Canepa out, Espargaro in at Estoril ?

Rumours are building that, despite Mika Kallio's return to Pramac Ducati, Aleix Espargaro could continue with the team at Estoril - in place of Niccolo Canepa.

Espargaro thrived after being thrown in the MotoGP deep end, in place of Kallio, at Indianapolis and Misano.

Despite no prior knowledge of a MotoGP machine, the 20-year-old beat at least one rider in every track session at Indy - on his way to 13th in the race - then broke new ground with tenth (out of 17 riders) in Saturday morning free practice at Misano.

The Spaniard, whose best race finish in the lower grand prix classes is fourth position, then rode from 15th to eleventh in the San Marino Grand Prix - and stunned by setting the fifth fastest race lap.

Although Kallio is now moving back to the satellite team after substituting for Casey Stoner at Ducati Marlboro, Espargaro - who underwent an arm-pump operation straight after Misano - could remain in MotoGP for the final four rounds, albeit at Canepa's expense.

The Italian rookie, the youngest rider on the grid prior to Espargaro's arrival, came into the premier-class as a former FIM Superstock champion and Ducati test rider - but no experience as a 125 or 250GP rider.

The mechanical engineering student has done a solid, if unspectacular, job during his first 13 races, matching Kallio's best finish of eighth on the satellite bike (the Finn claimed seventh in his final factory appearance) and finishing all but the Indianapolis round, when he suffered a technical problem.

Unfortunately for Canepa, he was outpaced by Espargaro in every track session except warm-up (when Espargaro fell) at his home Misano circuit. Canepa also set a best race lap 0.775sec slower than his team-mate on his way to 13th out of 14 finishers.

GPone.com states that the rider switch 'seems certain' and that Espargaro 'has a plane ticket to Estoril'. However, Canepa's manager Carlo Pernat (also manager of Loris Capirossi) insists his rider has a contract until the end of the season, which he expects to be honoured.

The Italian website believes that a settlement with Canepa will be reached.

Canepa is 16th in the world championship standings and the last of the full time riders. Kallio, who missed Laguna Seca (Drive Laguna Seca on Need for Speed Shift: Out Friday) , is 16 points and one place ahead of him. Both Canepa and Espargaro have been linked with a Moto2 ride for Pramac next season.

Pramac has so far been unable to confirm its Estoril rider line-up to Crash.net.

crash net

personally im not a friend of riderchanges during the season. but in the case of caneppa: i think it d be ok! of course you can say caneppa doenst know the tracks, but like written: look at espargaros times! tough business where only the fastest may stay....so go aleix

sucks for canepa but espargaro has shown that he warrants a place in the field for a bit longer at the very least. plus he will probably be able to entice in a few more sponsors for pramac in 2010 than canepa can..

Espargaro is clearly the better Moto GP rider, so I'd vote for him to replace Canepa.

Nothing against Niccolo, but solid backmarker performances just aren't enough.

Aleix Espargaro's 5th fastest time in the race is highly suspect, apparently. Apparently the guy made a mistake, and cut a section of the track to set that time.

Still, even forgetting that point, he was very impressive. Great wildcard performances!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RCV600RR @ Sep 16 2009, 01:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Aleix Espargaro's 5th fastest time in the race is highly suspect, apparently. Apparently the guy made a mistake, and cut a section of the track to set that time.

Still, even forgetting that point, he was very impressive. Great wildcard performances!
Definatly something strange with his fastest lap if you look at the section times too. Section 1 was very very fast.

Espargaró has been confirmed as Pramac rider till the end of the season according to www.motociclismo.es (Spanish)

Seems to me a very logical decision, the difference in performance despite Espargaró's lack of experience was embarrasing for Canepa, who shouldn't have been in MotoGP in first place. Canepa will remain in the team looking forward to keep on with his testing duties and be part of the 2010 Moto2 Pramac team.

It's been a curious year for Aleix, started out with no ride, raced a couple of races as a substitute in 250cc with good results while he was racing the Moto2 prototype in the Spanish Extreme (SBKish) championship and now he's gonna finish the season in MotoGP.

good on him Canepa been a mobile chicane all yr

Kropotkin has Canepa seeing out the season despite Pramac's desire for Espargaro. Ducati think it would be bad for their image if they dropped him so late, especially after the public courting of Lorenzo, Spies and Pedrosa.

Kropotkin: Canepa Retains Pramac Seat At Estoril, Espargaro Out Again