BecaBuilding on the Dani quitting rumors...

i bet a few people are going to get a boot up the arse,for making hrc the laughing stock of the paddock

Dunno about Dani being cold and calculating. He's just shy!!!
Honda will always have a pool of riders to choose from. It's still hard to get one's head around how ..... their bike is this year though. I don't think a visit from the Prez will unfaze Dani. He might be tiny but I don't think he's a pushover. He's just making a statement that he's willing to listen if anyone is willing to approach.

I think riders will still be queing for Repsol Honda seats, they'll get someone to ride them (CV perhaps).

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Jun 27 2007, 09:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i bet a few people are going to get a boot up the arseThat's a dead cert.

don't be surprised if pedrosa leaves. he signed with factory honda on the 211v's reputation and did reasonably well his rookie year on the best bike.

his 2nd year, the rules change and he's found himself on possibly the 4th worst bike on the grid (burgess' words, not mine).

however, don't be surprised if honda gets it figured out and the 08 211v once again becomes the bike to have.

the real interesting fight is now between bridgestone and michelin; not so much the bikes. that tire rule really shook things up. we'll see how the rules change for 08 and how well michelin can catch up to bridgestone during the rest of the season.

If Hayden somehow escapes his HRC contract and Ducati choose him over Melandri I would wet myself. Stoner and Hayden on Ducatis would be a dream team for me. Not too terribly far fetched considering they are pretty decent friends off track.

Pedrosa is going nowhere!! I guarantee he'll be on a honda next year. Maybe he should sign with Ilmor!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ThePhorest @ Jun 27 2007, 09:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>EDIT: Crap, can't fix the title. Oops!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/60188

Honda president's visit fuels line-up talk

By Toby Moody Tuesday, June 26th 2007, 15:28 GMT

Honda president Takeo Fukui is to make a rare appearance at a MotoGP race in Holland this weekend, autosport.com has learned, amid growing speculation about the future of Repsol Honda's works riders.

Fukui does not attend many races and his presence at Assen, just one day before his scheduled visit to the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours, has been viewed by some as significant.

The last time Fukui was present at a MotoGP event was at Motegi last year, when then protracted negotiations with Nick Hayden were resolved within 24 hours of his arrival and a new two-year deal agreed.

Fukui's decision to attend Assen comes amid suggestions that both Dani Pedrosa and Hayden's future with Repsol Honda are in doubt on the back of a disappointing start to the campaign.

Honda's new 800cc bike has not yet won a race, while ex-Honda rider Casey Stoner has won five of the eight events so far on a Ducati. The last works Repsol Honda victory was 14 races ago at Laguna Seca last July, when Hayden was victorious.

Sources have suggested that both riders are unimpressed by the fortunes of Honda and their unease has increased with the news that the next major updates on their bike are not scheduled until the Czech Grand Prix in late August.

Pedrosa has stalled on signing a new contract with the team, and openly told the Spanish press earlier this week that it would be foolish to ignore other chances in the pitlane.

"You can't shut your eyes and think that there's only one option available," he said.

And although Hayden has another year to run on his contract, there has been some speculation that he is courting Ducati about making a switch to the Italian manufacturer next year. He was offered a deal by them last season before re-signing with his current team.

==============================================

What do you guys make of this? I can't imagine both of the Repsol boys on different teams next year!! Especially Dani. He seems to fit in at Honda with his cold calculating personality. Nicky on a Ducati would be a sight. He's always been a Honda guy.

Stoner and Pedrosa would be a dream team as theyre both small and caseys weight does contribute somewhat to the racing x

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Son of Doohan @ Jun 28 2007, 02:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Pedrosa is going nowhere!!

Agree. I think it just good old contract posturing. He’s got the leverage at the moment. But when Honda's improve, everybody will be knocking on their door, and first in line will be Pedrosa.

Sometimes I think I'm watching a different sport to everyone else. To hear people talk (whether it be here on the forum or in the press) the 2007 Honda is the 2006 Yamaha: a pile of ..... cobbled together by a couple of drunk ex-Trabant engineers.

It's obviously not the best thing on the grid (Ducati) but I think overall it compares favourably to everything else.

How quickly people forget. What of the best race of the season in Catalunya? A Honda finished only .390 of second down on the race winner (and if Pedrosa didn't haul on the anchors a full 10 seconds before every other rider he might've done better).

It's been a while between race wins, no denying that, but on the podium front it doesn't look so bad: 3 for Suzuki, 6 for Honda, 7 for Yamaha, 8 for Ducati so far. Maybe it's because we're used to seeing Honda dominate the top ten placings--and that's not happening this season--that all the talk of doom and gloom is louder than it should be.

Besides, if Rossi can blame Michelin, surely HRC can just as easily make the same excuse.

But the quote from the Autosport article that makes me laugh the most is: "Sources have suggested that both riders are unimpressed by the fortunes of Honda and their unease has increased with the news that the next major updates on their bike are not scheduled until the Czech Grand Prix in late August."

Hello? Both riders just got a new chassis at the Catalunya round and it has clearly helped Hayden return to the top bracket of the timesheets in practice at Donington and now Assen. More to the point, the post-race tests at Catalunya are the last for everybody until after Laguna Seca. I guess there's no pleasing some people.

I think the chances of seeing different riders in Repsol livery next year are small. The only way HRC would let Hayden out of his contract would be if they pushed him sideways into another Honda team; I suppose that could be on the cards if he finishes the season as badly as he started it. But then who would take his place Vermeulen?

And where would Pedrosa go? Kawasaki or Suzuki? It'd be a massive gamble to think their 2008 models would be better than Honda when arguably it's not the case in 2007. Yamaha? I can only see that happening if he and Puig took the Repsol money with them and set up their own team. Ducati? That would be quite a coup for both parties, but my gut feeling is that they would take an Italian as their second rider (if, in fact, they don't end up keeping Capirossi).





Perhaps I should've saved that line for a Top Ten list...

Besides, if Rossi can blame Michelin, surely HRC can just as easily make the same excuse.

i would bet that is most of the problem rs.

Click to expand...

I wish all these complainers would leave Honda. Next year, Honda will probably have the best bike out in the field and a rookie like Toseland will end up winning the championship on a Honda

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (crvlvr @ Jun 28 2007, 06:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I wish all these complainers would leave Honda. Next year, Honda will probably have the best bike out in the field and a rookie like Toseland will end up winning the championship on a Honda

No chance

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rising Sun @ Jun 28 2007, 05:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Besides, if Rossi can blame Michelin, surely HRC can just as easily make the same excuse.

Well the Bridgestone Hondas have all the same problems so that helps to eliminate that as a significant factor.

Leave Dani, you're probably the best rider bar Stoner in the paddock, go to the empty space Capirex is leaving at Ducati.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Haga @ Jun 28 2007, 08:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Leave Dani, you're probably the best rider bar Stoner in the paddock, go to the empty space Capirex is leaving at Ducati.

The risk of riding in the same team as your main competitor is that you might find out he is better than you. Dani should stick with Honda, they will sort it out.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jun 28 2007, 08:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The risk of riding in the same team as your main competitor is that you might find out he is better than you. Dani should stick with Honda, they will sort it out.

I suppose you are right, thats probably why Rossi doesn't want Lorenzo at Yamaha.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Haga @ Jun 28 2007, 08:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I suppose you are right, thats probably why Rossi doesn't want Lorenzo at Yamaha.

I don't believe Rossi is affraid of Lorenzo.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jun 28 2007, 08:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't believe Rossi is affraid of Lorenzo.

Well its either he's afaid of Lorenzo or he's afraid of losing his henchman Edwards.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Haga @ Jun 28 2007, 08:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Well its either he's afaid of Lorenzo or he's afraid of losing his henchman Edwards.
what makes you say that then mate ? elaborate please