Silly Season

The rumor that Laconi will ride the FPR bike will not bear fruit. As reported at www.crash.net British Supersport runner up Craig Jones will ride alongside Steve Martin in 2006.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ooost @ Oct 19 2005, 03:13 PM)<div class='quotemain'>The rumor that Laconi will ride the FPR bike will not bear fruit.  As reported at www.crash.net British Supersport runner up Craig Jones will ride alongside Steve Martin in 2006.
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Yep,I`ve just read that on the tv text Ooost.

I wouldn`t expect a win from Dani till `07,He`s just up against far too much established talent in`06-probably end up being bullied off lines and generally pushed around by the big boys.As for Fa 1,Alonso will be working twice as hard as `05,can he take the pressure of being champ?,Personally hope so.

Toby Hirst's preview of the Turkish GP courtesy of www.superbikeplanet.com was filled with Bologna based rumors.

Luis D'Antin is negotiating with Ducati to get two 2006 spec machines shod with Bridgestone rubber. The man that will ride alongside Roby Rolfo? Carlos Checa. Should the team fail to get Bridgestone support they will likely stay on Dunlops and field James Ellison as teammate to Roby Rolfo.

Checa may be out of the picture for D'Antin however, if Camel should stay with Pons they would likely want to enlist the services of Mr. Checa alongside Max Biaggi. If that is the case, Barros would most likely be teammate to John Hopkins at Suzuki.

Finally, as was reported at USGP time, Italian sources tip that Ruben Xaus is about to join Neil Hodgson at Ducati Austin in the AMA for 2006.

Hey Ooost I think this is the most important story for next year

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2005/Oct/tb/051019b.htm

Hayden and Melandri to develop the Honda for next year

I'm afraid of what that means...Are they capable? Well, they are doing better than the other two developing the bikes this year...we shall see..

I think they're capable, after all they are mopping the floor with poor old Gibernau and they're both in front of Biaggi. It can only mean good things for the two of them. The rest of the Honda riders may not be thrilled with these two developing the machine, it could be an interesting package for the other riders.

i agree ooost give the bloody bike to the men who r gunna b challenging mr rossi ,,
its the only way they r gunna learn how the bike reacts...

Have you heard the CV news? He is rumored to have signed with Suzuki for next year and Stoner has been rumored to be receiving an M1 next year. That throws two predictions people had out of the loop.

CV to Suzuki? Wow never saw that one coming. I think it may be a stunt to try to get rushed into MotoGP but why leave Honda? Do he and Hopper know something about the Suzuki in the future that we don't know? Maybe he thinks HRC will care too much about Dani and not pay attention to him.

Suzuki is supposed to announce their rider at Turkey so we will find out then!! I can't wait!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (drill @ Oct 19 2005, 01:14 PM)<div class='quotemain'>Ok folk,hot from MCN today;
Stoner-Tech 3 Yamaha
Verm-signed letter of intent to Suzuki at PI
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Drill beat you too it mate

Sure sound interesting all the stuff going on!!! I cant keep up

Do he and Hopper know something about the Suzuki in the future that we don't know? Maybe he thinks HRC will care too much about Dani and not pay attention to him.

vermulen supposedly signed a letter of intent. which these day's means nothing. probably a ploy to goad honda into givin him a ride in gp's for 06. as far as knowing something about the suzuki that no 1 else know's, don't hold ur breath on that. suzuki have been floundering now for 4 seasons. it ain't gonna change next season either. only in 07 if they make a decent 800cc bike will things change for suzuki & ur golden boy hopper.

Frosty speaks the truth. Maybe they just pay very well $$$$

I seriously doubt honda treats him bad or that he thought it insulting or took offence to pedrosa getting a gp ride. My guess is he would take pretty much ANY offer serisouly under consideration from a GP team. It's the next level upward, thats where everyone wants to be - they just want to be sure they are getting on a decent bike.

Thats it ,General,its about climbing the ladder and Suzuki is not a bad team to begin at-and who knows what they will come up with in `07.If he stays with Suzuki he has the benefit of being settled with a season under his belt.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GeNeRaL @ Oct 20 2005, 11:14 AM)<div class='quotemain'>I seriously doubt honda treats him bad or that he thought it insulting or took offence to pedrosa getting a gp ride.  My guess is he would take pretty much ANY offer serisouly under consideration from a GP team.  It's the next level upward, thats where everyone wants to be - they just want to be sure they are getting on a decent bike.
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good point general. i agree

It might be for real, look at all the young talent HRC has: Hayden, Melandri and Pedrosa. In a pool like that Vermuelen would literally have to be fighting for the title his rookie season to even be mentioned as an official HRC rider.

Don't be so quick to rule out Suzuki's package for 2006. Paul Denning has made it known the factory will be behind the project 100% to improve the engine capabilities to give Hopper and whoever his teammate should be a fighting chance against the Hondas and Yamahas.

lets b honest ooost its about time suzuki stepped up 2 the plate cus in gp they r bloody hopeless... results say it all...

Suzuki is bad team to start, continue, or end, it sucks, it's a piece of junk, and it has been so for the last 25 years (Yeah TWENTY FIVE, even when Schwantz and Jr won it was crap). So I don't have any reason to believe they will have a good bike next year or in 2007.

But I doubt Vermeulen will go to Suzi, he is a Honda man. As some of you have mentioned before, I think it's a strategy too try and force Honda to give him an RCV .... this worked for Hayden !!!

I'm getting lost with so much rumour and stuff so I'll make a list and feel free to complete it:

HRC-HONDA
Hayden - Pedrosa

CAMEL-HONDA
Checa? - Biaggi?

???????- HONDA (Gresini's team)
Melandri - Vermeulen??? Barros???

KONICA??? - HONDA
Tamada?

YAMAHA FACTORY
Rossi - Edwards

YAMAHA - FORTUNA?
Elias? - Stoner ???

DUCATI MARLBORO
Gibernau - Capirossi

SUZUKI
Hopkins - Shakey???Jr???

KAWASAKI
Nakano - De Puniet

D'ANTIN DUCATI (2 bikes???)
Rolfo - ?????

PROTON KR ????
???? ????

WCM ?????

HONDA
Repsol HRC: Nicky Hayden & Dani Pedrosa
Fortuna Gresini: Marco Melandri & Toni Elias [99% certain]
Pons Honda: Alex Barros, Carlos Checa [very likely]
Konica Minolta JiR: Makoto Tamada

Checa is a definite for Pons we have the second seat to still guess about. That means Barros, or Biaggi are going to be there. Biaggi will go wherever the Camel sponsorship goes (Pons or Suzuki).

YAMAHA
Rossi Team Yamaha: Valentino Rossi
Team Yamaha: Colin Edwards
Tech3 Yamaha: TBA

If Barros is not in Pons next year expect him to be at Yamaha with Rolfo if Tech3 goes to Yamaha. Other names rumored to go there are Rolfo, Ellison, Jacque, and others.

DUCATI
Marlboro Ducati: Loris Capirossi & Sete Gibernau
D'Antin Ducati: Roby Rolfo & Shane Byrne [likely]

If Rolfo/Tech3 do not come here then a Yamaha seat is there for them.

SUZUKI
Suzuki: John Hopkins & TBA

Biaggi will go wherever Camel money goes. Other riders rumored are Hoffman, Ellison, and Checa (unlikely).

KAWASAKI
Kawasaki: Shinya Nakano & Randy de Puniet



THE OTHERS
WCM will stay with Elison if he doesn't go anywhere else. Battaini is thought to not be there next season and maybe go to WSBK.

Byrne and KrJr are rumored to go with KR if KR gets a Honda powerplant. If HRC gives them an engine then it may be someone appointed by Honda. We will see.

Rider rumors left to be clarified are the second seat of Suzuki and Pons. Rossi is going to be on a one-man team and so will Edwards since only two factory rides are allowed with the Gauloises contract.

Sponsor rumors say Fortuna to go to Gresini in place of Movistar. Tech3 is going to follow Rolfo and go to Ducati or Yamaha.


Some rumors put to rest are:
Movistar is leaving MotoGP.
Bayliss will go back to WSBK.
Stoner will stay in 250cc.
Hoffman is out of Kawasaki.