I thought Nakamoto retiring was the standard Japanese 'you must retire when you reach 60' thing...
Did I miss something?
Did I miss something?
Joined May 2009
6K Posts | 4K+
Shovel's Club
Suppo gone. Tech 3 leaving for ktm. Rumors of truck loads of redbull money for Marc to go to ktm. Gaz talking of back door deals at honda. Maybe this is the future of KTM.
Sure.
If there is any intrigue it is in regard to Suppo who had a year to go on his contract. After I posted I looked up an actual interview which said he was leaving GP bike racing and thought it was a good time to go out, and also looked up Nakomoto's age which is 60 as you say.
Thank God for that, I thought I'd imagined it
Suppo is a strange one for sure though.
Do we think that this all came as a big fat surprise to Yamaha?
If they knew this was happening would they have gone to all the extra effort of providing Zarco with multiple revisions of frames and 2018 engines?
I'm pretty sure that VR64 wouldn't have let Bagnaia go to Pramac Ducati if they knew what was coming...
Macca
Stupid as it may sound Dubs, I do suspect that KTM have an ace to pull yet just that I am not sure they are a mature enough MotoGP team yet to attract a rider such as Marquez (give it 2 - 3 more years).
Could Lorenzo?
Could Tech3 be what they need as with Tech3 comes years, literally years of Yamaha experience in the main game that will no doubt give them the experience that they may be lacking?
Sure, different brands and all but it is about the machinations, the processes, the back end work that needs to be done and no doubt Tech3 have that as, race wins not withstanding they are the most successful satellite team of the last 10 - 15 years.
Could Tech3 be the key for KTM or if I really want to get all conspiracy laden, could they be 'encouraged' by DORNA to 'merge' with the existing KTM team (Tech 3 experiance with KTM money and expertise) as that then frees up the spots for team VR??
Hey, it is pre-season so we can come up with as much ........ as we can .................
Absolutely agree about speculation in the preseason.
I have had the same thought as you about KTM and Herve. He seems way too pleased for just being a satellite team with a KTM factory bike to be what is in prospect, which would not be better than his current situation at least in the short term. There is historical precedent I believe, if decades ago, didn't Kenny Roberts' Yamaha equipe move up to being the Yamaha factory team?.
Perhaps shedloads of Red Bull money could be what is exciting Herve though.
Joined Jun 2007
10K Posts | 1K+
Norah Head
Its Kawasaki are re-entering the gp scene. Why else would they be admitting Kork Ballington to the "Hall of Legends" at PI at the end of the year. ( Other than the fact he was pretty good and he seems a nice bloke)
Entice, entice, butter up, entice I say!
Entice, entice, butter up, entice I say!
I agree with your first statement, and I think Honda & MM had a lot to gain by letting CS race. I would have said fine, you can sub in, but you do not finish ahead of Mark. If he finishes first, you can be second, if you're good enough. If he finishes ninth, you finish tenth. The only time you can beat him is if he's sitting in the gravel. If CS was prepared to play a tailgunners role, he was essentially taking points off anyone below wherever CS finished. Casey would have to check his ego at the gate and accept his role for the benefit of the team. If he couldn't do that, than adios muchacho.
Pedrosa would be a great asset to Suzuki or Aprilia.
I really don’t see Redding and Iannone lasting in the paddock after another season of the same old. If they both get the boot, I hope Pedrosa gets one of the seats and Petrucci the other.
I really don’t see Redding and Iannone lasting in the paddock after another season of the same old. If they both get the boot, I hope Pedrosa gets one of the seats and Petrucci the other.
https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/nieto-avintia-in-contention-for-2019-yamaha-deal-1008115/
Some interest already to take over Tech 3’s deal?
Some interest already to take over Tech 3’s deal?
Avintia survives on a shoestring budget.
It is quite possible that they might take over the Yamaha satellite bikes for a couple of years and then sell their grid slot to VR46.
It is quite possible that they might take over the Yamaha satellite bikes for a couple of years and then sell their grid slot to VR46.
Joined Jun 2007
10K Posts | 1K+
Norah Head
Joined May 2009
6K Posts | 4K+
Shovel's Club
KTM has done amazing things in the dirt bike race world in a short time. I am more than impressed with the way they stepped in with the big boys and out smarted them. This could be a master of moves to do the same in gp. Tech 3, suppo and Marc is a combination for success. Marc has nothing to lose by trying. He has history with KTM. People always talk about how Marc needs a "ducati" experience, well here it is. If it doesnt work he will be able to go to any team he wants. But this would be his show. His bike. Every rider wants that.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
This writer seems to think that Tech3 leaving Yamaha is just another in a long list of things showing a manufacturer on the decline. Another is the satellite situation . If you are secure with Honda or Ducati, do you leave them to be a short term fix at Yamaha knowing you will be dismissed in 2021 or possibly sooner
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mo...lit-adds-to-yamahas-mounting-woe-1008038/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mo...lit-adds-to-yamahas-mounting-woe-1008038/amp/
