A few more bits of the Jigsaw have fallen into place today, and it's looking interesting!

We now have:

Repsol Honda: Dani & Nicky both confirmed (just don't like each other anymore :lol1: )

Gresini Honda: Marco confirmed, Elias probably will be after yesterdays performance :eek:

Konica Minolta Honda: Probably Shinya Nakano

LCR Honda: Carlos Checa today confirmed to take Casey Stoners seat

Works Yamaha: Rossi confirmed, Edwards likely to stay

Tech 3 Yamaha: not sure yet

Works Ducati: Loris Capirossi confirmed, Casey Stoner probable team mate as he turned down new LCR offer

d'Antin Ducati: not sure yet

Kawaski: Randy DePuniet confirmed, Sete mentioned as possible No.1 rider

Suzuki: same line up as this year

Ilmor: not sure


Looks like the first year of 800 cc racing is going to be a belter :luxhello:

Thankfully, and a good result from the 800 running yesterday.

Edwards confirmed at the weekend.

was speaking to someone VERY close to Leon Haslam last week and they said it is "looking very, very good for him to go to motoGP next year"

Cant see where though? Surely not the graveyard of the D'antin duke squad?:cuckoo:

Edwards confirmed at the weekend.

was speaking to someone VERY close to Leon Haslam last week and they said it is "looking very, very good for him to go to motoGP next year"

Cant see where though? Surely not the graveyard of the D'antin duke squad?:cuckoo:

Love to see him do well in whatever he does, but would like him to stay one more year and win BSB:luxhello:

Is there any news if Team Roberts are going to run a second bike, or are they sticking with the one?. I know there were rumours, it's just if Honda would supply more engines.

Is there any news if Team Roberts are going to run a second bike, or are they sticking with the one?. I know there were rumours, it's just if Honda would supply more engines.

Don't know - haven't even heard them 100% confirm one bike (they were only on a year engine contract I think?) so that's why I didn't put them up. If they do have one bike then Kenny Jr's obviously gonna be riding it, pretty sure they have said that won't be running two whatever happens :confused:

was speaking to someone VERY close to Leon Haslam last week and they said it is "looking very, very good for him to go to motoGP next year"

Cant see where though? Surely not the graveyard of the D'antin duke squad?:cuckoo:

I can't photoshop, somebody do one of Leon riding a shed ;) :lol1:

Then we'll know what to expect if he does go d'Antin bound........

Don't know - haven't even heard them 100% confirm one bike (they were only on a year engine contract I think?) so that's why I didn't put them up. If they do have one bike then Kenny Jr's obviously gonna be riding it, pretty sure they have said that won't be running two whatever happens :confused:

Going from what Kenny Sr was saying to Suzi Perry & Steve Parrish on Sunday after the race, Junior is definitely back next year on a KR bike, and I would imagine Honda will be more than happy to give them an engine or two:)

PS I thought Max Biaggi was taking Nakano's place at Kawasaki? Or is that still unconfirmed?

Re: Stoner to Ducati, I thought Gibernau was on a two year deal?

Does anyone know the exact configuration of the outgoing RCV211 engine?

We all know it's a V5 but there were rumours of each bank of cylinders having different capacities etc and other sexy stuff ....

The new Honda engine's a V4 isn't it?

Repsol Honda: Dani & Nicky both confirmed (just don't like each other anymore :lol1: )



Garages either end of pit lane!!

Wheres SBradley? - he normally seems to know the insider information

I thought Gibernau was on a two year deal?

Let's hope not. That guy is a liability. He has bad karma too - I wouldn't want him in my team. :eek:

Mind you Stoner's not much better. ;) I thought they wanted Marco Melandri?

I'm here but Nido seems to have more on MotoGP than I do at the moment...

Now if you want to know about SBK then I'm yer man. But not until later - Scoobynet isn't exactly considered good value by the client for some odd reason...

SB

However.

KR Snr has a lot of respect for Leon and Honda look like they do have a spare engine.

Biaggi tested the Alstare Suzuki this week but personally I'd like to see him feck off back to GP. Put Chris Walker on the Suzuki and make it work.
Harold Eckl denies everything. But then, he would.

Gibernau has an injury clause in his contract and he's injured. Again. Bust his collarbone (I'm told) in the collision with Stoner last weekend. So all bets could be off there.

If Stoner goes to Ducati it'll be the poison chalice - d'Antin. Wouldn't be surprised to see Marco Melandri on the works Duke if Gibernau goes. 2 Italians, both race winners? Nearly the Dream team...

Elias is staying put, I'm told.

Camel Yamaha remaining as they are. Likewise Suzuki.

That's all I've got at the moment.

SB

Does anyone know the exact configuration of the outgoing RCV211 engine?

We all know it's a V5 but there were rumours of each bank of cylinders having different capacities etc and other sexy stuff ....

The new Honda engine's a V4 isn't it?

Not confirmed yet - but due to the new weight restrictions, a V5 is unlikely. There is talk of it even being a triple.


In any event, I would expect a return to Honda domination, at least in the short term, thier budget dwarfs anyone else, and any sort of regulation change in engine in going to benefit the team with the biggest pockets.

If Stoner goes to Ducati it'll be the poison chalice - d'Antin. Wouldn't be surprised to see Marco Melandri on the works Duke if Gibernau goes. 2 Italians, both race winners? Nearly the Dream team...


I'm 99% sure Melandri has already signed with Gresini for next year :wonder: HRC have said he'll have a factory(ish) bike, like Sete used to last year. Not the officail "works" bikes, Repsol are contracted to get all the best bits, but Marco will be first in line when they are handed downwards.

Pretty sure Stoner will be on the works bike at Ducati, as he has said that his main reason for leaving Honda is he'll be 4th / 5th in line for the new bits. He wants to be on a factory bike - and the d'Antin has never really been up to that description :D

Mistake on his part I think, but there we go!

Stoner to Ducati is a mistake on their part too, I'd say. Unless the 800 is like a 250 to ride, in which case he'll be OK. But it's a big bike and I reckon he'll spend more time building sandcastles than racing...

SB

Edwards confirmed at the weekend.

was speaking to someone VERY close to Leon Haslam last week and they said it is "looking very, very good for him to go to motoGP next year"

Cant see where though? Surely not the graveyard of the D'antin duke squad?:cuckoo:

Leon Haslam in Moto GP you are having a laugh!!!!!!!! He is ok on the British circuits on the best bike, but do us a favour what would he be like on a poor machine in moto gp. The Doctors car would overtake him on the first lap.

Dont get me wrong i really hope he could make it, but British riders do not get top rides on moto gp bikes. POLITICS!!!!!

Stoner is confirmed at Ducati, partnering Capirex. Gibernau out of this weekend's race as well having broken his right hand and detached the plate which was holding his collarbone together (ouch). Had surgery on Monday but is currently unemployed.

Careless Chucker confirmed at LCR Honda.

No news on Roberts but I reckon a second engine and Leon Haslam could be on the cards.

SB

Still no mention of who's riding for Ilmor next year either then?

Well Garry McCoy was testing it and rode it at Estoril. He's available, cheap and talented. Plus he's a good development rider (not called The Lab Rat for nothing) so I'd say he'd be a good choice...

SB

I think he is called the lab rat because he has an uncanny resemblance to one.......:lol1:

Well...yeah, there is that of course.

Nice bloke though. And his wife/girlfriend is seriously fit so he's obviously go something else going for him as well.

Apart from money, you bunch of cynics.

SB

Announced today that Alex Barros is off to ride the d'Antin GP07 :eek:

If he hasn't shown a decent season in however many years he'd been riding in GP for then what makes them think he's going to start now :confused:

Hmm - that'll piss Gerrit Ten Kate off - he wanted Barros as JT's team-mate.

SB

And Colin Edwards is confirmed as staying with Yamaha alongside Vale for another year... It's interesting that he confirmed it ages ago but Yamaha have only just released an official statement. Wonder if they had second thoughts and went after someone else?

Barros reckoned it was very hard transitioning to a Superbike and that GP bikes were easier to ride! I reckon he's full of it, despite a great ride at Imola. He certainly won't be missed in the SBK paddock, though with Biaggi along we won't be short of prima donnas. :rolleyes:

SB

...And a bit of a surprise - Makoto Tamada has signed for Tech3 Yamaha. I thought he was taking Shinya Nakano's place at Kawasaki. Maybe he believed the rumours about Biaggi going there as well and decided he'd be better off out of it...

SB

...And a bit of a surprise - Makoto Tamada has signed for Tech3 Yamaha. I thought he was taking Shinya Nakano's place at Kawasaki. Maybe he believed the rumours about Biaggi going there as well and decided he'd be better off out of it...

SB

Good point SB, but after the last two seasons off the Bridgestones, he's been nothing short of terrible - can't see he deserved another season unless he was back on the 'stones :mad:

But isn't Tech3 a (the) Dunlop team?

And the Minolta Honda was a Bridgestone bike, wasn't it?

I must have misunderstood - been a long week...

SB

But isn't Tech3 a (the) Dunlop team?

And the Minolta Honda was a Bridgestone bike, wasn't it?

I must have misunderstood - been a long week...

SB

Yes, the Tech 3 is Dunny, that's my point about him not racing again in MotoGP unless on Bridgestones.

No, the Konica Minolta bike has been on Michelins, 100% sure. Hence my argument that he's been on the best bike with the (over a season) best tyres and done sweet FA apart from 1 race (Sachsenring) when JR took him out.

Doesn't deserve another ride in my book :D :D