Takahashi set for MotoGP move

Yuki Takahashi says he is close to completing a deal to graduate to MotoGP's premier class next season, and could test a Honda RC212V at the end of this season.

The 250cc racer is being tipped to replace Andrea Dovizioso at Team Scot, who are expected to announce their plans for next season during this weekend's round at Motegi after confirming that they will split from JiR at the end of the year. Dovizioso is believed to be on his way to the works Repsol Honda team for next season.

Honda are keen to run a Japanese rider in the top class with the Team Scot outfit and Takahashi could sample the 800cc as early as the post-season test at Valencia.

"We're almost certain to move up to MotoGP so I'm really happy about this," Takahashi told MotoGP.com. "I like the team and they're a good fit for me.

"I've never ridden a MotoGP bike before and, although I'm excited, I'm also worried at the same time. It will be an interesting feeling and maybe after this season is over, I will try to ride the 800cc bike."

Takahashi is looking forward to his home race at Motegi this weekend and is hoping to improve on seventh in the championship on the back of his second-place finish in the last race at Misano (the 250cc race at Indianapolis was cancelled).

"I will have a lot of family, friends, and sponsors here, so I want to get a good result. I was ready to ride at the last round, so I was hoping they might have two races here!" he joked.

the merry go round continues

autosport

Excellent that meand Nakano will lose his status as Token Japanese...assuming he stays in GPs, and does not hand his title to Takahashi!

Well deserved I would say.

But if the Team Scot gets the RCV what happens with Montiron's squad? Will they get a RCV as well after their split with Team Scot? And if yes for who?

I liked what I have seen in him this past season in 250cc's, but he has not been consistent and fast enough to warrant a ride, other than being Japanese. I would say another year in the lower class, but if Japan demands he moves up, he will move up.

Another ride removed from the Ben Spies shopping catalog.

I've got my answer regarding Montiron, Honda has not signed the agreement they had for the moment so he is gonna meet HRC representatives at Motegi to see what's going on... he is also rumoured to be in line to run Aprilia in WSBK.

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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Sep 25 2008, 08:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>grid filler
nooooooooo.......

Can someone please explain why Takahashi would deserve a MotoGP seat?

In eight years, he has only managed to break into the top 10 twice, this year he is 7th. Am I missing something here? Uhm, who wants to claim MotoGP have the top riders in the World? ...., they don't even got the top 250 riders in the World!

I read plenty of detractors for an AMA three time champ "deserving" a seat, now we got a guy who isn't even a top three 250 guy who is all but signed? Amazing!

He has proven some qualities with an old bike

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yago @ Sep 25 2008, 12:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>He has proven some qualities with an old bike

yeah....he's Jap

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yago @ Sep 25 2008, 02:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Well deserved I would say.

But if the Team Scot gets the RCV what happens with Montiron's squad? Will they get a RCV as well after their split with Team Scot? And if yes for who?
Well deserved? WHY? I can think of 5-10 guys in 250s more deserving. Not to mention a few superbike champions and runners up. Tell me something, how many wins has Taka got in 8 years in GPs?

I guess it also counts even more if Nakano is leaving MotoGP.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Sep 25 2008, 01:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>yeah....he's Jap

That's the biggest quality for MotoGP.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hayden Fan @ Sep 25 2008, 10:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>That's the biggest quality for MotoGP.
I don't understand this in MotoGP. Why are we so easily suckered into thinking these guys are the best then? As Tom & like minded love to debate American riders not being deserving (yet they only arrive in MotoGP if they've won multiple championships); here we have a guy who hasn't even EVER broken into the top 5 (hell he's only broken into the top 10 twice in 8 years)! And that in a JUNIOR SERIES that is 250s. To put that in perspective, take a look at the superstock AMA, go back to the 7th place classification points riders, now imagine, would you make a case to promote him into MotoGP? .... we got guys here saying Spies may or may not have deserved a MotoGP seat after beating both the regular factory riders! WTF is going on?

There are plenty of riders in MotoGP that deserve their ride less than Takahashi.

Now I agree that there are plenty of riders that also deserve a chance

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hayden Fan @ Sep 25 2008, 12:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>That's the biggest quality for MotoGP.

no it's a Honda prerequisite

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Sep 25 2008, 02:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't understand this in MotoGP. Why are we so easily tricked into think these guys are the best then? As Tom & like minded love to debate American not being deserving (yet they only arrive in MotoGP if they've won multiple championships), he we have a guy who hasn't even EVER broken into the top 5 (hell he's only broken into the top 10 twice in 8 years)! And that in a JUNIOR SERIES that is 250s. To put that in perspective, take a look at the superstock AMA, go back to the 7th place classification points riders, now imagine, would you make a case to promoting him into MotoGP? .... we got guys here saying Spies may or may not have deserved a MotoGP seat after beating both the regular factory riders! WTF is going on?
and this is why i hate politics. this is a political appointee if there ever was one.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yago @ Sep 25 2008, 10:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>There are plenty of riders in MotoGP that deserve their ride less than Takahashi.
Plenty? Who? I can only think of ONE person who has won less 250 races than Takahashi's 2 wins, that is Guintoli's zero. But at least Guintoli broke into the top 10 three times to Taka's twice. Either way you look at it, I'd say neither deserved to be in MotoGP. So other than Guintoli, who else is NOT deserving?

Come on man, don't just come out and say, yeah, sounds like its a "well deserved" promotion; then pressed and you say, well there are "plenty of MotoGP riders who are less deserving" and not have any way to back it up.

Have you watch 250 races were Takahashi was giving a hard time to the Aprilia riders with an underdevelopped Honda?

Well, to me it shows some merit.

Right now I don't see why De Angelis, Capirossi, Elias and others would have more rights to be in MotoGP than a guy like Takhashi.

Now if you ask me if Spies deserves it more than the Japanese I would say yes obviously

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Sep 25 2008, 02:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Plenty? Who? I can only think of ONE person who has won less 250 races than Takahashi's 2 wins, that is Guintoli's zero. But at least Guintoli broke into the top 10 three times to Taka's twice. Either way you look at it, I'd say neither deserved to be in MotoGP. So other than Guintoli, who else is NOT deserving?

Come on man, don't just come out and say, yeah, sounds like its a "well deserved" promotion; then pressed and you say, well there are "plenty of MotoGP riders who are less deserving" and not have any way to back it up.

He will say de Puniet, but I really like the guy. He is fast, just he is still a crasher.

Elias should be on the factory Honda. He is ....... fast. He just seems to haven ot had the motivation to be a fast rider.