Who would you sign?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Eagle088 @ Nov 29 2006, 12:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think [McCoy] is already with Ilmor, either way if he goes back to his old job he is still a factory supermoto rider.
I wasn't sure if he'd already signed with Ilmor (I hope he does), but I take it back! Damn this is hard...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rising Sun @ Nov 28 2006, 09:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I wasn't sure if he'd already signed with Ilmor (I hope he does), but I take it back! Damn this is hard...


If it were easy then everyone would be doing it.

No one has said Neil Hodgson? He'd be my first pick, after that it'd be Ant West.

I dont think i like this question because for a rider to not be on a factory bike at even a national superbike level, would indicate that thrown into the mnoto gp deep end would almost certainly underperform Tamada style. So if i had to pick one it'd be Shakey( if he has a factory ride then i dont knbow about it) or if i brake the rules, Haslam, because i think hes ready.

Charpentier?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ooost @ Nov 28 2006, 01:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>No one has said Neil Hodgson? He'd be my first pick, after that it'd be Ant West.


I thought about Neil, and as an owner I think it would be great to work with him. Good choice.

I think that there are plenty of non-factory boys out there that could do a moto gp machine justice. I think the reason some of those lower teams fail with new riders is that there are more problems with the team than the ability of the rider.

Take Fabrizio for example. He rode for WCM 3 years ago. Did not do very well, but the following year was on a non-factory Honda CBR 600 in world super sport and was with Sebastian every weekend. Last year he was on another non-factory superbike ride and actually scored some podiums. On the box in world superbike on a customer package is insane!! There are just not enough factory rides to go around for all the great riders in this sport today. I know for a fact even in the states there are some very fast riders here that will never get a chance to go anywhere and its a shame. I know about 10 guys right now that if given the right equipment could challenge for podiums in any production series PERIOD!!! Most of you will never know their names. It is ashame but at the same time it shows the strength of the sport we love!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Eagle088 @ Nov 29 2006, 12:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I wish I had been more clear when I specified the rules about no factory riders. I would have said Chris Walker but he is ridding for the Riz now. I liked Fonsi Nieto and Fabrizio becuase they put up good and consistent results last year in WSBK. Not to mention, I thought they got more out of their equipment than anyone else could have. I don't think that PSG-1 Kawasaki is a true works team, but I could be wrong.

It's hard with the WSBK teams. What is a "Factory Team"? Officially, I think the only factory team is Ducati, as the big four are apparently ignoring WSBK to concentrate on MotoGP. But anyone who says teams like Ten Kate, PSG-1 Yamaha Motor Italia and in particular Alistare Suzuki get by with no factory support is only kidding themselves.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rising Sun @ Nov 29 2006, 01:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>What's that I hear you all muttering? Something about him already having a factory ride? What factory is this? That shambles that calls itself Team Green (with Envy)?

It's getting harder and harder to be a Kawa fan in MotoGP I think Team Green will be more "Factory" than ever this year, moving to Japan and putting Yoda in charge. Had enough of copying Yamaha's engine plans, now they're copying HRC's team structure. Just because it's slow, dosen't mean it's not Factory.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ooost @ Nov 29 2006, 06:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>No one has said Neil Hodgson?

Always miss the bleedingly obvious, don't I?

Actually, I wouldn't sign the Hodge. I just don't rate him as highly as other people do.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (IsraeliRacer @ Nov 29 2006, 07:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Charpentier?

Two problems:
1) He's on the closest thing to a factory bike in WSS
2) He's a lazy ....... who can't be arsed moving up to WSBK, let alone MotoGP.

"Le Podium champayine taste so much bettyier in le superspour"

I know for a fact that the factory pays Corser's and Haga's salary, not to mention they are as close to a works team there is. In fact, the new R1 has those variable length velocity stacks that Haga's team developed two years ago. They were also the team that suggested Yamaha go back to 4 valves per cylinder instead of 5. I am sure that Alistare's riders are paid for by the factory, especially since they got a works rider from BSB and Biaggi. Ten Kate is well, Ten Kate. Not really a factory team, but the best bunch of tuners the non-works world has ever seen.

Ohh, I have heard that Xaus will be on a works bike but still on the same team. Anyone else heard this?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (l13eaw @ Nov 28 2006, 09:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>(and no I'm not blonde)

Liz
u could be...........clairol

josh herrin. don't think he's got the factory bike yet.

[quote name='frosty58' date='Nov 29 2006, 03:03 PM' post='39987']
u could be...........clairol

You must be in touch with your feminine side Frosty, clairol I'm impressed. though it would have to be Loreal obviously because I'm worth it!

Back to thread........Shakey for comedy value!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Nov 29 2006, 02:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>"Le Podium champayine taste so much bettyier in le superspour"

its like you're almost fluent richo!

i'd like to see a british rider back in so i'd go for neil hodgson too

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Nov 29 2006, 03:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>josh herrin. don't think he's got the factory bike yet.
Factory Yamaha racing Supersport in 2007 wearing the no. 46.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ooost @ Nov 29 2006, 02:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Factory Yamaha racing Supersport in 2007 wearing the no. 46.
damn!

Ant West (how predicatable) then if not... hmm, another non factory rider, hector barbera (he'd cause some problems ) and maybe as a long shot.. Chaz Davies or Martin Cardenas...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Eagle088 @ Nov 30 2006, 12:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I know for a fact that the factory pays Corser's and Haga's salary, not to mention they are as close to a works team there is. In fact, the new R1 has those variable length velocity stacks that Haga's team developed two years ago. They were also the team that suggested Yamaha go back to 4 valves per cylinder instead of 5. I am sure that Alistare's riders are paid for by the factory, especially since they got a works rider from BSB and Biaggi. Ten Kate is well, Ten Kate. Not really a factory team, but the best bunch of tuners the non-works world has ever seen.

Ohh, I have heard that Xaus will be on a works bike but still on the same team. Anyone else heard this?

Insightful stuff. Still, I wish The Japanese factories would just swallow their pride and come back with full-factory teams. This behind the door stuff is a bit lame. Just admit you want back in, guys. WSB won't hate you. How much would it cost to feild a Factory SBK team compared to an RCV/Space shuttle project? Do the Domestic BSB teams have factory connections like the AMA teams?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Dec 1 2006, 02:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Insightful stuff. Still, I wish The Japanese factories would just swallow their pride and come back with full-factory teams.
richo they'll probably never come back now that ducati are going to be allowed to bump up thier engine size. they'er still dominating on the 990. now they get 1200. sbk are going back to the same damn thing they just got away from a couple of years ago. why don't ducati just make a 1000 v4 superbike already........jeez

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Dec 1 2006, 12:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Insightful stuff. Still, I wish The Japanese factories would just swallow their pride and come back with full-factory teams. This behind the door stuff is a bit lame. Just admit you want back in, guys. WSB won't hate you. How much would it cost to feild a Factory SBK team compared to an RCV/Space shuttle project? Do the Domestic BSB teams have factory connections like the AMA teams?


I have no idea about BSB teams. I dont know anyone that races in that series. I dont even get coverage of that series in the states. However, just a little insight into how factories work. They may not want to run the team, but they sure as hell want to win. So the top team for a factory may not be a true works team, but I promise you the factory is shelling out some support. Whether that be paying a rider's salary or shipping in special parts from japan. Also, let's say "hypothetically" that BSB comes down to the wire and the top 3 riders from different teams are all withing 10 points of eachother so that it really is anyone's championship. You will start to see those teams get MAJOR support. Everything from carbon fiber frames so the best spark plugs money can buy with 24k gold conductors. The factories want championships and they want them as cheap as possible. So non-works teams will start off with basic bikes and as the series moves on one of two things will happen. 1. one rider will start walking away with a points lead and then the factories will move on or 2. the championship race will start heating up and you will start seeing bikes get new parts and going faster than ever.

As far as factory backing for BSB and AMA go, I'm not 100% sure except I can tell you that the American Honda team is all in house where as the HM Plant Honda team in BSB is an HRC factory team. As I understand it, the only HRC SBK team on earth.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (IsraeliRacer @ Nov 27 2006, 02:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm sure Dorna would appreciate me signing a British rider, so I'd go for Leon Haslam.
Me too while he`s still young.