. And they have no control over Yamaha's rider line-up. Right now this only means, that both Dovi and Cal will have to ride their arses off to ride an M1 next year.

As for Ben, he was more successful last year than both Cal and Dovi. In my opinion at least. In Qatar 3 weeks ago he looked comfortably faster than Cal and Dovi, until one of his bikes got bent the wrong way and the other had engine problems. I'm pretty sure he'll outperform both Tech3 riders this season, again. And if he does so there will be no reason for Yamaha to replace him with either of them.

[Cam D]

Maybe Tech3 have an out, or performance criteria that Smith will have to meet? Top 3 in Moto2 etc

[sir_nj]

2013 is a long way away and a lot of things can and will happen between now and then. While they may have put their CRT on ice for the moment is there anything to stop them picking up/copying an already "proven" CRT formula to give them the extra seat? IMO it is one of the biggest advantages of CRT is that you don't have to spend a year or two negotiating with a factory for a sat bike and then spend the rest of your time and money trying to get the latest updates.

[Cappra]

Qatar and preseason looking great for the Tech3 team, it makes one wonder about next season't choice to move up (by contractual obligation) Brad Smith from Moto2 to the GP squad. Bradley is no slouch, but is he a match for either Crutchlow in latest form, or Dovi? Methinks not. Speculation then involves the 2nd seat at the Yamaha factory, but if Spies does have a bad season, IMO Yamaha's interests would be better served by moving Spies down to Tech3 rather than letting him go.

My take is that Spies will have a good season and keep his seat. Dovi and Crutchlow will both do well leaving Tech3 in a quandry re Brad Smith. will they have to run a CRT for him then? Rumours are that they are designing a CRT bike right now.
??

Sounds like an embarrassment of riches doesn't it?

It will probably turn out to be the smartest strategic move of all times, or the dumbest. Having Dovi and Crutchlow fire up and spark off each other might bring out the best in them; or it might end in tears.

Me? I wouldn't be breaking my neck to get Brad Smith on the team. He has been 'talked up' by the pommy press for some time but to me he has been hyped up and has under-delivered. I would back Crutchlow as The Pommy Contender before Smith. I'm not certain if Crutchlow he can jump the gulf to Alien status but to me he has shown as much promise as Spies.

Ditto Dovi. He has been exciting and shown promise but I'm not certain why he hasn't made the leap to Alien yet. Notwithstanding I don't think he should have 'the rug pulled from under him' (at least not to be swapped for Smith).

But it likes like Tech3 is using the pressure of competition to be the arbiter. Good to see the aspiring given half a chance for a decent ride; better than some establish 'stars' running around in a perennial tenth spot. Me, I would have got rid of Edwards at least ten year ago and given a young buck half a chance. What will Edwards profession epithet be? 'World's greatest development rider- pity we needed a racer'?

[Japhrodisiac]

I think that's a bit harsh on Edwards, he has proven to be reliable, great at bike development and faster than most. He has helped both Spies and Cal transition into MotoGp, kind of like a big brother showing them the ropes. I would put him up there on the 'greatest riders to never win a GP' list, which I suppose is a double edged sword. He was faster than Crutchlow many times last year, and now Cal seems to have made a step up in speed. He still looks ragged though, hopefully he can hold it together long enough to bring home some consistent results.

Spies is a bit of a mystery to me - the guy has the potential to win and consistently be up there, but the results aren't forthcoming (yet). A lot of bad luck last year, but the 1000 in testing seemed to suit him much better than the 800, some more bad luck at Qatar, and now he has to deal with the increased competitiveness of the Tech3 men. Has his hands full but I'm confident by seasons end he will shown to have the upper hand of the non-Lorenzo Yamahas.

Bradley Smith looks like a non-starter to me, plenty of other fish including IMO a better Brit - Redding.

[Tourn46]

Bradley Smith looks like a non-starter to me, plenty of other fish including IMO a better Brit - Redding.

It's rather hard to judge Bradley Smith, it's not like he's on a machine that has an abundance of riders providing feedback and data... I would say he's a pretty talented young man, doing resonably well if you consider the circumastances.

Redding... I think he also looks like a good racer but is still lacking that "something" to take him to the next level... being a Brit I really hope he finds it.

[Gustav O]

Comparing Smith and Redding I think Smith has more "head" but less out right talent and vice versa for Redding. As Tourn points out Smith is on a bike that few others ride wich makes it harder for him as he has to do all the donkey work as well as trying to race well. Simeon is coming along ok, especially in the wet he is doing fine.

[JanBros]

Simeon is coming along ok, especially in the wet he is doing fine.

Xavier might not be a "West" in the wet , but I trully thinck he comes second. He's always been very good in the wet. I hope it rains tomorow

[JanBros]

it didn't rain

[Cam D]

Their mum's must be so proud hahahahaha....