Joined Mar 2005
7K Posts | 20+
Woody Creek
It is rumored that at Le Mans Dani Pedrosa's mentor, 500cc legend Alberto Puig, had a gentlemen's handshake with the president of HRC that will see Dani Pedrosa ride a factory Honda RC211V for 2006. It is still unknown whether it will be with Repsol or Movistar colors and what garage he will park it in. Read the full story here....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>MotoGP: Pedrosa to Repsol Honda For 2006?
Works ride for Spanish hero
by toby hirst
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Certain sections of the Spanish press are today reporting that reigning 250cc World Champion Daniel Pedrosa will ride for the factory Honda team next season in the MotoGP class.
It is believed that Pedrosa's mentor, former 500cc legend Alberto Puig, got a handshake on the deal from HRC president Suguru Kanazawa at Le Mans during the race weekend and that a paper contract is imminent between the parties concerned.
Pedrosa would, if the rumor bares fruit, therefore be severing ties with Spanish telecommunications giant Telefonica, unless of course the rumored "contract" link between Telefonica and Repsol (formerly reported here) could be negotiated.
The current 250cc series points leader has been associated with the Telefonica brandname since being discovered by Puig and Fausto Gresini after riding in the Movistar Junior Cup in 1999.
Dani made his Grand Prix debut in 2001 and scored two podium finishes before winning three races in 2002, finishing third in the World Championship.
He won the 125cc World Title in 2003 and after recovering from horrific leg injuries following a huge accident at Phillip Island at the end of that season, Pedrosa won the 250cc crown in 2004 in his rookie year.
With the current contract between HRC and Repsol (natural gas and oil) expiring at the end of 2005, to have Pedrosa on board and "signed" would grease the wheels when it comes to Honda re-negotiating another contract with the Spanish company to remain for another season as title sponsor for the full works team.
This situation leads to an obvious one regarding Pedrosa's team-mate for 2006. Would it be Sete Gibernau, both on factory bikes, Sete running Movistar/Repsol and Pedrosa Repsol?
Or, would Nick Hayden, who has a two-year deal with HRC (signed during negotiations last year) remain in Repsol colors on a factory bike with Pedrosa, with Sete keeping his full works machine running with Melandri for Gresini?
Remember the split livery system at Yamaha last year? Could another deal be struck to see that system operate between Gresini and the works team, one bike of each livery in each garage? Maybe a stretch that one.
With Max Biaggi thought to have a one-year deal only, would the obvious young-gun partnership be on the cards (Pedrosa and Hayden) leaving Max to find alternative employment?
Of course, as with all things of this nature, until the signature is dry on HRC headed paper, it is unwise to hang the party banners out prematurely because as we often warn here, rumor is just that until the deal is done and announced.
For sure there will be more on this story as the weeks pass and we will bring you the latest when and if it breaks, stay tuned.
Courtesy www.superbikeplanet.com
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>MotoGP: Pedrosa to Repsol Honda For 2006?
Works ride for Spanish hero
by toby hirst
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Certain sections of the Spanish press are today reporting that reigning 250cc World Champion Daniel Pedrosa will ride for the factory Honda team next season in the MotoGP class.
It is believed that Pedrosa's mentor, former 500cc legend Alberto Puig, got a handshake on the deal from HRC president Suguru Kanazawa at Le Mans during the race weekend and that a paper contract is imminent between the parties concerned.
Pedrosa would, if the rumor bares fruit, therefore be severing ties with Spanish telecommunications giant Telefonica, unless of course the rumored "contract" link between Telefonica and Repsol (formerly reported here) could be negotiated.
The current 250cc series points leader has been associated with the Telefonica brandname since being discovered by Puig and Fausto Gresini after riding in the Movistar Junior Cup in 1999.
Dani made his Grand Prix debut in 2001 and scored two podium finishes before winning three races in 2002, finishing third in the World Championship.
He won the 125cc World Title in 2003 and after recovering from horrific leg injuries following a huge accident at Phillip Island at the end of that season, Pedrosa won the 250cc crown in 2004 in his rookie year.
With the current contract between HRC and Repsol (natural gas and oil) expiring at the end of 2005, to have Pedrosa on board and "signed" would grease the wheels when it comes to Honda re-negotiating another contract with the Spanish company to remain for another season as title sponsor for the full works team.
This situation leads to an obvious one regarding Pedrosa's team-mate for 2006. Would it be Sete Gibernau, both on factory bikes, Sete running Movistar/Repsol and Pedrosa Repsol?
Or, would Nick Hayden, who has a two-year deal with HRC (signed during negotiations last year) remain in Repsol colors on a factory bike with Pedrosa, with Sete keeping his full works machine running with Melandri for Gresini?
Remember the split livery system at Yamaha last year? Could another deal be struck to see that system operate between Gresini and the works team, one bike of each livery in each garage? Maybe a stretch that one.
With Max Biaggi thought to have a one-year deal only, would the obvious young-gun partnership be on the cards (Pedrosa and Hayden) leaving Max to find alternative employment?
Of course, as with all things of this nature, until the signature is dry on HRC headed paper, it is unwise to hang the party banners out prematurely because as we often warn here, rumor is just that until the deal is done and announced.
For sure there will be more on this story as the weeks pass and we will bring you the latest when and if it breaks, stay tuned.
Courtesy www.superbikeplanet.com
