While a lot of discussion has been centred on Rossi, Spies, Marquez and Stoner, with regards to team changes, we can speculate on other team changes that may be in the offing.
Reports say that Paul Bird is intending on bringing another bike to the show next year, Cardion AB have indicated that they are looking to dump Ducati (for an ART?) which may give them enough budget to run a second bike, there is talk of 'factory' CRT bikes from Honda and a satellite Ducati team, now that Pramac has departed, so what does this mean for next year?
Paul Bird wants a senior/junior riding partnership - whether he will stick with Ellison or go for another senior rider, who knows. But a second bike is another seat - and there are some promising young talents in BSB, WSBK and Moto2 that would fill the roster.
Gresini have announced an interest in Crutchlow, which will leave Bautista without a ride - As HRC's 'official' junior squad, Gresini have some clout with getting fast bikes and they seem to be well-sponsored. Perhaps it will quell Crutchlow's salary woes? That will leave a space at Tech3 - for a French rider, perhaps?
With a new high-spec ECU available to CRT teams for 2013, we can see more performance increases from the field. That may make some of the more competitive (Blusens, Aspar) CRT rides lose a bit of their leper status.
The current top Moto2 talent has three real contenders in Ianonne, Espargaro and Luthi, with Redding knocking on the door. Although I do feel that Luthi, while being technically a great rider, doesn't have the killer instinct. Too many times he has lost fairing-to-fairing battles, despite being on a competitive ride.
My jury is out regarding Bradley Smith - he has been solid for Tech3 as a development rider and I think Dovi's defection has made things straightforward for both him and Poncheral - if it was based on results I don't think he would be in the first team next year.
Silva, Pasini and Pirro have not been particularly notable. Yonny Hernandez, Aleix Espargaro and Randy DP have been. The ever-reliable Colin Edwards has been pretty much left to his own devices - developing the BMW was always going to result in a desert for points - but he has to retire some time, doesn't he?
So, what do you think? Gossip, speculation and wild fantasies will be entertained!
Reports say that Paul Bird is intending on bringing another bike to the show next year, Cardion AB have indicated that they are looking to dump Ducati (for an ART?) which may give them enough budget to run a second bike, there is talk of 'factory' CRT bikes from Honda and a satellite Ducati team, now that Pramac has departed, so what does this mean for next year?
Paul Bird wants a senior/junior riding partnership - whether he will stick with Ellison or go for another senior rider, who knows. But a second bike is another seat - and there are some promising young talents in BSB, WSBK and Moto2 that would fill the roster.
Gresini have announced an interest in Crutchlow, which will leave Bautista without a ride - As HRC's 'official' junior squad, Gresini have some clout with getting fast bikes and they seem to be well-sponsored. Perhaps it will quell Crutchlow's salary woes? That will leave a space at Tech3 - for a French rider, perhaps?
With a new high-spec ECU available to CRT teams for 2013, we can see more performance increases from the field. That may make some of the more competitive (Blusens, Aspar) CRT rides lose a bit of their leper status.
The current top Moto2 talent has three real contenders in Ianonne, Espargaro and Luthi, with Redding knocking on the door. Although I do feel that Luthi, while being technically a great rider, doesn't have the killer instinct. Too many times he has lost fairing-to-fairing battles, despite being on a competitive ride.
My jury is out regarding Bradley Smith - he has been solid for Tech3 as a development rider and I think Dovi's defection has made things straightforward for both him and Poncheral - if it was based on results I don't think he would be in the first team next year.
Silva, Pasini and Pirro have not been particularly notable. Yonny Hernandez, Aleix Espargaro and Randy DP have been. The ever-reliable Colin Edwards has been pretty much left to his own devices - developing the BMW was always going to result in a desert for points - but he has to retire some time, doesn't he?
So, what do you think? Gossip, speculation and wild fantasies will be entertained!
