Didnt see this coming

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Aug 19 2008, 02:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Another blurb



Ben Spies is close to signing up with the satellite Gresini Honda team, with Honda US contributing to the Italian team's budget in return. According to Spies manager Doug Gonda: “There are discussions, and things are moving fairly rapidly right now. But there are some decisions that are beyond out control. We hope to know in about ten days.” Asked why Suzuki was not trying harder to keep him, he said: “That's hard to figure. They tell me they'd like to keep him, but they haven't indicated to me how they would like to do it. There's been no firm offer.”


And should Ben win the title for Honda. Expect the Hayden treatment to continue. The paving of the road has started just like before! Remember they HRC stated that Hayden was forced onto them by Honda USA. While it was them HRC, that yanked the carpet from under Yamaha to get Hayden..............

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (evo9 @ Aug 19 2008, 01:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>And should Ben win the title for Honda. Expect the Hayden treatment to continue. The paving of the road has started just like before! Remember they HRC stated that Hayden was forced onto them by Honda USA. While it was them HRC, that yanked the carpet from under Yamaha to get Hayden..............

Forced or not,he is still the only rider to give Honda a title since you know who left.You would think that would cement him in their favor.Im not quite sure what your talking about that if Spies wins Honda a title,the Hayden treatment will continue.Nicky is a s good as gone from Honda and will ride a big red EYETALIAN machine next year.Or are you saying if Spies wins a title with Honda {aint going to happen} that Ducati would fire Hayden to hire Spies.Possible i guess but some weird .... would have to happen to get there.

Something else that could affect Spies decision would be a HUGE contract to stay in a new break away Superbike series in the states that could be confirmed later this week.The Japanese OEM's have said no to DMG about running their club racing next year.That also could be where the money from US Honda is coming from to put Spies in the sattelite Honda seat next year.Either way,one of the best silly seasons in a long time.

Melandri to Kawasaki is a good move in my opinion, especially seeing as they should have the screamer engine sorted out by next year.

I wouldn't mind if Spies goes to either Gresini or Xerox but I think Gresini would easily be the best bet as he needs to be in MotoGP asap. Still I think if Spies goes to Xerox it would be alot better than Biaggi or Byrne going and dissapointing on the 1098 next year.

2009 is beginning to look even better.

I remember a long thread about Spies decision not to race at Assen.Some said he should have raced,some said he shouldnt.Denning was reported to be pretty pissed that Spies didnt bail his ... out after Capirossi ended up not being able tp go.Is it coincidence that since then,he has gone from being a sure fire factory Suzuki rider to now being linked to a Honda Gp ride or a Ducati WSB ride.I said in that thread,that was not the way to impress the future boss.Could work out though,I would rather have a satelite Honda than a factory Suzuki.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Aug 19 2008, 11:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I remember a long thread about Spies decision not to race at Assen.Some said he should have raced,some said he shouldnt.Denning was reported to be pretty pissed that Spies didnt bail his ... out after Capirossi ended up not being able tp go.Is it coincidence that since then,he has gone from being a sure fire factory Suzuki rider to now being linked to a Honda Gp ride or a Ducati WSB ride.I said in that thread,that was not the way to impress the future boss.Could work out though,I would rather have a satelite Honda than a factory Suzuki.

I'm one of those who also believes that Denning was furious with Spies at Assen.

I really believe that everyone at Suzuki is fighting for their job, and many top people in that organization are prone to bouts of ridiculous righteous indignation due to stress.

As everyone knows, Suzuki have been trying to get free looks at Spies for a very long time, and they have never made him a serious offer. People who are prone to righteous indignation will never get along with someone as laid back and carefree as Spies.

This isn't the first time Spies has offended the people at Suzuki. Schwantz gave him an earful at the end of last season for skipping a testing session in Malaysia, I believe. In Spies' defense, problems are never solved by wishy washy team principles with little or no power, so I don't blame him for skipping regardless of what Schwantz or Denning had to say.

To preface, I'm drunk.

Denning is a tool. He has absolutely no control over anything at Rizla Suzuki other than the quotes attributed to him in the press releases. He's time and again ...... up, he might as well be what's his name? ...., can't remember. His predecessor. Anyways it's all the same rubbish. "We're Suzuki, we make the GSX-R1000, have you heard of it? It's the greatest bike ever made. So obviously the GSVR will be god eventually." And so on and so forth. Just another corporate mouthpiece perfectly content to sit there and spout the company line.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Aug 20 2008, 03:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>To preface, I'm drunk.

Denning is a tool. He has absolutely no control over anything at Rizla Suzuki other than the quotes attributed to him in the press releases. He's time and again ...... up, he might as well be what's his name? ...., can't remember. His predecessor. Anyways it's all the same rubbish. "We're Suzuki, we make the GSX-R1000, have you heard of it? It's the greatest bike ever made. So obviously the GSVR will be god eventually." And so on and so forth. Just another corporate mouthpiece perfectly content to sit there and spout the company line.

Yeah how dare he move Suzuki motogp into the best position its every been, what an .....

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Aug 20 2008, 02:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yeah how dare he move Suzuki motogp into the best position its every been, what an .....
The only reason they're anywhere is down to Vermeulen and now Capirossi. If they hadn't managed to get such top riders they'd be as far off as Kawasaki, if not further away.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Aug 20 2008, 02:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The only reason they're anywhere is down to Vermeulen and now Capirossi. If they hadn't managed to get such top riders they'd be as far off as Kawasaki, if not further away.
Good point.

Also, I like this quote from superbikeplanet:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>While some feel it is unthinkable that Hayden would leave Honda, if it does happen it would be at least the third dramatic rider departure Honda has suffered in recent times. HRC star Valentino Rossi left the HRC fold for the Yamaha MotoGP team. Casey Stoner left the LCR Honda squad for the Ducati team. Both riders won the coveted world championship the season after they left Honda.


Seems Honda likes to get rid of world champs. Not very smart in my opinion. As far as the last line, I HOPE HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Aug 20 2008, 11:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Good point.

Also, I like this quote from superbikeplanet:




Seems Honda likes to get rid of world champs. Not very smart in my opinion. As far as the last line, I HOPE HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.
I am sure he (Nicky) is breathing a sigh of releif since he doesn't have to shine dicheads shoes anymore. It should be good that he has a team that wasts him to be up front.