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He will do better than Chantra regardless of who is more talented. He made a good decision.
2025 Silly Season
- Thread starter mikesbytes
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Sadly, the issue is money/politics as you noted.
The second LCR bike is bankrolled by Idemistsu, and my understanding is they require a Japanese rider, OR a product of the Asian Talent Cup on the bike.
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Dixon, the rider that impresses enough times to make you remember him. Wins so rarely, it's heart warming to see.
Canet, also known as Mr.Podium. The best in the class to let first place slip away.
Roberts. Cool, different, and a serial user of second chances.
Vietti. Bred in the Academy. Trains wil some of the best riders in MotoGP. Maybe, someday, something will rub off on him at the Ranch.
Arbolino. Fantastic, until he knows there is an opportunity. Has taken post-MotoGP refusal depression syndrome to a new height.
Furusato could be ready in three years.
Or even Mario Aji is he starts running in the vicinity of the Top 10 in Moto2. Indonesia is a giant-... market.
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Now do Chantra and Agura. They are no different accept their passports. For the record I like Chantra and would love to see him be the best Honda.
Yes, I'm a conspiracy-theory-believing-nut-job and I cannot help but think Dixon's win at Silverstone was BS. He's led ONE lap this year in Moto2 and it just happened to be on the final lap of his home race. Canet was fast and flawless all race and then.....oopsie....I made a mistake.
Idemitsu sponsored seat.
You only get on it if you’re Asian.
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I am aware but its ridiculous. Even the untitled ..... colleges let in white people. Obviously motogp is not an equal opportunity employer. In the U.S. the token asian team would not be allowed to operate.
NASCAR has Drive for Diversity which excludes non-hispanic white males so no it would be allowed operate.
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Lorenzo used to rate Chantra some years ago... maybe he can be one of those who can do well in the premier class despite underwhelming Moto2 campaigns? Although even if he were the second coming of Quartararo, he won't do a thing on a satellite Honda.
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I see your point but drivers for diversity is very different. I just think its stupid that a team(sponsor) would be willing to take an inferior rider because to race because of his nationality. Its dumb.
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Like I said I like Chantra but I think Token Honda is .........
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Was sort of the point...
Take Acosta out of the equation, and what you have are flawed riders coming through from the second tier.
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Fair enough. Although I think Agura was a strange decision compared to Chantra. .... if all these riders are that flawed do a Jack Miller and move Alonso straight to gp.
Ogura was hired based on merit. Trackhouse could've hired an American but instead decided to go with a guy who they (and I) thought is more talented.
Ai didn't get to move up just because of his passport.
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Yes, he was. Yet you can still find chinks in his armour.
For what it's worth, Chantra is the fastest HRC rider in Moto2, I believe. So merit based upgrade, I guess.
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What are the 2026 contacts for Bagnaia, M Marquez and DiGi ? I’m wondering about the 2026 bike for Aldeguer? Will there be 4 GP26’s?
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Ducati Corse will build 3 bikes for the '25 season. So far, I haven't read anything about their commitments for the last season of the regulations.
If they are comfortable reallocating resources ahead of next season, my money would be on them continuing that trend and no contemplating a return to four factory bikes before '27.
I does seem that they would allow one factory spec bike for their prefered partner. That would mean that said rider would have to spend time testing parts during race weekends, before the reds.
