Joined Mar 2005
7K Posts | 20+
Woody Creek
Will another competitive team need to be added to accomodate older riders as well as young talent? As it stands we have at least seven riders who have seen their day and are no longer consistant title contenders in Barros, Bayliss, Capirossi, Checa, Biaggi, Gibernau, and Roberts. There are at least two up and coming riders in the 250 class, one in World Superbike, and one already in MotoGP on a D bike, that deserve A or B riders on a Yamaha or Honda that seemingly won't for the time being because there are older riders in the series taking up those seats. Pedrosa and Stoner both deserve B MotoGP rides if not factory rides as Pedrosa is rumored to be getting. Vermeulen deserves the same and it is rumored he will get a Movistar ride but it is unknown. There is a lot of interest in John Hopkins and he deserves the same as Vermeulen, Stoner and Pedrosa but it appears he will not be able to move upward. I have heard of no retirements or moves from those seven riders other than Bayliss going to World Superbike. So we are left with one slot for four extremely talented young riders. Perhaps it is time for Yamaha to field a third team to combat Honda's seven bikes in the constructor's championship race. This is a bit of a ramble but does anyone else see things this way? What I am trying to say is with the exception of Pedrosa's nearly "done deal" will any of the other three riders (Vermeulen, Stoner, or Hopkins) find themselves on a Yamaha or Honda for 2006? If not, where do you think they will be?