Silly Season 2008 Thread :) - Page 17

Pro Racer · 14 Nov 2007, 00:03 (Ref:2066974)

especially a single bike outfit.

**gomick** · 15 Nov 2007, 08:16 (Ref:2067804)

pity LCR didnt have a crack with dunlops...

Bleu · 19 Nov 2007, 12:29 (Ref:2070799)

A bit on lower classes...

In 125cc, KTM sends real challenge to Aprilia, having now many teams. So I think it's very likely that at least one of them is always in the contention, which should help in constructor's battle. Riders like Rabat, de Rosa and Zanetti are additions to KTM lineup. Trio from last year continues as well.

Talmacsi and Gadea stay with Aspar, while Pere Tutusaus replaces Faubel who moved to 250cc. Bradley Smith takes Pasini's spot in Polaris World. Derbi factory riders are Olive and Espargaro.

250cc loses top three, but gets Pasini, Faubel and Pesek who won a total of 11 races last year in 125cc. KTM expands here too, as Simon returns to Austrian make. Only three Hondas on the entry list now, but Aprilia lineup is again very strong. Aspar has Bautista and Faubel, Emmi Caffe Latte Lüthi and Pesek, Team Toth Barbera and Fortuna team Espargaro and Debon. Polaris World competes in this class too, with Pasini.

Gerben24 · 19 Nov 2007, 15:02 (Ref:2070885)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleu

A bit on lower classes...

In 125cc, KTM sends real challenge to Aprilia, having now many teams. So I think it's very likely that at least one of them is always in the contention, which should help in constructor's battle. Riders like Rabat, de Rosa and Zanetti are additions to KTM lineup. Trio from last year continues as well.

Talmacsi and Gadea stay with Aspar, while Pere Tutusaus replaces Faubel who moved to 250cc. Bradley Smith takes Pasini's spot in Polaris World. Derbi factory riders are Olive and Espargaro.

250cc loses top three, but gets Pasini, Faubel and Pesek who won a total of 11 races last year in 125cc. KTM expands here too, as Simon returns to Austrian make. Only three Hondas on the entry list now, but Aprilia lineup is again very strong. Aspar has Bautista and Faubel, Emmi Caffe Latte Lüthi and Pesek, Team Toth Barbera and Fortuna team Espargaro and Debon. Polaris World competes in this class too, with Pasini.

Also, The Poggs will make his come back with Campetella Racing as a team mate to Fabrizio Lai

http://62.149.227.206/campetella_new...tt.php?id=1580

Schummy · 20 Nov 2007, 02:18 (Ref:2071379)

Fantastic! Now I will have someone to cheer at! (In Lagrange's we don't have racing riders.)

bestfit · 20 Nov 2007, 03:54 (Ref:2071408)

I hope he has managed to get whatever gremlins he had out of his system.
He was a phenomenal rider at his best before diving head first into mediocrity.
It would good to see Poggy 1.0 reinstalled.

Gerben24 · 7 Dec 2007, 08:47 (Ref:2083417)

According to the Italian motociclismo Ducati will not provide engines to KR Roberts in 2008.

If KR don't compete in 2008, there will be 18 riders on the grid

.

jhansen · 7 Dec 2007, 16:05 (Ref:2083722)

Well that sucks!

What about a customer program with Suzuki?

Schummy · 7 Dec 2007, 23:26 (Ref:2084019)

Gerben, jhansen, you are heroes. Trying to post here in these low weeks of off-season, in the cold December (cold in the "proper" hemisphere, that is) is a meritorious task.

My vote for a medal or something.

PS: It may be a joke, but it is not totally a joke.

Hazza · 7 Dec 2007, 23:37 (Ref:2084024)

That does suck. Poor Kenny.

Maybe he should just give up and get customer bikes again....

Pro Racer · 8 Dec 2007, 05:19 (Ref:2084125)

get customer bikes from Suzuki and put Spies on one i'm sure that would keep Suzuki happy.

chunder · 8 Dec 2007, 11:05 (Ref:2084239)

Yes its so easy!!

Pro Racer · 8 Dec 2007, 12:31 (Ref:2084269)

i know it would be hard but that would be the ideal thing to happen.

chunder · 8 Dec 2007, 12:35 (Ref:2084273)

Think Ben isnt really interested to be honest, he hasnt showed much willingness to travel, let the boy rot in dollar bills in teh US for me.

If he wanted it bad enough Suzuki would ahve made room for him, everyone knows that!

jhansen · 8 Dec 2007, 20:02 (Ref:2084505)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunder

Think Ben isnt really interested to be honest, he hasnt showed much willingness to travel, let the boy rot in dollar bills in teh US for me.

If he wanted it bad enough Suzuki would ahve made room for him, everyone knows that!

Wrong. He went to Japan and then Sepang where his test was rained out. He was also at Valencia for the season ending race where he tested the bike. He's already announced that he's over his flying issues and wants to focus on getting into Moto GP. As for this year, it's the last year of his Yoshimura contract and he's hoping for a wild card ride or two for Rizla. He sounds interested to me.

Why don't you just admit you'd rather not see another U.S. superbike star land a factory ride in Moto GP.

chunder · 9 Dec 2007, 18:17 (Ref:2084961)

I ahve to admit J I just dont think his heart is in it

I rate the lad but he was not as quick as Mladin for most of the year and you only ride to whatever talent you are up against

Now you may differ to me here but I dont rate Mladin as highly as say Valentino or Stoner or Pedrosa or Hayden for that matter, not after all these years in GP.

For me Spies likes to race in the US, he is not keen on travelling as Lawson famously wasnt, but Lawson bit the bullet and made the effort, winning 4 amazing wqorld titles.

That trend now isnt the same as it was, Nicky has done an amazing job but I just dont see Spies being so keen to make the effort.

Dont really care about yanks racing in GP, doesnt matter eitehr way who races there as long as they are good, I do rate Ben, but for me he is no better than a Melandri or West, good second team rider.

I would love to be proved wrong!

Gerben24 · 10 Dec 2007, 09:03 (Ref:2085333)

Why do you think his heart is not in it??? I have the exact opposite image of Spies? He has a fear of flying!!!! That is something completely different than being unwilling to travel. He made the trip to Sepang, where he would get one (1!!!!!) day of testing. In the end he didn't get any milage under his belt cause of rain. Than he turned up at Valencia, where he did ride the bike, but it wasn't a proper test (he got to share the track with old-timers). If you take that into account and the fact he has a fear of flying, it proves to me he is more than willing to make the switch to Motogp.

However, I'm not completely convinced yet about his talent, purely because he only races Mat Mladin! Matt is old, but so is Bayliss. Mladin also says he has never been a better rider than in 2007. So there's a lot to say for he's got the talent. Spies also won the Superstock, I don't know if he had the best machinerie in that class as well.

Spies will be in Motogp. Still I think he should have made the step in 2008. I don't understand why he is staying in AMA. He has nothing left to win there.

One thing I don't understand is why Americans get so much time to prove themselves in Motogp. Just look at Hayden and Hopkins. So, when Spies gets a ride he will have enough time to learn and adjust himself to the 800cc mopeds.

**gomick** · 10 Dec 2007, 10:57 (Ref:2085416)

Spies was on a Yoshi Suzuki in Superstock - not a bad bike i hear

...

jhansen · 10 Dec 2007, 14:55 (Ref:2085613)

Spies won back to back titles in Superbike and Superstock. I'd call that a good display regardless of the machinery.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerben24

One thing I don't understand is why Americans get so much time to prove themselves in Motogp. Just look at Hayden and Hopkins. So, when Spies gets a ride he will have enough time to learn and adjust himself to the 800cc mopeds.

Who has left Moto GP in the last two or three years that should be there in place of Hayden or Spies? As for Edwards, well, we'll have to have Hazza explain that one.

Gerben24 · 10 Dec 2007, 15:22 (Ref:2085651)

Why was Hayden never sacked? He didn't really start to deliver until 2005? Same with Hopkins and Edwards (although he might still have a contract due to Rossi)! Are the manufacturers that desperate to conquer the American market?

In the end they have all delivered results (sort of), but the point I'm trying to make is that not all riders get the chance they got (Barros got the sack in 2005 even tho he beat Hayden in his first year with Repsol)!

Schummy · 10 Dec 2007, 15:31 (Ref:2085663)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerben24

Are the manufacturers that desperate to conquer the American market?

Is it a rhetoric question?

I'll add another: Why F1 runs/ran a GP in Indy?

Hazza · 11 Dec 2007, 00:52 (Ref:2086125)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhansen

Who has left Moto GP in the last two or three years that should be there in place of Hayden or Spies? As for Edwards, well, we'll have to have Hazza explain that one.

I'd give you my normal spiel about "A great developement rider" or "he was a brilliant tyre tester" but i'll settle with:

No. Flipping. Idea.

Schummy · 11 Dec 2007, 01:56 (Ref:2086149)

You know, Edwards was a great development rider and he was a brilliant tyre tester.

All in all, one of the best Texan MotoGP riders without any doubt.

chunder · 11 Dec 2007, 09:58 (Ref:2086335)

But not the best eh!! KS rules

Schummy · 12 Dec 2007, 11:29 (Ref:2087145)

I amend it, just in case there are (or were) more unknown texan motogp riders:

Edwards is one of the best Texan MotoGP riders, perhaps with some doubts.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Rossi extends Yamaha deal to 2008	Gerben24	Bike Racing	5	2 Feb 2007 13:27
Lorenzo Bandini Trophy	rocketracer	Formula One	9	13 Apr 2006 15:00
Yamaha	pink69	Bike Racing	7	6 May 2004 11:08
Criville To Yamaha	f2001	Bike Racing	9	25 Nov 2001 10:12
Jenson Button wins Lorenzo Bandini Trophy	KC	Formula One	9	23 Apr 2001 05:49