2010 MotoGP Silly Season...

[Jason748]

OK, since silly season has started early this year, and at the start of the year only one rider (I believe) already had a contract for 2011 (Ben Spies - direct with Yamaha, not Tech3).

Who do you think is going where for next year


Yamaha - Factory (Fiat - May become movistar next year?):
Lorenzo - confirmed
Spies - confirmed

Yamaha - Support (Tech 3):
Cal Crutchlow - confirmed, with a 2-year deal.
Colin Edwards - Confirmed, with a 1-year deal.

Ducati - Factory (Marlboro - May become Marlboro-Fiat next year...):
Rossi - Confirmed,  with a 2-year deal!
Hayden - Confirmed- also with a 2-year deal!

Ducati - Support (Parmac):
Cappirossi - Confirmed
De Puniet- Confirmed

Ducati - Support (Paginas Amarillas Aspar)
Barbera - confirmed But will the team even be on the grid next year?

Ducati - Support (Cardon AB)
Abraham - confirmed

Honda - Factory (Repsol - HRC)
Stoner - Confirmed on Repsol - HRC
Pedrosa - Confirmed, on Repsol - HRC
Dovizioso - Confirmed, on Repsol - HRC

Honda - Support (LCR)
Elias - confirmed

Honda - Support (San Carlos)
Simoncelli - confirmed
De Angelis - unconfirmed, big "if" on this one...
Aoyama - uncomfirmed

Honda - Support (Interwetten)
Team is Folding... and will concentrate on moto 2

Suzuki - Factory (Rizola)
Really - who care... but really looks like it will be a 1 bike team in 2011...
Bautista - confirmed
- Single Bike team as of now -


Out of GP's
Kallio - I'd expect he heads to Moto2
Espargaro - I'd expect he heads to Moto2 (and get beat by little brother to will most likely be moving up to moto2 from 125's )
Looks like in the musical chairs ... Merlandi might be out.  Yep - landed on the Yamaha WSBK team


List Updated 11/8

[Nihon Newbie]

Nice speculations..It'll be really interesting to see where everyone ends up...Also, WTF is up with Honda's team setup next season!?  3 factory bikes, but different core sponsors?  Why is Repsol rumored to be parting ways?  And on a related note, did anyone notice that not all the bikes are running the Ohlins FG generation forks? 

[Jason748]

Also, WTF is up with Honda's team setup next season!?  3 factory bikes, but different core sponsors?  Why is Repsol rumored to be parting ways?

Not really the first time HRC as done something like that.  A few years back (around 2004) they had, I think, 4 riders all on factory bikes, Barros, Hayden, Biaggi & Gibernau, split between 3 different teams.

From what I've heard, Repsol & HRC sign a long term contract many, many years ago for a specified amount of money each year.  In the past few years that amount is significantly less than what even some of  the support teams are getting from their sponsors...    However that contract is supposedly up this year and even though Repsol want to stay with Honda factory, they aren't willing to fork over the money to support 2 bikes in MotoGP, but apparently Red Bull is.

Who's not running the Ohlins FG forks?  All the Ohlins I see are on the grid are FG series.  There are a couple teams running Showa's still, but not many.

[Jason748]

Also...
When (It's going to happen) Rossi goes to Ducati - What happens to his crew chief Jeremy Burgess?
- Will he go with Rossi to Ducati?
- Will he stay at Yamaha (go with Spies - then what happens to House?)
- Jump all ships and go to Honda with Stoner (a pair of aussie's together).
- Or... Does he retire? - This would be my bet IF he doesn't go with Rossi.

[Nihon Newbie]

I guess the Showa forks were the ones that threw me off.  I thought every bike out there was running the FG series.  Thanks for getting that straight.  Just to clarify further though, the FG series forks have the separate gas charged tube behind the main fork slider, correct?   I didn't take any pics during the race itself, so I'd never be able to remember which ones I thought were different.  

That's interesting about the Repsol contract thing...I didn't start really following the sport until 2006 or so, but that's cool that they'll have more factory rides!  Freakin Red Bull has their hands in everything motorsports now! 

[f3racer]

not moto gp but..................

it was good to see Miguel back on a bike. even though he didnt even start. maybe honda will buck up next year and get back into ama.

[Jason748]

Interersting... a 6th ducati on teh grid next year:
http://motomatters.com/news/2010/07/29/karel_abraham_to_ride_6th_ducati_in_moto.html

List updated.

it was good to see Miguel back on a bike. even though he didnt even start. maybe honda will buck up next year and get back into ama.

Sorry...Miguel needs to stay off the bikes.  The guy is a nice guy in font of the cameras, but the last 4-5 years (before he "retired") had become a complete dick off the camera and away from the media.  You should hear some of the stories from AMA insiders...

But I would love to see Honda man up and get back into the AMA.  Erion is still around carrying the Honda flag, but with just 1 rider in Supersport.

[Nihon Newbie]

Awesome!  Even if it's another Duck, I'll be glad to see more riders added to this dwindling grid...

[f3racer]

Sorry...Miguel needs to stay off the bikes.  The guy is a nice guy in font of the cameras, but the last 4-5 years (before he "retired") had become a complete dick off the camera and away from the media.  You should hear some of the stories from AMA insiders...

But I would love to see Honda man up and get back into the AMA.  Erion is still around carrying the Honda flag, but with just 1 rider in Supersport.

wow. didnt know that. he was one of the guys i concidered an icon in the sport.  i definately want to see honda get back in the game as well.

[PHIL53]

Hasn't Burgess stated he is following Rossi, he likes the challenge of dialing in a new bike.

[Jason748]

Rossi confirmed to Ducati... Like that was a surprise - worst keep secret in the GP paddock this year.
http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=41625

And the Yamaha release:
http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=41620

I'd expect the Lorenzo re-signs with Yamaha & the Spies moves to the Factory Team announcement/confirmations soon.   

[Jason748]

Confirmation on Spies on the Factory team... again, no real surprise.

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=41731

[f3racer]

i was thinking about edwards future last night watching a recorded motogp race. and i read an article about wanting to spend more time at home with family so i was expecting to go back to ama. but maybe your right jason

[beer]

Where's the post about no Ducati in WSBK in 11'?

[Jason748]

i was thinking about edwards future last night watching a recorded motogp race. and i read an article about wanting to spend more time at home with family so i was expecting to go back to ama. but maybe your right jason

I'm big Edwards fan, always have been...  but he's never really done anything spectacular in GP's I think he's just a better superbike rider.
You read the transcript from the Indy press conference today... Colin cracks me up!
http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=41729

Where's the post about no Ducati in WSBK in 11'?