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Edited Date/Time
7/31/2012 6:39am
New rumors via Soup...
Hayden is vehemently denying any WSBK rumors. I gotta ask, since Yamaha of America is the main reason Spies has his factory ride and the main reason why he might stick around another season being that he is an American... why isnt Hayden in their discussion? Hayden is more marketable than Dovi, Spies, and Cal put together.
Seems like the Cal to Ducati deal is dead. It would have been signed by now if it were to happen. Cal was expecting it at Mugello and Ducati never presented it.
Dumb rumors about Marlboro and Rossi leaving Ducati for Yamaha. Similar dumb rumors were started about CocaCola a while back also. There is no evidence to substantiate either one of the claims though. Ive looked everywhere.
Here's what might go down...
Rossi and Hayden stay with Ducati.
Dovi to Gresisni (HRC has openly stated they could see themselves giving him a factory spec bike again). If this doesnt happen, and Gresini doesnt land Rossi, expect them to not even have a satellite Honda next year and just run two CRT's and Dovi will leave GP for a factory WSBK seat.
Cal gets the #2 factory Yamaha. His Tech3 bike is up for grabs. Maybe Edwards returns?
Prmac is going to fold unless Ducati steps in. Cardion might pull sponsorship of Karel Abrams satellite Ducati. Both Abrams and Barbera will be looking for rides. Or, as has been discussed, a joint team is formed. Who know's if Ducati will support a joint team though. They definitely want to save one of the satellite bikes for Ianonne and would like to save a spot for Petrucci.
Suzuki returns and they take on Spies and bring back Bautista.
And then their is BMW. Who could show up relatively unannounced and bring some of the WSBK guys with them. Many top guys in SBK are without contracts right now.
As for Laguna...
Ducati should be unveiling new bits and pieces of their new setup. It will take several races for the bikes overhaul to be completed but expect the 2013 spec Desmo to be in use in-full by Sept.
Pedrosa might be using the 2013 RCV this weekend as well.
I really wish I was going to this race. Next year for sure.
Hayden is vehemently denying any WSBK rumors. I gotta ask, since Yamaha of America is the main reason Spies has his factory ride and the main reason why he might stick around another season being that he is an American... why isnt Hayden in their discussion? Hayden is more marketable than Dovi, Spies, and Cal put together.
Seems like the Cal to Ducati deal is dead. It would have been signed by now if it were to happen. Cal was expecting it at Mugello and Ducati never presented it.
Dumb rumors about Marlboro and Rossi leaving Ducati for Yamaha. Similar dumb rumors were started about CocaCola a while back also. There is no evidence to substantiate either one of the claims though. Ive looked everywhere.
Here's what might go down...
Rossi and Hayden stay with Ducati.
Dovi to Gresisni (HRC has openly stated they could see themselves giving him a factory spec bike again). If this doesnt happen, and Gresini doesnt land Rossi, expect them to not even have a satellite Honda next year and just run two CRT's and Dovi will leave GP for a factory WSBK seat.
Cal gets the #2 factory Yamaha. His Tech3 bike is up for grabs. Maybe Edwards returns?
Prmac is going to fold unless Ducati steps in. Cardion might pull sponsorship of Karel Abrams satellite Ducati. Both Abrams and Barbera will be looking for rides. Or, as has been discussed, a joint team is formed. Who know's if Ducati will support a joint team though. They definitely want to save one of the satellite bikes for Ianonne and would like to save a spot for Petrucci.
Suzuki returns and they take on Spies and bring back Bautista.
And then their is BMW. Who could show up relatively unannounced and bring some of the WSBK guys with them. Many top guys in SBK are without contracts right now.
As for Laguna...
Ducati should be unveiling new bits and pieces of their new setup. It will take several races for the bikes overhaul to be completed but expect the 2013 spec Desmo to be in use in-full by Sept.
Pedrosa might be using the 2013 RCV this weekend as well.
I really wish I was going to this race. Next year for sure.
Hayden at the Springfield Mike about 2000.
The Shop
Im already ready for silly season to get into full swing. next year should be a good one. maybe 2013 will be the year Kenan Sofuoglu tries his hand at Superbike again alongside Tom Sykes at Kawasaki. Loris Baz might have wrapped up that seat though. (it kills me inside to know that Joan Lascorz is most likely paralyzed from the waist down)
Tyler O'Hara
not sure who would be available to come over from BSB, the only Ducati team left is the one funded by Bin-Laden and Scott Smart just cant get the job done.
Just watching my recordings of the WSB and BSB races from the weekend. Our MX clubs brightest propect from a few years ago, made his debut in BSB chapionship this weekend - Danny Buchan. So proud of him, it's a real achievement. The silly thing is he gave up MX and went 'to tarmac' because he was fed up 'breaking bones' and he missed what should of been his debut on the MSS Kawasaki team, a couple of weeks ago, because he'd fractured a couple of vertebrae by crashing whiledoing a spot of MX racing at a local midweek meeting.
BTW Seth, that's quite an avatar photo you've got there!
the avatar: fuckin Havasu.
It really sucks. The kid has the money and he has talent but he cant get a decent bike to save his life. Really makes Dorna look like the fools they are for the environment they've created.
If LCR ends up with two satellites that would really be something for that team. Which Ive felt, has outperformed the official satellite team of Gresini over the years.
Ianonne is gonna end up on a Ducati I think.
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jul/120724spiesnoy.htm
Pit Row
His will to win is almost freakish.
I dont know why he has had such a lousy year but it wouldnt surprise me if it has something to do with Zeelenberg.
He has never mentioned Spies in any postrace enterviews. he acts like he isnt even on the team.
My guess is there was a dust up between these two,
Ben hasnt had that win-at-all costs look in his eye all year. And we know he is much better than he has shown. MUCH BETTER. He is a championship contender that is in 10th place. With Rossi, we know the issue, with Ben, we dont know it and it doesnt get nearly the attention but it should, he's every bit as talented as any of them.
Sounds like he's already got his next ride lined up and it sounds like he'll be in MotoGP. We have to believe Suzuki is coming back at this point.
This whole time I thought there was something of a personal nature that was distracting Spies. In my experiences, there is so much shit that goes on in any athletes private life that can derail things and we as fans never give it credit. But being that he didnt wait for the official release from Yamaha to make his announcement, this tells me that their is a rift within the team.
Remember last year when his mechanics left a wrench in his bike?
He did this during the USGP stretch. That is a PR nightmare for Yamaha. A total slap in the face to them. That is telling.
Hard to believe that he's upset with Yamaha but that seems like the case. Of any of the Japanese manufacturers, they are by far the best one to have a career with. This will be the first time that I can think of that someone had a problem with Yamaha politics and left what seems like an ideal situation.
I wonder if we will get the full story.
Word on the street right now is that he will be released once the US rounds are over. If that happens, that would allow him to begin testing immediately with Suzuki IF they plan on a return.
Although, I find it hard to believe he'd be so happy to return to that manufacturer. They are notoriously cheap. Kenny Robert Jr's 2000 title winning bike had parts in it from Kevin Schwantz's 1993 bike for the simple fact that they were being frugal.
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jul/120724-11a.htm
"Euro slanted prism"? Hardly. Manufactures and riders from around the world, competing in the ultimate results driven business. With so many quality riders competing for so few competitive seats, for sure, lack of results will be treated harshly. It's absolutely right that Ben is a super talent and a special rider but this year, something's not right and judging by the results of the three other M1s, it's not the bike.
I hope whatever is taking the edge off his riding get's sorted and he can come back and show again the talent that he, clearly, posseses. But, as to the article, saying that "the wheels don't fall off the wagon that quickly" ,sadly, that's just not true. They have plenty of times in the past at this level and will do so again. Whether that's the case with Ben I don't know, only time will tell.
Where Rossi goes is anyones guess. Everyone is taking advantage of the hype and posting ridiculous theories on their sites. Gresini, Factory Yamaha, and Ducat all are pretty much on equal footing at the moment.
Dovi is going to end up at Gresini with a factory spec bike or in WSBK.
The hot rumor with Spies is that he's going to BMW in WSBK. Wherever he lands, it appears his deal is already done. He aint retiring as some have suggested. He said he's taking his personal sponsors with him and "a new chapter...back where he was meant to be".
And Rossi finally admits that he has "other" options on the table. I truly believe he wants to make the Ducati work. He's giving them every chance to get it together.
Colin Edwards is in rare form. He will be missed when he is gone. A true throwback.
Spies had some very telling clues as to his next move. He repeatedly said he knew what his plans were but that he didnt know where he'd be racing, or something to that effect. Which further leads me to believe that he is returning to Suzuki since it is still unclear if they will be ready by 2013.
Prmac will be gone. And Karel Abrahams father says they want to go to another manufacturer. So Ducati is looking at running two teams. One under the Ducati banner and another under the Audi banner.
It appears they are making plans whether Rossi stays or goes. It's all up in the air.
Ive made a lot of predictions of the last two months, but here are my final two scenarios that I think are plausible.
HRC - Pedrobot
HRC - Marquez
Gresini - CRT (or Dovi if Rossi goes Yamaha)
LCR - Bradl
Yamaha - Jorge
Yamaha - Dovi or Rossi
Tech3 - ?
Tech3 - Smith
Ducati - Rossi (or Dovi as the #2 behind Hayden if Rossi goes Yamaha)
Ducati - Hayden
DucAudi - Cal (or Petrucci if Rossi goes Yamaha, does Abrahams stand a chance at getting this spot?)
DucAudi - Iannone
Suzuki - Spies
Suzuki - Bautista
BMW - It is possible they enter as early as 2013, for sure in 2014
Kawasaki - has a sponsor and rider in line for a 2014 return Ive heard
Aprilia - Staying with CRT bikes and picking on WSBK. Too scared to drag Biaggi's ass back into the real battle of MotoGP prototype racing.
dePuniet will probably end up in WSBK. Which sucks. But so does CRT.
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