troy bayliss

I think a certain Aussie will be soon celebrating.

^

Can't wait 'til he reads this.

good news for bayliss ...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>By contrast, Troy's young team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi has struggled this season and his seat is under threat from the likes of Neil Hodgson - who is searching for a 2007 ride after Ducati's withdraw from AMA Superbike.

hodgson ... ?

YES! 2 more champoinships, plus this year, that will put him on par with Foggy! Watch out, Carl Troy is gonna steal your "King of SBK" crown!

As for Hodgson replacing Lanzi, Haslam`s a better choice I think.

Agreed Richo. But I think it's rather inevitable that Hodgson will return to the Ducati WSB team.

Well do Ducati want to get Haslam on the international scene or not? Hodgson`s starting to get a bit stale I think. Ducati will probably give him the ride, but I just think it`s time to give Haslam a decent shot at the big time. Would anyone else give the Hodge a ride in the AMA, Ooost? I think he`d be contempt to wrap up his career stateside, with the salary of an AMA rider. Or is he a Ducati man?

I think he's a Ducati man, I have a feeling Ducati are going to do what they can to take care of him and BBoz after pulling the rug out from under them stateside.

Correct me if I`m wrong, but wouldn`t it be characteristic of BBoz`s luck to be left on the sinking ship while the Hodge scuttles away to WSBK?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Sep 5 2006, 08:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Correct me if I`m wrong, but wouldn`t it be characteristic of BBoz`s luck to be left on the sinking ship while the Hodge scuttles away to WSBK?
Depends on what you're referring to with BB. IMO he is the luckiest rider in the world when it comes to getting rides. He got a 2000 factory Ducati WSB ride after winning the AMA SBK title in 1998 winning no races, finishing second in 1999 taking one AMA win and a WSB wildcard win at Laguna Seca. His Ducati Corse ride was a disaster and was demoted to NCR Ducati where his results were decent. Yet, in 2001 he was given his own factory team on the tires he liked and had the season of his career. 2002 was lackluster and signed back in the states which was expected. His 2003 was dismal, his 2004 not much better but collected a win at Laguna Seca. He then got a WSB ride with Renegade Honda for 2005. Renegade was a race winning team in 2004 with Haga and Ducati but at the request of BB they switched to Honda and spent the season trying to figure the CBR out and never got it together. Results wise, the worst season of his career IMO. Yet in 2006, Ducati give him a factory AMA ride. Don't get me wrong, I love BB, but he has been very fortunate when it comes to rides.

On the other hand, the guy hasn't had a completely healthy season since 2001 or 2002. In 2003 he rode around with bad wrists and had carpul tunnel surgery, in 2004 he had an inner ear infection for msot of the season so he had a skewed sense of balance and depth perception, in 2005 he broke his back and this year he has been having vision difficulties.

There are rumors of having the Bostrom brothers together for yamaha in the AMA but I don't know if thats p[ossible with having to add another bike to the lineup.

Tommy Hayden has been rumored to take Yates vacant seat next year at Suzuki so then BB could go to Kawasaki.

Or maybe BB will take yates's seat in Superbike if he wants to stick Superbike.

I think that Hodgeson will go to WSBK with factory Ducati since he won them a championship. I would expect him to have a one year deal and then Haslam could go to WSBK in 2008.

Or maybe put BB and Haslam on semi-factory team and keep them there and having chances of maybe winning a rcae or two.

That's all conjecture from me though, no official reports though.

I love Silly Season!!