Posts
21
Joined
9/27/2011
Location
Dade City, FL
US
Edited Date/Time
7/26/2017 2:41pm
With the 2017 "season" (meaning sx and mx) winding down and a few specialty off races left. Where does this put some of the teams in 2018 in terms of riders?
KTM started this year with RD5, MM25, & TC41, two out of the three have now retired and in theory has two openings, if they choose to fill both spots again.
Yamaha started the year with CR22 and CW2, but down to one for outdoors and nothing signed for the second spot at the moment I believe.
Honda's shining star is attempting what would be one hell of a comeback but does Honda add another one to the team for insurance if KR94 is not able to make it to the gate for A1?
RMATV - Butler Brothers has a hot commodity in BB4 and I would imagine there has to be some pressure from KTM for BB4 to take one of the retired bikes.
Kawi - They have to be content on where they stand right now with the Eli-te (Elite) of the sport at the moment and hang on to a lower tier guy to put a second bike on the track.
Suzuki has a sharp looking bike coming out but needs someone at the top to throw a leg over it if they want to regain some respect after RC left.
I would love to hear your thoughts or some silly season rumors as we start to speculate the hot seats in 2018.
KTM started this year with RD5, MM25, & TC41, two out of the three have now retired and in theory has two openings, if they choose to fill both spots again.
Yamaha started the year with CR22 and CW2, but down to one for outdoors and nothing signed for the second spot at the moment I believe.
Honda's shining star is attempting what would be one hell of a comeback but does Honda add another one to the team for insurance if KR94 is not able to make it to the gate for A1?
RMATV - Butler Brothers has a hot commodity in BB4 and I would imagine there has to be some pressure from KTM for BB4 to take one of the retired bikes.
Kawi - They have to be content on where they stand right now with the Eli-te (Elite) of the sport at the moment and hang on to a lower tier guy to put a second bike on the track.
Suzuki has a sharp looking bike coming out but needs someone at the top to throw a leg over it if they want to regain some respect after RC left.
I would love to hear your thoughts or some silly season rumors as we start to speculate the hot seats in 2018.
Yamaha - they will have Webb and I doubt Reed will stay there, I am wondering if they will take on Barcia
Husky - they have Anderson and Dean
KTM - obviously have Marvin, I doubt BB will want to joint he factory team he is happy where he is, I think they might get Osbourne in the team and maybe a Troy Lee 250 rider to join the 450 team too? Reed could be an outside chance here
Honda - they have Seely and Roczen, and they will have JMart also on a factory 450 so I doubt they will get anyone else
Suzuki - I think they will stick with Bogle and Tickle and perhaps add Reed
Now this is pure, uninformed speculation right here, but I bet Barcia stays right where he is.
KTM is going to be fun to watch with two openings.
If 22 was staying Blue I would assume that would already be signed at this point.
The Shop
Reed is around for name recognition only at this point. I'd love to see him win some more, but I just can't see it happening.
I'd like to see Plessinger get a run at the yamaha 450. I think he could benefit from putting on some muscle and racing the big bore class.
It's impossible for them to get something above Marvin. There are 3 or 4 elite level riders in US. Marvin, Roczen, Eli and Anderson(he had a bad SX season but i think he is at the elite level). Both Roczen and Eli are locked in at their teams.
I would go with Tickle or Barcia for a 1 year deal + Reed for a SX only deal. Tickle will be a solid guy that will provide with top 10 finishes and sometimes even a podium finish. Barcia is Barcia, who knows at this point. It would be a last chance for him and a team to reignite the level we saw in 2013. Two different riders in different stages in their careers.
Then go for Webb in 2018 as a competitor for Marvin.
Where does Malcolm Stewart fit into all of this? An in shape Mookie with a full offseason of testing and training with a factory team could be a SERIOUS threat for a few race wins...
The asterisk for him is the bike. He will be fine if it's only the YZF 450 that holds him back but he is in trouble if it is the 450 in general.
It will be interesting to watch him ride the 18. Tonus looked good on it in Loket on Sunday.
Probably wouldnt take justin after his last ktm stint.
I think barcia goes to the gps to be close to his new missus.
Osbourne is likely to end up on a KTM is that doesn't happen.
AC to geico and McElrath takes his ride at Pro Circuit.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Craig end up over at Troy Lee or PC either.
RCH picks up Reed, Bogle will end up either at Kawi or Yamaha depending on how the top guys play out.
Pit Row
I think Plessinger would be a good fit as a KTM rider and teammate with Marvin.
Anderson and Wilson are locked in for next year.
Reed to RCH would be a good fit with his testing ability.
I think JG will stay at Kawi.
Barcia to GP's would make or break him.
Mookie, I dunno, anyone know if he's stayed in shape in the hope of getting a fill in ride? KTM have had an open spot since Hangtown...
Craig is locked in for another year at Geico.
Davalos should definitely get a 450 ride next year.
barcia will stay at jgr I think. he got engaged with his girl, so I guess he will bring her over then.
ktm, well they should go very cheap for '18 so they throw all their cash at webb in '19. I'd like to see bloss at the factory team and training with marvin, anderson and co.
also, please, please someone give fast freddy noren a good ride! the guy kills it year after year outdoors out of a bloody van.
With that said i have zero problems with him racing 250s if everyone else also can race 250s. Remove the pointing out rule.
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