Makoto Tamada Signs

From www.superbikeplanet.com:


Makoto Tamada Joins Tech 3 Yamaha
Dunlop Tires For Japanese Charger
by staff
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Yamaha have today confirmed that Makoto Tamada will be riding for Herve Poncharal on Dunlop tires on the Tech 3 Yamaha satellite squad for 2007.

Tamada will appear in Konica Minolta colors for the last time on Sunday at the Valencia Grand Prix before switching allegiances, and once again riding Dunlop as he did in the All-Japan series before moving to MotoGP in 2003.

"We are very happy to welcome Makoto Tamada," said Herve Poncharal, Tech 3 Team-Principal. "He is an excellent rider who has already proved his ability by winning two Grands Prix and being on the podium five times in the MotoGP era. We are sure that he will be able to help Dunlop continue to become ever more competitive - a challenge that is even more interesting since we will all jointly work with the new Yamaha 800 with the full support of the Yamaha factory."

Tamada commented, "I am happy to be back on Dunlop tyres again, and have good memories of riding on Dunlop in the Japanese Superbike Championship. I am excited by the challenge that the Tech 3 Yamaha Dunlop project offers. I was able to judge at close quarters the current level of the Dunlop Yamaha package throughout a close race I had with Carlos Checa at the last GP in Portugal."

Tamada won two races in 2004 on Bridgestone tires (Motegi and Rio) and has three other podium finishes to his name in four years of premier class competition. Shinya Nakano is expected to sign for JIR on Sunday, replacing Tamada on Luca Montiron's customer Honda team.


ENDS

This is good news in my opinion..

This guy needs to get his confidence back, quick

I dunno how many more chances he is gonna get, so he needs to make Next year count.

I don't know how this will be advantageous (sp?) to his career but we saw Checa work wonders maybe if he pulls of performances like that people will notice him again.
But then again, he was riding back there with the Dunlops in a Michelin-shod Honda.

I'm happy for Nakano moving over to replace him. And it is said he is bringing Bridgestone with him too. If my hunch os correct Nakano is a dark horse for next year!

definatly, i dont think he will be usuper consistent.....but he could bprobably pull the odd surprise


I do rate nakano, but he need the perfect package to make it work.

Not to sure about Tamada. New Team+Bike+Tire=??? I don't think he's an adaptable rider.




Nakano is my 2nd favorite on the track, so I think he'll kick some A.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Valentino Rhodesy @ Oct 26 2006, 04:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>
How big is your sig?

On topic now, I think it's a great move for Tamada, good luck to him!

ill resize it geezer .

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Valentino Rhodesy @ Oct 26 2006, 06:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>ill resize it geezer .
I don't mind really.

Nice pic though!

that better dude?

Very good news, has JE been confirmed as yet???

Not confirmed. I read somewhere he might replace Norick Abe in WSBK. On the second string Yamaha bikes.

Ok, Makoto seems to work backwards compared to everyone else when it comes to tyres. He won two GPs on mediocre rubber, did stuff all on good roubber, so what will he do on .... rubber? Win the championship, porbably

I feel sorry for the guy. 3 different tires in the last 3 years. How could anyone work to improve with such inconsistency?

I did pull for him in Motegi last year and this year. He impressed me when he beat Rossi by 6 seconds in 2004. The same for Hayden at Laguna Seca. I don't what it is but I like to cheer on rider's at their home GP's.

It will be interesting to see what Tamada can do next year on the Dunlops. It's been quite a long time since Tamada, riding Dunlops, blew away the SBK regulars in a couple of rounds at Sugo, but, although tyre technology is always improving the basic characteristics seem to stay the same, namely: the Michelins grip like hell until they suddenly let go, the Bridgestones don't always last, and the Dunlops give the rider good feeback on the front. And since Tamada is guy who seems needs that confidence in the front more than most, it seems the Dunlops will be a good fit.

Can't say the same about the bike, though. There's only one Yamaha on the grid that has all the best go-fast bits on it (sometimes two, when they throw Edwards a bone). So I think that Tamada's performances next year (assuming Dunlop continue to improve) will be similar to what Nakano has achieved this year on the Kawasaki: fast in qualifying, with the occaisonal good result.

As for Nakano taking Tamada's ride, and maybe bringing the Bridgestones with him, it could be a winning combination--or he could end up throwing it down the road a lot. I like Nakano, and would like to see him to do well, but during his stints with Yamaha and then Kawasaki he did put up a lot of DNFs.

BTW, the Yamaha comment wasn't a dig at Rossi. He's Yamaha's no.1 guy so of course he gets the best parts, but I wish that Yamaha would offer more factory support to their other riders as well. Then it might not be just Rossi vs. the Honda army every weekend.

I like Tamada but he'll do nothing on that bike. WSB would have been a better move for him. If Dunlop want to develop tyres to a point where some teams may actually request to use them, they should stop ....... about and spend some real cash or it's not going to happen. Checa rode last year for free whilst Dorna paid a big whack of Ellison's tab, which was probably not all that much anyway. How much did they pay Tamada, I mean, was there a stampede to sign him? He was totally useless all this year, probably the cheapest guy they could get. Be interesting who the second rider will be for tech3 '07.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Oct 27 2006, 06:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ok, Makoto seems to work backwards compared to everyone else when it comes to tyres. He won two GPs on mediocre rubber, did stuff all on good roubber, so what will he do on .... rubber? Win the championship, porbably like it

Well, I was thinking and something peaked my interest.

1. Dunlop pretty much own the 125 and 250cc championships with their tires.

2. The new 800cc are thought of to be peakier and more brutal power delivery. Very much like a 125 or 250cc.

3. Didn't Dunlop have a pretty decent tire back in the 500cc days?

4. If you put it all together, they could have a bit of a leg up.

Maybe I'm just shooting poop, but I was thinking that.
Anyways, the more people in it the better, go competition!

Good move for Tamada, he wasn´t going to get any looks anywhere after the seasons he´s had in 2005 and 2006 given his equipment. I´m rather surprised that he´s the guy Poncheral has selected to ride. You would think he would be aiming for a more sponsor friendly rider considering he has nothing for capital.

And Daz, Herve Poncheral announced earlier this season that JE is out after the season. No idea who his replacement will be, Cardoso is looking for a ride...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Oct 27 2006, 12:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ok, Makoto seems to work backwards compared to everyone else when it comes to tyres. He won two GPs on mediocre rubber, did stuff all on good roubber, so what will he do on .... rubber? Win the championship, porbably
this sounds about right!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ Oct 28 2006, 04:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I like Tamada but he'll do nothing on that bike. WSB would have been a better move for him. If Dunlop want to develop tyres to a point where some teams may actually request to use them, they should stop ....... about and spend some real cash or it's not going to happen. Checa rode last year for free whilst Dorna paid a big whack of Ellison's tab, which was probably not all that much anyway. How much did they pay Tamada, I mean, was there a stampede to sign him? He was totally useless all this year, probably the cheapest guy they could get. Be interesting who the second rider will be for tech3 '07.
agree. dunlop spend some damn money! how are they ever gonna develop a decent hoop using grid fodder?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CaptainSnow @ Oct 29 2006, 03:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Well, I was thinking and something peaked my interest.

1. Dunlop pretty much own the 125 and 250cc championships with their tires.

2. The new 800cc are thought of to be peakier and more brutal power delivery. Very much like a 125 or 250cc.

3. Didn't Dunlop have a pretty decent tire back in the 500cc days?

4. If you put it all together, they could have a bit of a leg up.

Maybe I'm just shooting poop, but I was thinking that.
Anyways, the more people in it the better, go competition!

I think the reason Dunlop own the 125s and 250s is because no-one else even tries, Snow. And I agree that the 800s will be more 250-like, but they're still four stroke prototypes compared to two stroke GP bikes. I'd say the 250 tyre technology is a bit behind the MotoGP tyres, so I doubt it will help them too much. I could be wrong, though.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ooost @ Oct 29 2006, 03:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>No idea who his replacement will be, Cardoso is looking for a ride...

I don't think anyone other than D'Antin would sign Cardoso, and he went and fked that up for himself. It's back to Spain for Jose, if he's lucky D'antin might forgive him enough to put him back on a bike in the domestic SBK series.

I agree with you richo. If Michelin or Bridgestone jumped in there I bet they would start winning races quickly.