2009 Grids

Bold = official

<span style="color:#FF0000<u>WSBK</u>

<u>Ducati Corse</u>
Noriyuki Haga
Michel Fabrizio

<u>Yamaha Motor Italia</u>
Tom Sykes
Ben Spies

<u>Alstare (Suzuki)</u>
Max Neukirchner
Yukio Kagayama

<u>BMW Motorrad</u>
Troy Corser
Ruben Xaus

<u>Ten Kate (Honda)</u>
Jonathan Rea
Carlos Checa
Ryuichi Kiyonari

<u>Aprilia Corse</u>
Max Biaggi
Alex Hofmann or Alex Debon or Roberto Rolfo

<u>Sterilgarda Go Eleven (Ducati)</u>
Shakey Byrne
Alex Polita

<u>Stiggy Motorsport (Honda)</u>
Leon Haslam

<u>Althea (Honda)</u>
Tommy Hill

<u>RG (Ducati)</u>
Fonsi Nieto or Brendan Roberts or Ben Bostrom

<u>DFX (Kawasaki)</u>
Karl Muggeridge
Luca Scassa

<u>Boulder Motorsport (Ducati)</u>
Jake Zemke

<span style="color:#FF0000<u>WSS</u>

<u>Yamaha Germany</u>
Carl Crutchlow
Fabien Foret

<u>Ten Kate (Honda)</u>
Kenan Sofuoglu
Andrew Pitt

<u>Althea (Honda)</u>
Broc Parkes
Robin Harms

<u>Glaner (Kawasaki)</u>
Joan Lascorz
Katsuaki Fujiwara

<span style="color:#FF0000<u>BSB</u>

<u>Rizla Suzuki</u>
Sylvain Guintoli

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yago @ Sep 25 2008, 02:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'><u>BSB</u>

Er... will there be any body left apart from Leon Camier?

There will only be Leon Camier and Karl Harris . . .although Leon Camier will win because Karl Harris will bin it every race

i thought sykes was goin to supersport?

Awesome post Yago, thanks for starting it.

Wow, I saw that Corser one in bold and went, "did I miss something", so I went to crash.net, sure enough the rumors have finally come true, Corser to BMW. This really makes me wonder what the hell is wrong with Factory Yamaha. They had two of the greatest riders this year on their bike, both capable of winning the championship and they bail out. Haga's is understandable as the Ducati is a proven winner, BMW is an unknown though. Maybe the money was good and Corser feels like doing some development time?

I am also surprised to see Zemke in bold for the new Boulder team. I haven't seen any info on that move, where is your source? Zemke is one of my favorite riders, great guy, if he is going to WSBK I wish him the best of luck. I also hope Hayes and Laverty can find a place in WSS next year.

It seems like everyone is leaving for WSBK or WSS. Lots of opportunity for other guys to win the AMA or BSB this year.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>i thought sykes was going to supersport?

That's Carl Crutchlow

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>I am also surprised to see Zemke in bold for the new Boulder team.

I'm not sure it is 100% official, I read it on a French website.

I believe the reason for Corser leaving Yamaha was a salary cut.

There is a rumour saying Rolfo has signed with Aprilia to partner Biaggi. I use to like him as a 250 rider but he has not been very convincing in WSBK...

And there is another possible rider for Althea's Supersport team in Frenchman Matthieu Lagrive.

Official :

Spies to Yamaha
Byrne to Sterilgarda
Kyo and Checa renew with Ken Take

Added:
Guintoli will ride for Rizla in BSB

Bayliss' retirement and Haga's move to Xerox Ducati worries me.

Next year there will be no Bayliss. Corser, Biaggi, and Xaus will be working on new bikes. Yamaha of Italy will be sorting out two new riders and a new R1. So with all the new elements on the grid, who will stop Haga? Hopefully Neukirchner will be more consistent late in the season and Kiyonari will be a front runner from the start. Then there's Johnny Rea in his rookie year...

Although I love Haga, he's not one of the most consistent riders out there

I went to Boulder Motorsport on Monday. Not a word about who they'll have. I did get wink, with rumors to another American rider to another team, but not sure if it is official.

I just looked. It was Spies to Yamaha.

When I heard Haga and Corser were leaving I really wondered what team Yamaha will have and now they've got a very exciting line-up

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mr. Shupe @ Oct 1 2008, 06:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Bayliss' retirement and Haga's move to Xerox Ducati worries me.

Next year there will be no Bayliss. Corser, Biaggi, and Xaus will be working on new bikes. Yamaha of Italy will be sorting out two new riders and a new R1. So with all the new elements on the grid, who will stop Haga? Hopefully Neukirchner will be more consistent late in the season and Kiyonari will be a front runner from the start. Then there's Johnny Rea in his rookie year...
Don't forget Checa.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Stevo @ Oct 1 2008, 03:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Don't forget Checa.

True, hopefully he will be more consistent. Improving his starts would go a long way towards that goal...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mr. Shupe @ Oct 1 2008, 06:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Bayliss' retirement and Haga's move to Xerox Ducati worries me.

Next year there will be no Bayliss. Corser, Biaggi, and Xaus will be working on new bikes. Yamaha of Italy will be sorting out two new riders and a new R1. So with all the new elements on the grid, who will stop Haga? Hopefully Neukirchner will be more consistent late in the season and Kiyonari will be a front runner from the start. Then there's Johnny Rea in his rookie year...

I have had the same thoughts Shupe. Next year looked to be more of a "building" year in WSBK. But who knows, as others have pointed out Ten Kate is going to have a great line up and is championship proven and of course if Suzuki and Neukirchner can get things moving as they did the first half of this year. I think we are looking at a great year, at the least it is going to be a grid full of massive talent and fun to see everyone lined up in all that new livery. Being a Haga fan I hope he can pull off a championship, the factory Ducati has always been the championship maker for so many others.

RG wants to sign Fonsi Nieto if he does not leave for MotoGP and the third Kawasaki.

Ben Bostrom has also been linked with RG.

And the team DFX changes its Honda for Kawasaki and wants to keep Muggeridge.

Leon Haslam confirmed as Stiggy's number one rider as the team moves to WSBK.

The second rider should be one of the two actual Stiggy WSS riders.