2025 Silly Season
- Thread starter mikesbytes
- Start date
Joined Nov 2012
992 Posts | 997+
Crash.net have an article on the 'dilemma' today, but it seems to pretty much be the same discussion as in this thread some time ago.
Who should VR46 pick? Our verdicts on the five key options
Our writers dissect the big decision that VR46 must make
In it, it says that Bulega is not keen on racing in MotoGP without some testing first. Seems sensible to me - arriving in MotoGP without preparation and not doing very well won't do his reputation any good.
Moto2 lads is interesting, but who? There are quite a few battles up and down the rankings, and taking riders out of that to race in MotoGP may disadvantage them. I suppose the 'obvious' Moto2 choice for VR46 in a variety of ways would be Aldeguer. But, I'm not sure that would be a popular choice in this forum. And he's right in there in the fight for 2nd in the championship. Arbolino? Gonzalez? Dixon again? I'm not relly thinking of the 'right' candidate.
Joined Mar 2016
2K Posts | 2K+
FNQ
Valentino himself. Just have to turn the 9 upside down.Crash.net have an article on the 'dilemma' today, but it seems to pretty much be the same discussion as in this thread some time ago.
Who should VR46 pick? Our verdicts on the five key options
Our writers dissect the big decision that VR46 must makewww.crash.net
In it, it says that Bulega is not keen on racing in MotoGP without some testing first. Seems sensible to me - arriving in MotoGP without preparation and not doing very well won't do his reputation any good.
Moto2 lads is interesting, but who? There are quite a few battles up and down the rankings, and taking riders out of that to race in MotoGP may disadvantage them. I suppose the 'obvious' Moto2 choice for VR46 in a variety of ways would be Aldeguer. But, I'm not sure that would be a popular choice in this forum. And he's right in there in the fight for 2nd in the championship. Arbolino? Gonzalez? Dixon again? I'm not relly thinking of the 'right' candidate.
Joined Feb 2020
979 Posts | 1K+
Bendigo Vic
Give someone new a chance to shine. Not a bitter old prune.
Joined Mar 2023
1K Posts | 1K+
Australia
Might give Bluega some indirect experience to help him win WSBK in 2025?
Agree with Bulega, he doesn't need a MotoGP ride, he needs to keep at it in WSBK.
The Diggia seat would be just for fun. So give it to Vietti. He is the next in line for VR46. Let him try it out in real life.
Joined Mar 2023
1K Posts | 1K+
Australia
Might be difficult to get a Moto2 rider due to their current contracts preventing them from missing a Moto2 race
Joined Sep 2015
733 Posts | 1K+
Office cubicle
Castrol set to replace Repsol as Honda's main sponsor. Expect some nice liveries if you've liked the LCR Castrol bikes over the years.
Honda Asia have confirmed their riders for 2025.
Furusato and Buasri in Moto3
Aji and Kunii in Moto2
Not expecting a lot from Kunii and Buasri.
Keeping Furusato in Moto3 is smart imo. He is fast but not very consistent yet.
Buasri didn't impress me a lot and he was quite old for a Moto3 rider. I guess they didn't have anyone in the pipeline to replace him. (except maybe Suzuki who would reach the age limit after 2025)
Kunii is probably an interim solution until Furusato moves up.
www.motorsport-magazin.com
www.motorsport-magazin.com
Furusato and Buasri in Moto3
Aji and Kunii in Moto2
Not expecting a lot from Kunii and Buasri.
Keeping Furusato in Moto3 is smart imo. He is fast but not very consistent yet.
Buasri didn't impress me a lot and he was quite old for a Moto3 rider. I guess they didn't have anyone in the pipeline to replace him. (except maybe Suzuki who would reach the age limit after 2025)
Kunii is probably an interim solution until Furusato moves up.
Honda Team Asia überrascht mit Rückkehrer: Das gesamte Moto2-Starterfeld für die Saison 2025
Die Moto2-Startaufstellung für 2025 nimmt mehr und mehr Formen an. In unserer Übersicht informieren wir über alle Vertragsabschlüsse und geben euch den Überblick.
www.motorsport-magazin.com
Honda Team Asia bleibt unverändert: Das gesamte Moto3-Starterfeld für die Saison 2025
Die Moto3-Startaufstellung für 2025 nimmt mehr und mehr Formen an. In unserer Übersicht informieren wir über alle Vertragsabschlüsse und geben euch den Überblick.
www.motorsport-magazin.com
Joined Sep 2015
733 Posts | 1K+
Office cubicle
Toprak Razgatlioglu wants MotoGP; “not interested in a deal like Marc Marquez’s”
Toprak Razgatlioglu sheds light on MotoGP move
“In 2026 we would like to go to MotoGP, that is our goal,” his manager Kenan Sofuoglu told GPOne.
“We will evaluate all the opportunities on the table.
“Should we not find the right proposal we may stay here in this championship.
“We want a factory package and a contract with the factory as, for example, works in Pramc with Jorge Martin.
“We are not interested in a deal like Marc Marquez’s with Gresini.
The last part is a bit rich. If arguably the best MotoGP rider of all time humbled himself in taking a satellite contract in order to return to the top and prove himself again, how can Toprak's manager expect better? I know Toprak is a special talent but he's still unproved outside of WSBK. Though I have the suspicion that if he were offered a "factory package" by one of the backmarkers he would also reject it. If he plans to get a factory Ducati/KTM/Aprilia contract straight away he's delusional.
Got to say I agree with you but see that Toprak manager is bleating they don’t have sponsorships like MM. Errr….. isn’t that part of your role Keenan?
This puts BMW in a happy position for next year. He’ll have to smoke the championship again to get a chance of a decent ride in MotoGP.
BMW have the most money of anyone likely to offer him large amounts of same anyway.
I am a big Toprak fan but suspect Lex is correct as he often is that what he does is great for superbikes but might not translate well to GP bike racing, even his body type. The days when superbikes were a better preparation for 500 premier class racing than the 125 and 250 classes were are long gone
Toprak has got me watching again and he appears to be good enough to supervene all the equalisation stuff, but I had been disinterested for a number of years after the Dorna takeover and preferred the days of the fabulous flying Flammini brothers; I am getting old. The UK seem to be keeping superbIkes going but the American scene which I enjoyed in the Nicky Hayden days seems to have largely died and there is not much profile in Australia either.
I am a big Toprak fan but suspect Lex is correct as he often is that what he does is great for superbikes but might not translate well to GP bike racing, even his body type. The days when superbikes were a better preparation for 500 premier class racing than the 125 and 250 classes were are long gone
Toprak has got me watching again and he appears to be good enough to supervene all the equalisation stuff, but I had been disinterested for a number of years after the Dorna takeover and preferred the days of the fabulous flying Flammini brothers; I am getting old. The UK seem to be keeping superbIkes going but the American scene which I enjoyed in the Nicky Hayden days seems to have largely died and there is not much profile in Australia either.
It's just Keenan's style of negotiations. He loves to lay down absolute boundaries.
He makes the to and fro, be more like a game of chicken, than a talking shop.
Would most likely fold if he was given a large quantity of cash.
It’s not really as outrageous as you make it out to be. He doesn’t have the luxury of taking a gamble for one season. Given his age, he only has one opportunity to impress or to establish himself. A season on an uncompetitive bike with bad results will completely tank the whole experiment.Toprak Razgatlioglu wants MotoGP; “not interested in a deal like Marc Marquez’s”
Toprak Razgatlioglu sheds light on MotoGP move
“In 2026 we would like to go to MotoGP, that is our goal,” his manager Kenan Sofuoglu told GPOne.
“We will evaluate all the opportunities on the table.
“Should we not find the right proposal we may stay here in this championship.
“We want a factory package and a contract with the factory as, for example, works in Pramc with Jorge Martin.
“We are not interested in a deal like Marc Marquez’s with Gresini.
The last part is a bit rich. If arguably the best MotoGP rider of all time humbled himself in taking a satellite contract in order to return to the top and prove himself again, how can Toprak's manager expect better? I know Toprak is a special talent but he's still unproved outside of WSBK. Though I have the suspicion that if he were offered a "factory package" by one of the backmarkers he would also reject it. If he plans to get a factory Ducati/KTM/Aprilia contract straight away he's delusional.
And that is why Keenan said that if they can’t get the right ride, he will say in WSBK.
Joined Feb 2020
979 Posts | 1K+
Bendigo Vic
I see him staying in WSBK then. Enough talent in there now and more coming through that I don't see the factory Ducati being available. There appears to be only one possibly available in 26 at this stage.
Toprak can move in '27, when the bikes are new to everyone. It wouldn't be a great shock. As for Keenan, he said more or less the same thing a few years back, after Toprak won his first title in WSBK.
If we look at the brands and riders, only Ducati Corse have a line up for the 25 - 26 seasons that can mature into a natural continuation.
Aprilia have Martin - while Bezzecchi's talent still need to be proven on track
KTM have Acosta - Binder I really like, yet can be placed at their second team if he hasn't come closer to winning the championship before 27 than so far
HRC have....only riders who are replaceable
Yamaha have Quartararo and a sweet spot for anyone with world champion winning talent
So you have potentially 5 seats for Toprak. I could see a bidding war, if BMW aren't taking their rightful spot in the top class.
If we look at the brands and riders, only Ducati Corse have a line up for the 25 - 26 seasons that can mature into a natural continuation.
Aprilia have Martin - while Bezzecchi's talent still need to be proven on track
KTM have Acosta - Binder I really like, yet can be placed at their second team if he hasn't come closer to winning the championship before 27 than so far
HRC have....only riders who are replaceable
Yamaha have Quartararo and a sweet spot for anyone with world champion winning talent
So you have potentially 5 seats for Toprak. I could see a bidding war, if BMW aren't taking their rightful spot in the top class.
Joined Nov 2012
992 Posts | 997+
According to this article David Alonso could have arrive in MotoGP in an ideal timing
David Alonso could possibly arrive in MotoGP in 2027. Which could be a good year to arrive as with the new technical regulations all the riders will be adapting to different bikes from what they are used to.
It won't be a completely even field, as the power of the engines will be much more similar to current MotoGP than Moto2. But, every little helps.
David Alonso could possibly arrive in MotoGP in 2027. Which could be a good year to arrive as with the new technical regulations all the riders will be adapting to different bikes from what they are used to.
It won't be a completely even field, as the power of the engines will be much more similar to current MotoGP than Moto2. But, every little helps.
Sad, but true, I do have a lot of respect for Zarco though.
