Espargaro to Yamaha?

thedeal

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But you are all missing the point, Pol hasn't won yet!!!!!!!!  Sic,Bradl and Marky all won the title but three races in and he's the next thing.

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He's been the next thing for a while now. Casey never won a 250 title. Iannone didn't win and he's got a satellite ride—not a desirable one, but one nonetheless. His talent is there for all to see; even if he doesn't win a title this year, his potential makes signing him worth it even if it means losing Crutchlow. (Who, I might remind you, despite his admittedly impressive performances, hasn't won anything, either.)

BJ.C

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Had my fair share of T's, GT's, RD's, RG's, RZ's, TZR's, TDM's... they are great. Always wanted a KR-1, but was (wisely) steered away by more knowledgeable friends. Never had an NSR. I never felt the need for three cylinders, but they did look the business


 


If it wasn't for the price of gas these days, I would like another 500cc 4cy 2T.


 


My last Jap Middleweight was this: 


 

 


I was surprised to note that it was 30 years ago...

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And you said you didn't have any pictures of your bikes.  Well, here is one, right...

Austin

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... Crutchlow. (Who, I might remind you, despite his admittedly impressive performances, hasn't won anything, either.)

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Well...WSS.  I accept this as good as a Moto2 title.  I mean, just look at Moto2 WC Bradl on a factory spec Honda, so far losing out to Cal.  Oh, but wait, Bradl is on that "inferior" Showa kit.  No wonder the German keeps losing the front...

Austin

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He's been the next thing for a while now. Casey never won a 250 title. Iannone didn't win and he's got a satellite ride—not a desirable one, but one nonetheless. His talent is there for all to see; even if he doesn't win a title this year, his potential makes signing him worth it even if it means losing Crutchlow. (Who, I might remind you, despite his admittedly impressive performances, hasn't won anything, either.)

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What it shows is that, despite talent pouring off them, you need all your ducks lined up in a row and a happy coincidence of planet alignment to win a race, yet alone a championship.


 


Anything - from a duff tyre, a broken part, a poor setup, a cold, an injury, a lack of motivation, can arrive just at the right time to scupper your chances.


 


And if you're not on the right kit at the right time, forget it.


 


Moto2 is actually quite telling in this regard - two of the top three top contenders from 2012 have moved up and the guys currently running up the front are the ones that were behind them last year - Espargaro, Redding, Rabat.


 


And this year they have minimum bike+rider weight. No doubt the Kalex is improved as well, but it gives a more level playing field for the bigger riders as we have seen from Terol's move up from a solitary podium and a lonely 18th place in the championship to winning a race already.

Jumkie

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Well...WSS.  I accept this as good as a Moto2 title.  I mean, just look at Moto2 WC Bradl on a factory spec Honda, so far losing out to Cal.  Oh, but wait, Bradl is on that "inferior" Showa kit.  No wonder the German keeps losing the front...

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You have Bradl confused with Bautista Bro'


Bautista has Showa


Bradl Ohlins should have no worries

lil red rocket pilot

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You have Bradl confused with Bautista Bro'


Bautista has Showa


Bradl Ohlins should have no worries

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Yes he does but Cal is still beating them both despite Austin writing this,   <span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;Crutchlow. (Who, I might remind you, despite his admittedly impressive performances, hasn't won anything, either.) by the logic being used they should go first? didn't think so, Cal is going to get shafted by a Spaniard in a Spanish  run championship whilst slower riders keep their rides, what a surprise.

thedeal

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Yes he does but Cal is still beating them both despite Austin writing this,   <span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;Crutchlow. (Who, I might remind you, despite his admittedly impressive performances, hasn't won anything, either.) by the logic being used they should go first? didn't think so, Cal is going to get shafted by a Spaniard in a Spanish  run championship whilst slower riders keep their rides, what a surprise.

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I know


I've just realised Jumks post was sarcasm me thinks! Doh!

thedeal

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Yes he does but Cal is still beating them both despite Austin writing this,   <span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;Crutchlow. (Who, I might remind you, despite his admittedly impressive performances, hasn't won anything, either.) by the logic being used they should go first? didn't think so, Cal is going to get shafted by a Spaniard in a Spanish  run championship whilst slower riders keep their rides, what a surprise.

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I'm not sure why you keep bringing Bradl into this. Bradl has a contract. With Honda. Honda is quite happy with him. Yamaha, on the other hand, control a seat within Tech 3, and it just so happens that this very seat hasn't been allotted for 2014 yet.


 


Espargaro has talent and loads of potential. Yamaha needs to think long and hard about replacing Rossi, and Espargaro appears to be the heir apparent. Another thing to consider is that Lorenzo has said he doesn't plan to continue riding after another three or four seasons. Yamaha are set to lose their top assets in the next four years. As I said before, Crutchlow hasn't won anything yet. Pol has.


 


If you want to point fingers at who's to blame here, look no further than Poncheral. He was so set on keeping Bradders in his Moto2 fold—for reasons that are beyond my comprehension considering the Mistral 610 never was a title-worthy chassis and has gone largely ignored since its introduction—that he guaranteed him the Tech 3 Yamaha ride this year and next.


 


Bradders is the man who will wind up riding the bike Crutchlow should have, not Bradl. St. George–tinted glasses, if you ask me.

Yamaha have the option to exercise a right to a seat in Tech3 - that doesn't mean they will go against Poncheral's wishes - he's quite happy with Cal.


 


What I see as more likely is that, depending on performance, they will either buy out Smith's contract and give him one of their new lease bikes, leave the situation as it is at Tech3 and give Espargaro a go on the new lease bikes (along with his brother - a marketing dream!) with a view to Tech3 having two contracts free at the end of 2014.


 


IMO Yamaha would have to be nuts to replace a known performer (Cal) with an unknown (Espargaro). 


 


There is obviously one other scenario we haven't looked at - Tech3 get one of the new lease bikes for Bradders and give up one of the satellite bikes to a new team fielding both Espargaro brothers - Pol on the satellite, Aleix developing the lease bike.

BJ.C

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IMO Yamaha would have to be nuts to replace a known performer (Cal) with an unknown (Espargaro).

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And yet that is exactly what they are going to do.

Kropotkin

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And yet that is exactly what they are going to do.

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That says to me that the feeling within Yamaha is that promoting Cal to the factory team isn't going to be magic bullet he seems to think it will be. Not saying that's right or wrong, but I'll say they're far more likely to have a well-informed opinion than I do.

Well that sucks for Cal, but there is a good chance he could wind up on the factory Duc next year.

UK FOOKED OVER ALL DAY TODAY FOOK DORNA N MOTOGP

L8Braker

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Well that sucks for Cal, but there is a good chance he could wind up on the factory Duc next year.

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True.  However, I honestly can't see Yamaha getting rid of Cal, at least not if he keeps up this performance (though how late will they wait before contracts are signed).  Though a part of me wishes he would be the odd man out of the series just to highlight the absurdity of the ......... But I know Dorna isn't that stupid, they will find a way to keep Cal, the only worthy Brit in the this category at the moment (sorry to say because Smith seems a nice enough kid, but he is being out classed).  Of course, I will be laughing my ... off if Redding beats Pol to the Moto2 title and a contract is singed beforehand with Pol, I would convert to Christianity if this happened.  Cal is performing very well, better than I thought he would.  Rossi is there because he sells.  Cal's stardom is growing and the necessary results to boot.  I'm not sure if Austin meant Lorenzo would leave Yamaha or the sport after a few seasons.  But if this is true, then Yamaha will be looking to replace them (God knows at least one will have to be a Spaniard).  If Lorenzo want to move to HRC, I think he could too, assuming Pedro will not win it this year.  My prediction, Nicky is gone next year, Cal stays with Tech3 or Ducati, Bradley on some ........ YamTech2.9CRTish team, Aleix Espargaro promoted after his second WORLD CRT title to some prototype somewhere.  Pol Espargaro will end up at Tech3.  Also, somebody remind me of Spies' & Bautista's contract.  

L8Braker

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Well that sucks for Cal, but there is a good chance he could wind up on the factory Duc next year.

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is nicky's contract up next year?

Ngads

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is nicky's contract up next year?

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Technically yes.  Its a one year deal with a 2nd year "option" (as far as I can remember).

Jumkie

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True.  However, I honestly can't see Yamaha getting rid of Cal, at least not if he keeps up this performance (though how late will they wait before contracts are signed).  Though a part of me wishes he would be the odd man out of the series just to highlight the absurdity of the ......... But I know Dorna isn't that stupid, they will find a way to keep Cal, the only worthy Brit in the this category at the moment (sorry to say because Smith seems a nice enough kid, but he is being out classed).  Of course, I will be laughing my ... off if Redding beats Pol to the Moto2 title and a contract is singed beforehand with Pol, I would convert to Christianity if this happened.  Cal is performing very well, better than I thought he would.  Rossi is there because he sells.  Cal's stardom is growing and the necessary results to boot.  I'm not sure if Austin meant Lorenzo would leave Yamaha or the sport after a few seasons.  But if this is true, then Yamaha will be looking to replace them (God knows at least one will have to be a Spaniard).  If Lorenzo want to move to HRC, I think he could too, assuming Pedro will not win it this year.  My prediction, Nicky is gone next year, Cal stays with Tech3 or Ducati, Bradley on some ........ YamTech2.9CRTish team, Aleix Espargaro promoted after his second WORLD CRT title to some prototype somewhere.  Pol Espargaro will end up at Tech3.  Also, somebody remind me of Spies' & Bautista's contract.  

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Assuming he does, where would that leave Pedro?  Surely he is good enough in the eyes of other teams to not let an opportunity to sign him go to waste, prob not factory tho.  

Jumkie

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Technically yes.  Its a one year deal with a 2nd year "option" (as far as I can remember).

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I would love to see him go to wsbk and kick ....  He is done in motogp unfortunately 

Ngads

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Assuming he does, where would that leave Pedro?  Surely he is good enough in the eyes of other teams to not let an opportunity to sign him go to waste, prob not factory tho.  

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Dani signed a 2 year deal with HRC in summer last year...so he is good until the end of next year.

I think Redding in MotoGP will be as interesting as Pol, but where does he land, Ducati?  If Ducati are smart they go after Redding hard and get him on the factory GP14. There is a possiblity that two Ducati seats are available next year, and we have no Americans in the series, not sure what Edwards plans are after this year.