2006 Silly Season Thread.

[Gerben24]

Rossi is to stay at Yamaha in 2006 it said in the paper today! Good news I think, just for the reason he is staying in MotoGP. All those rumours of Rossi going to drive in F1 or WRC are rubbish. It would be interesting to see how he does there, but I just love MotoGP and he would be greatly missed there. It is also good to see my bike (Yamaha) to be on the top step of the podium. I don't know how long that is going to last though. It wouldn't surprise me if Rossi eventually wants to move to Ducati, to end his career there.

It is also said that Pedrosa is going move to Repsol Honda in 2006. Will he finally be the one who will take on the battle with Rossi? Some competition would be good in MotoGP!

[marcus]

Pedrosa is good , but is he as good as valentino ???

I dont think so and if he is going to Repsol next year who's bike will he be on ?

Im sure Pedrosa is going to be very good in the top class but I dont think he can challenge Rossi especially not next year.

would be great if I was proved wrong though wouldnt it ?

[Hazza]

Originally Posted by marcus

Pedrosa is good , but is he as good as valentino ???

I dont think so and if he is going to Repsol next year who's bike will he be on ?

Im sure Pedrosa is going to be very good in the top class but I dont think he can challenge Rossi especially not next year.

would be great if I was proved wrong though wouldnt it ?

Pedrosa -> Repsol, Biaggi -> Ducati, Caparossi -> Pons.

Or thats the generall "Idea/Rumour/Made up malarky"

[BootsOntheSide]

Pedrosa has marched through the ranks prretty impressively, and he's certainyl the only rider out there why has any real hope of being as good as Valé within the next 2-3 years. Hayden might benefit from a year or 2 on one of the other Honda teams - winnign at a track your main rival doesn't like and msot have never raced at is one thing, but it doesn't change the fact that he's udnerperformed.

[Oaksnaf]

Im not too sure about Pedrosa and Moto GP. I know he is a sensational rider, the best in 250cc but the extra HP the extra weight of the car is sure to pound his nimble body, and can he get himself around the bike is the question.

They say that Randy De Puniet would be better suited to Moto than Pedrosa, but Pedrosa has more talent.

And are the links with Stoner and Moto still going strong?

But Vermuelan will replace Bayliss at Camel so that is great news for Aussies, well its yet to be confirmed, but it is highly probable.

[SALEEN S7R]

Originally Posted by Oaksnaf

Im not too sure about Pedrosa and Moto GP. I know he is a sensational rider, the best in 250cc but the extra HP the extra weight of the car is sure to pound his nimble body

Car? I thought Moto GP was bikes? Seriously though, weight will be a issue for Pedrosa next year IMO, hes quite a small guy and a Moto GP bike is pretty heavy. He has said though however that he is planning on doing some upper body work and hopefully this will help him in 2006. He can always pile on a few pounds if needs be!

[N I Tram]

Chris Vermeulen should do really well, he's a MotoGP natural, although it's a shame he and Ten Kate won't've taken the WSBK title.

[robert77]

Rossi ought to go to WSB and win yet another title, he'll have won everything then. And prolly the only rider ever to do so.

[D.R.T.]

Yes exactly he can only win so many championships before he will look at something else.

[chunder]

Dont think Vale will ever go to WSBK, only reason he would is if he tried rally or F1 and fails utterly and comes back to bikes a la Hailwood.
But I think no team in Motogp would ever turn down the chance to run him even if he did walk away from bikes and come back.
Think the Pedrosa argumant is interesting. Loris was always considered too small for a 500 but got on OK evenutually, though he does look like a middleweight boxer these days.
Think Dani will have to do the same as he is sooooo tiny. But we will have to wait to see if he has the talent and speed to win.
Think he is about the best prospect coz he is so strong in the mind, doesnt take risks really and seems able to speed up at will as Vale does.
But then its kinda easy to do that on a 250, whether he can sit on Vale's tail for 28 laps and set the fastest lap on the 29th and last is the question. Or he might be the type that goes away from the front like Mick used to? he does it on a 250.
Did Vale used to play with people in 250 like he does in GP?

[djb]

Originally Posted by chunder

Did Vale used to play with people in 250 like he does in GP?

when I was able to watch 250 and 500 gp stuff fairly regularly a bunch of years ago, I'm pretty certain I remember a 250 race with Rossi playing cat and mouse with a Jap. rider I think, each one not wanting to be leading the last 10 laps or so, with Rossi sometimes wheeling down the front straight just to **** the guy off behind him so that he would lose his cool and go in front.

anyone else remember that? It was a real lark anyway whoever it was. the best part was that sure enough the guy got so ticked off that he went ahead and Rossi was able to pip him at the end and win. I seem to remember the guy not being exactly happy during the post race interviews or podium.

[Dani Filth]

Originally Posted by djb

when I was able to watch 250 and 500 gp stuff fairly regularly a bunch of years ago, I'm pretty certain I remember a 250 race with Rossi playing cat and mouse with a Jap. rider I think, each one not wanting to be leading the last 10 laps or so, with Rossi sometimes wheeling down the front straight just to **** the guy off behind him so that he would lose his cool and go in front.

anyone else remember that? It was a real lark anyway whoever it was. the best part was that sure enough the guy got so ticked off that he went ahead and Rossi was able to pip him at the end and win. I seem to remember the guy not being exactly happy during the post race interviews or podium.

he did a lot of that in 125(less) and 250 . it was Ukawa mainly .

[Gerben24]

Originally Posted by djb

when I was able to watch 250 and 500 gp stuff fairly regularly a bunch of years ago, I'm pretty certain I remember a 250 race with Rossi playing cat and mouse with a Jap. rider I think, each one not wanting to be leading the last 10 laps or so, with Rossi sometimes wheeling down the front straight just to **** the guy off behind him so that he would lose his cool and go in front.

anyone else remember that? It was a real lark anyway whoever it was. the best part was that sure enough the guy got so ticked off that he went ahead and Rossi was able to pip him at the end and win. I seem to remember the guy not being exactly happy during the post race interviews or podium.

The race mentioned was in Paul Ricard where Rossi was following Harada for the first part of the race. Then Harada 'ran wide' in the first corner so Rossi had to lead which he didn't want. So he started doing really slow laptimes and pulled a wheely at start finish so Harada had to overtake him again.

I never really thought of Rossi playing with anybody in 250. When he stopped crashing and running into other riders, he won the last 4 races or something like that of his first 250 season. In his second season he was just to good...

[f1manoz]

Valentino staying at Yamaha is no surprise. Will be interesting to see how Pedrosa handles a MotoGP bike for such a small fellow.

[chunder]

I remember Alberto was really strong when he started 500 and was not really that big on a 250 so with him in Dani's corner I am sure the training regime will be tailored to suit him.
I think he could also ride to a style more on a GP bike. On a 250 you can pick it up and fire it out but that doesnt tend to work as well as the power isnt there to rip the tyres up as much as in GP.
Alberto was a real stop it, turn it sharp and fire out rider on 500's, I remember Mick saying he was really hard to passs as a result, kinda like Gardner.
I think if Dani rides it more like that he will need to be strong as the muscle needed on the pegs and outer bar into and out of bends is amazing.
If he tried to ride it like Max or nakano then he can pretty much stay as he is, just work on the extra weight.

[Alex K]

But Vermuelan will replace Bayliss at Camel so that is great news for Aussies, well its yet to be confirmed, but it is highly probable.

Vermeulen has not sign yet, and who knows if he'll sign :

My question is what bikes will D'Antin and Tech 3 run next year. AFAIK Suzuki and Kawasaki are talking to this two teams.

I think Biaggi is off at Repsol HRC, and he has some departure option in his contract, if he'll be not good enough for HRC, than he is returning to Sito Pons. I think is going to Sito. Harald Eckl wants Max either.

Another question is what will John Hopkins do : KRJR is in good shape now, maybe because he was sure that if someone will be kicked off Suzuki MotoGp, than he'll be the man to go. Hopkins wants to Ducati Corse, Ducati wanted him some time ago, but what now : Another good question is, is Sete is moving to Ducati with his Telefonica Movistar support, or is he staying in at Fausto's team :

Will Roberts be back next year : If though, will he come with KTM or not : Shane Byrne did great job for the team.

[BootsOntheSide]

Intersting questions there Alex. Perhaps if Kawasaki supply a second team they will put Jacque and Hoffman on those bikes, with Nakano joined by Biaggi on the factory machines? I can't see any argument for keeping Bayliss, and I can't see anyone else hiring him. If Tamada continues on the extra Konica Honda could have at least 2 spaces to fill - Pedrosa and Vermeulen could be ideal, although Hopkins would have obvious Honda potential.

[Hazza]

There was some silly buisness going around about Rossi wanting to win a 500 and a 250cc race on the same day.

The other sillyness was that Rossi would go onto a single bike, with Elias and Edwards on the seperate Works bikes and Tech3 getting the flick.

And on eurosport they where musing about satelite Suzukis and Kawasakis...

[chunder]

HAHA, great word silliness but out of such acorns cvan often come the truth!
I think the Yamaha one will happen. Vale is practically a one man army anyway, and maybe his negotiation this time was to get away from Altadis and have non fag sponsors again like NSR days.
Not sure about Tech-3, spose they might run another make like Kawasaki, remember Shinya was a star there.
Not keen on Jacques, bit of a one hit wonder, has been rubbish since China.
Interesting to see what happens at Suzuki. Kenny HAS to get out really, even if he is riding a second string RCV he cannot just leave GP thinking he might have been able to win more races if it were not for the rubbish GSV.
Not sure about Chris either, I dont want to see him on a naff bike and he has struggled recently in WSB compared to Haga and Corser

[Alex K]

Originally Posted by Boots..."

Intersting questions there Alex. Perhaps if Kawasaki supply a second team they will put Jacque and Hoffman on those bikes, with Nakano joined by Biaggi on the factory machines?

Boots AFAIK Kawasaki is staying as two bike operation, but no one knows, apart from Eckl, I suppose, who will be #2 in Kawasaki racing Team. Possibly Alex Hofmann is out to do World Superbike, and Olivier Jacque number 2 at KRT.

They wanted to give Max 3-4 M E, but it's better for them that is stayong in the Honda camp. They need to improve R&D of RR, and maybe... change the tyre supplier.

Originally Posted by Boots...

I can't see any argument for keeping Bayliss, and I can't see anyone else hiring him.

We were talking about it, I checked... Bostrom has not signed contract with Ducati Austin, maybe he won't sign, so there is a room to fill for Bayliss, or maybe... MV Agusta in WSBK?

In fact only HRC team has signed riders (Pedrosa and Hayden).

Originally Posted by chunder

I think Sete would be a fool to go to Ducati to be honest, he is a nhumber one rider with Honda and should in my opnion stay where he is
Having said that, he has got nowhere with Vale this year, even more than the two previous years where he at least beat him occasionally.
He will no doubt be very well paid if he goes to Duke.

Fausto lost his support from Telefonica, so Gresini cannot pay checks to Gibernau (Duke is offering 3 to 4 M Euros), I pressume Toni Elias is heading to Gresini with Altadis money. The second rider will be Marco AFAIK. And even if Gibernau would stay to Gresini, he would not be treated like this year... HRC will have their lineup of dreams with Hayden and Pedrosa, they will get the newest parts from HRC first...

I heard the rumours that Chris Vermeulen, in did is in talks with Sito Pons so maybe he really wants to step up? He deserves the ride. I think Max Biaggi won't move to Kawasaki so Chris may be Max's teammate. Tamada AFAIK is staying with Japan Italy Racing.

Originally Posted by Hazza

The other sillyness was that Rossi would go onto a single bike, with Elias and Edwards on the seperate Works bikes and Tech3 getting the flick.

It's not the sillynes Hazza. Rossi's support at his one-bike team will be Alice and Nastro Azzuro, Michelin will give him HIS (favourite) tyre. But, Rossi wants Colin in the team, so it seems Tech 3 is out?
If Altadis step down, as they are doing now, Tech 3 has no money, maybe has no bike, because Luis D'Antin wants better treatment, and better bike than he has from Duke. And it is strong link that Yamaha will give D'Antin a bike, maybe two... if Luis find someone with cash (Xaus?). Roby Rolfo is staying.

AFAIK Denning knows who do Japanese VIP's wants in MotoGP... but until we will known from Paul, there are four candidates: James Toseland, James Ellison, Kenny Roberts Jr., Shane Byrne.
The problem at Suzuki MotorGP is, that prototype progamme is nowhere near Superbike one. Suzuki has world class Superbike stars like Mat Mladin (the Rossi on Superbike), Troy Corser, Yukio Kagayama, Atsushi Watanabe, and even very young, but fighting till the last meter of last race at VIR, with Mladin, Ben Spies. I think Suze should give him a chance to ride. AFAIK no one of top SBK/SSP Suzuki stars do not wish to sign with Suzuki MotoGP, and I understand them! Moto GP programme has no sponsors, lack of power GSV-R, wrong (money) choice of tyre supply, etc. In SBK GSX-R1000 K5 is flying, and is the bike to beat...

Team Roberts: if they find money they will run, expect pay rider, **** tyres (possibly Dunlop) and part-time programme.

Originally Posted by Oaksnaf

Whats wrong with Xaus (spiderman)

No man, there's only one Spiderman... Helio Castroneves. Tech 3 has second hand Yamahas, that is their problem. They are lacking strongly with power... sometimes you can see, how Suzukis and Tech 3 Yamahas are "stopping" on the long straight and some Rossi, Edwards or Hayden just flying on one side or other of these bikes.

[Hazza]

One thing I'd also like to point out, is why get sponsers to pay for a one bike Vale team...


...when you can get them to pay twice as much for 2 bikes?

[Alex K]

Originally Posted by Hazza

One thing I'd also like to point out, is why get sponsers to pay for a one bike Vale team...


...when you can get them to pay twice as much for 2 bikes?

It.s simple Hazza.
Why would sponsor pay for two entry team, if it has Vale :
Valentino will be competing in Alice Nastro Azzuro Yamaha Racing next year, and now it is a question if Colin Edwards will be his teammate there, or in the different livery of Yamaha Racing (Gauloises with Toni Elias. Also Rossi will be Michelin's 2006 wonder kid.

Ruben Xaus is headding into SBK, or D'Antin if he will have enough money to field two bikes.

It's almost certain Gibernau will sign with Ducati, he is losing his Telefonica support, and he has to go somewhere, and Ducati Corse will pay around 3, 4M €. His teammate will be Loris Capirossi.

Troy Bayliss returns to WSBK with Ducati. Max Biaggi has 3M € offer from Kawasaki, but I suppose he will stay with Honda camp in Honda pons camp with Alex Barros. Gresini is changing his support to Fortuna brand. His top rider on wish list is Mr Toni Elias, with Marco Melandri staying if it's enough money in the team, although he has no other place to go.

Japan Italy Racing will most likely stay with Makoto Tamada, if they will have enough money to continue.

Repsol HRC team will field Nicky Hayden and Daniel Pedrosa.

Kawasaki Racing is tired of Harald Eckl, and maybe, The big IF, they will try to field factory team themselves... but AFAIK Kawasaki Racing has no HQ in Europe... This rumour places Eckl's team as privatere Kawasaki user.

I don't know what bike will Tech 3 field next year, D'Antin most certain is staying with Desmosedici.

Suzuki MotoGP, one of possible riders connected to Suzi squad is James Toseland. It makes sense, Ducati has really good riders in WSBK championship like Lorenzo Lanzi, who is IMHO ready to step up into factory boots. Also there is Troy Bayliss returning to the SBK game, most likely WSBK. And IMHO JT is losing to Regis Laconi, who dominated him this year. We shall see.

Team Roberts, WCM... who knows :

[elephino]

I'm bored with Biaggi now. He just complains. His bike wasn't as good as Doohan's Honda, then his bike wasn't as good as the Honda, then his bike wasn't as good as Rossi's Honda and now his bike isn't as good as the satellite Honda. Makes you wonder if it's not the bike.

[Alex K]

Originally Posted by elephino

I'm bored with Biaggi now. He just complains. His bike wasn't as good as Doohan's Honda, then his bike wasn't as good as the Honda, then his bike wasn't as good as Rossi's Honda and now his bike isn't as good as the satellite Honda. Makes you wonder if it's not the bike.

He has notorious problems with set-up, especially suspention problems. Erv kanemoto is good, he is great, but he knows how to set-up a bike with his own hands, and this days you working on set-up with your laptop. It is a new era of bikes, this bikes are prototypes, and I am sure that Erv myth would not last long in SBK also. He is history of this sport, with accent on "history."

Elephino, Rossis bike was better than Biaggis one. Rossi had Burgess and his team, Biaggi has completely new team of people around him.

[N I Tram]

Tech 3 seem to get inferior treatment, and maybe their natural working relationship with Yamaha has reached its conclusion.