team kr out of 2008 season ?

just read in mcn (full of crap i no ) that krsnr has said if he cant run a 2 bike team next year then he is quiting.
honda have said no to a second engine lease. king kenny also approched kwak and ducati but both firms have said it's unlikley.

Who would be a great guy to have running a sattelite team? (No matter what manufacturer)...Sadly TeamKR are dead in the water and the Honda lump is a lemon. I don't think they will get a factory to supply them with two motors, I just can't see it happening. But if you were Suzuki or Kawasaki and mulling over the possibilities of a sattelite team, who would you be thinking of to run it? Who would be most likely to develop it to it's full potential?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ Jun 27 2007, 12:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Who would be a great guy to have running a sattelite team? (No matter what manufacturer)...Sadly TeamKR are dead in the water and the Honda lump is a lemon. I don't think they will get a factory to supply them with two motors, I just can't see it happening. But if you were Suzuki or Kawasaki and mulling over the possibilities of a sattelite team, who would you be thinking of to run it? Who would be most likely to develop it to it's full potential?
good idea skid, but would king kenny work for someone else ?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Jun 27 2007, 12:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>good idea skid, but would king kenny work for someone else ?Dunno....he might not have any choice if he wants to stay in GP's.

I can't believe Yamaha wouldn't step up for him? I guess there is something going on there that I am not aware of. Someone with more knowledge of MotoGP/500 surely has an answer to my question?

Would Team KR have the money to run a two bike team anyway? His sons ride for him because they basically come for free...

Roberts burned his bridges with Yamaha at the end of 1996. I think he has too much pride to go back to them cap in hand. And after the way things fell out with Yamaha, he only wants to lease engines and stick them in his own bikes--not run a satellite team.

I know that Dorna are pushing Suzuki and Kawasaki for more bikes on the grid, so maybe there are already plans afoot for something like that. Because surely supplying engines to Roberts would be a cheaper option.

It'd be a real shame it there wasn't a Team Roberts on the grid next year. KR can be as abrasive as ...., but he's also put so much back into the sport over the last twenty years that he deserves a helping hand from Dorna.

Kenny will not work for anyone else. He left Yamaha years ago because he got fed up with not being able to do what he wanted.

He may team up with ilmor or even aprilla (new engine).

Honda have said that he can build a track day bike using their engines but not a road bike so the option of WSB's maybe out, However they are currently making parts for the WSB teams so you never know.

I would be sorry to see them leave Motogp. Thanks for the VIP tickets I've had of them in the past.

It's hard to see Kenny just walk away from motoGP considering he has a fully funtional team structure at his disposal. The big problem is of course money. If he won't go back to Yamaha would it be better for Suzuki or Kawasaki to lease engines, or give him complete bikes? I think the latter albeit the more expensive option, would be by far the more prudent for either team. Give him carte blanche to do whatever he wants as long as there is an exchange of data between his team and the factory squad. I can only see teamKR as an invaluable partner to any factory squad, he's got some talented people working with him. American sponsors would certainly be interested with two US GP's next year. He's a proud old buzzard for sure but I couldn't see him turn down an offer like that from Suzuki or Kawasaki in favour of quitting. Kenny Jnr left Suzuki on good terms, didn't he? I think so. With the report in MCN today ( pinch of salt please ) that Suzuki have shelved the proposed Schwantz team until at least 2009, who knows? Definitely one for a bit of speculation.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rising Sun @ Jun 27 2007, 03:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>It'd be a real shame it there wasn't a Team Roberts on the grid next year. KR can be as abrasive as ...., but he's also put so much back into the sport over the last twenty years that he deserves a helping hand from Dorna.+1

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ Jun 27 2007, 03:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>With the report in MCN today ( pinch of salt please ) that Suzuki have shelved the proposed Schwantz team until at least 2009, who knows? Definitely one for a bit of speculation.
yeah,i thought the exact same thing when i read it. but as you rightly said "mcn,,pinch of salt"

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rising Sun @ Jun 27 2007, 03:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>It'd be a real shame it there wasn't a Team Roberts on the grid next year. KR can be as abrasive as ...., but he's also put so much back into the sport over the last twenty years that he deserves a helping hand from Dorna.
+2

While a lot has been said about the success of the KR team they haven't been able to find direction with the frame design without Honda's input. Last year they also were at the limit of their ability until Honda's engineers helped them out and then they started to beat the Repsol team and subteams. I wonder how much flack they got for that?

Now Honda has enough of there own problems and the KR frame is worse than Honda's so that is why Kjr is sitting home rather than finishing last every race. The motor they lease from Honda is not very good either.

I'm wonder if Kjr sees Hopper and CV storming around in 4th and 5th in the championship and is pissed about that. The KR team used to shove it up Hoppers ... when they beat him last year and now look how it is. They're not even in the same dimension anymore. If you give it you should be ready to take it...

Suzuki have responded to the calls for more bikes, they're running a satellite team next year (I think Spies is rumoured to ride for them?) run by Jorge Aspar.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rising Sun @ Jun 27 2007, 02:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>It'd be a real shame it there wasn't a Team Roberts on the grid next year. KR can be as abrasive as ...., but he's also put so much back into the sport over the last twenty years that he deserves a helping hand from Dorna.
+3 Remember when he promoted the USGP all by himself? 1993 I believe? Can't remember off the top of my head.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rising Sun @ Jun 27 2007, 03:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>It'd be a real shame it there wasn't a Team Roberts on the grid next year. KR can be as abrasive as ...., but he's also put so much back into the sport over the last twenty years that he deserves a helping hand from Dorna.

I don't think he should get a helping hand based on what he did in the past, decisions should be made based on what he has to offer now and unfortunately it doesn't look good.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Jun 27 2007, 12:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>just read in mcn (full of crap i no ) that krsnr has said if he cant run a 2 bike team next year then he is quiting.
honda have said no to a second engine lease. king kenny also approched kwak and ducati but both firms have said it's unlikley.

if they pull out moto gp will have a problem as compared to the superbikes grid theres not many riders they need to get more teams in to beef up the grid.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tinks @ Jun 28 2007, 04:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>if they pull out moto gp will have a problem as compared to the superbikes grid theres not many riders they need to get more teams in to beef up the grid.
i think everybody who fololows our beloved sport will agree with that, a few years ago it very nearly became a honda championship like wsb nearly became the ducati cup,this is why we all got excited when ilmor joined but sadly they all seem to fade because of the money, remember wcm ? trouble is there aint that many bike manufacturers that can afford it, we should get bmw on the grid soon so fingers crossed on that one.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Jun 28 2007, 01:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Remember when he promoted the USGP all by himself? 1993 I believe? Can't remember off the top of my head.
I'm fairly sure that's right, 1993. Because Rainey's accident at Misano happened a couple of weeks before. It must have been so tough for KR to front up for all the promotional stuff under those circumstances.

It would be a real shame to see them go. I think its great that such a small team exist alongside the big names in MotoGP.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jun 28 2007, 09:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't think he should get a helping hand based on what he did in the past, decisions should be made based on what he has to offer now and unfortunately it doesn't look good.
I think that's pretty harsh. For over a decade Team Roberts has struggled along, trying to involve more manufacturers in the sport and put more bikes on what is still a very thin grid (since I've been following the GPs they've switched from a 5 bike front row to a 4 and now a 3; it's only a matter of time before they switch to 2). In that time Team Roberts have taken pole positions against the odds, had many competitive placings, and that great run of top shelf results last year. The change to 800cc bikes is a massive thing for such a small team to overcome.

But, yeah, what have you done for us lately?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rising Sun @ Jun 28 2007, 04:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think that's pretty harsh. For over a decade Team Roberts has struggled along, trying to involve more manufacturers in the sport and put more bikes on what is still a very thin grid (since I've been following the GPs they've switched from a 5 bike front row to a 4 and now a 3; it's only a matter of time before they switch to 2). In that time Team Roberts have taken pole positions against the odds, had many competitive placings, and that great run of top shelf results last year. The change to 800cc bikes is a massive thing for such a small team to overcome.

But, yeah, what have you done for us lately?

I'm not suggesting that KR hasn't been a huge figurehead in the sport, he has clearly had a long lasting and significant positive impact. But he shouldn't be financialy assisted to continue based on what he has done, it should be about what he can do. Now obviously the recent past shows us what team roberts is capable of, but things are very different now and if team roberts have no future then so be it. It will be sad when they finally leave but it will happen.

King Kenny has easily made the most impact on the sport in the modern era. For all you purists out there, a loss of this team would mean an end of an era. All racing has its roots in the competitive spirit engulfed in the love and passion of the sport; Team Roberts is the personification of what racing really means. Today, like everything else, only large corporations can compete. That’s the reality of the modern world. Team Roberts is the last bastion of a majestic but hopelessly endangered specie slated for extinction. It will not only be a sad day for motorcycle racing when they retire, but moreover, for all motor racing.

Having said that, I remember not too long ago that The King said he might not make the rest of the season if he didn’t get sponsorship support. Well he got it, and on top of that was able to field a second bike. Certainly the team has not been able to post a decent result. And fielding this second bike was a strenuous effort to right the ship. But with the absence of Jr. one can only speculate that the team is on the edge. I wish them all the best and success. Hopefully there is a rich executive out there willing to sponsor an effort for the pure love of the sport.