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16 Sep 2004, 20:08 (Ref:1098681) | #1 | ||
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2005 MotoGP Line-up
Silly season should be in full swing by now but frankly I haven't read much on rider movements for the coming season, so I think it's time to start some speculation on this board:
Repsol Honda Alex Barros - possible Nicky Hayden - probable Sete Gibernau - outsider Max Biaggi - outsider Makoto Tamada - possible Colin Edwards - possible Ryuichi Kiyonari - outsider Chris Vermeulen - outsider ...and who knows who else Anything could happen here. Both riders could be shown the door, and both could stay. And there is a line-up of riders who could replace them. Telefonica Movistar Honda Sete Gibernau - definite Colin Edwards - possible Daniel Pedrosa - outsider Sete probably won't be going anywhere, unless Repsol come knocking with a big fat cheque. Colin Edwards has been very consistent without setting the world alight. He could make way for someone else... Camel Honda Pons Max Biaggi - probable Makoto Tamada - probable Can't see much changing in this team, unless Tamada 'gets the call' from Repsol Honda. It could all hinge on tyre deals concerning Tamada. Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Valentino Rossi - definite Carlos Checa - probable Rossi won't be going anywhere. Abe has struggled in qualifying all season but his racing has been quite good. If anyone ends up on a Yamaha, it will be inter-team shuffle. Gauloises Fortuna Tech 3 Yamaha Marco Melandri - probable Norick Abe - outsider Toni Elias - outsider Checa is comfortable in the team and it's hard to see him changing, and the team do seem happy with him (hard to understand why sometimes). Melandri still seems to be developing, but there's no doubting his pace. I would have said Elias could have made the jump up, due to sponsors, but going Honda to Yamaha, after Rossi, doesn't seem possible at the moment. Honda will keep their hands on him... Marlboro Ducati Loris Capirossi - probable Troy Bayliss - possible Ruben Xaus - possible Capirossi seems set for a third season at Ducati in 2005. Bayliss seems to be 50/50 at the moment and Xaus has certainly been pushing his case for a works seat for next year. Team Suzuki Kenny Roberts - probable John Hopkins - probable Despite all of Roberts whinging, is there anywhere else for him to go? Hopkins would seem to be a better bet if I was looking for a rider. If a new rider were to join, they could come from a domestic Superbike rank, such as USA or Britain (paging Matt Mladin!) D'Antin Ducati I put this under 'unknown' for 2005. Who knows if they can put together a team for next year?!?! Proton KR Appear dedicated to continuing in MotoGP, but another lets wait and see programme. Kawasaki Racing Shinya Nakano - probable Alex Hoffman - possible Kawasaki have certainly come on in 2004 after struggling badly last year. Nakano has certainly helped the team lift so if they keep putting in the cash with limited resources, there should be small steps of improvement. MS Aprilia Racing Will shut down at the end of 2004. MotoGP has proved far too expensive for the little Italian team. WCM Appear committed to 2005 with the development of a new engine and commissioning of a new chassis. Anyone see any new teams on the horizon for 2005? |
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17 Sep 2004, 09:06 (Ref:1099042) | #2 | |
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You could add Ukawa for an outside shot at any Honda seat, most likely a Repsol Honda or Camel Honda Pons seat.
If he performs well enough in Motegi. |
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17 Sep 2004, 09:09 (Ref:1099043) | #3 | ||
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OK, here are my predictions:
Rossi - Yamaha - single bike, no cigarette sponsors, golden bike (golden boy!) Checa - retire - not good enough this season Gibbers - Honda - maybe Repsol Edwards - stay put Melandri - stay with Yamaha, and learn not to CRASH Abe - out Biaggi - Suzuki Tamada - Honda Bayliss - out of Ducati - maybe Suzuki Capirex - stay put Barros - retire - same as Checa Hayden - Yamaha with Vale, but not the same livery - see above Hodgson - difficult this one - D'antin/Yamaha Xaus - Ducati factory team Byrne - dunno Jezza - retire Hopper - Honda? Vermeulen - Honda (probably not next year, though) |
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17 Sep 2004, 15:58 (Ref:1099478) | #4 | ||
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Hodgson or Byrne to replace Junior at Suzuki, Fabrizio to Aprilia if they have any cash......
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17 Sep 2004, 16:06 (Ref:1099488) | #5 | ||
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Why would they hire Hodgson, considering his poor form this year? Actually, I doubt they'd choose to repalce Kenny, and he's got nowhere else obvious to go. It'd be the wrong time to leave them anyway, with the Bridgestones improving and the bike looking fairly useful.
Last edited by f1manoz; 19 Sep 2004 at 13:30. |
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17 Sep 2004, 18:36 (Ref:1099614) | #6 | ||
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Yamaha has 50th anniversary next year, so the bikes could end up being on old Yamaha Racing colours, white-red-black.
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20 Sep 2004, 16:08 (Ref:1102131) | #7 | |
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If we lost Proton, D'Antin and Aprilia it would look a pretty thin field.... time to loosen the rules and let some privateers in with some "off the shelf" parts? Custom chassis and some up to 1000cc superbike engines....
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20 Sep 2004, 17:09 (Ref:1102179) | #8 | ||
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Boots, would Hodgson do any worse than Jnr? I'm no real fan of Hodgson but he has been on the same pace as Xaus for the most part.
Did you hear Randy Mamola's on air comments regarding Jnr.....? No punches pulled!!! |
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21 Sep 2004, 13:00 (Ref:1102855) | #9 | ||
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I think he would - Kenny's showed flashes of form this season, and his CV is certainly more impressive than Hodgson's. When the bike's competitive Kenny's perfectly good.
I doubt D'Antin will drop out - Ducati will probably want to run a second pair of bikes again. My guess would be Capirossi and Xaus on the main bikes, and Hodgson and Fabrizio on the second-string machines. |
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21 Sep 2004, 13:38 (Ref:1102883) | #10 | |||
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Quote:
On Sunday's telecast in Australia, Kevin Magee alluded to the following; - Hayden staying - Edwards to Yamaha alongside Rossi - Melandri to Telefonica Honda - Xaus to Repsol Honda, due to his Repsol connections. These aren't done deals, but going by the way they were talking, there is talk of these riders heading in that dirction. |
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21 Sep 2004, 13:58 (Ref:1102900) | #11 | ||
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What's Kevin's record like on predicting rider moves? I'd forgotten about Xaus' Repsol backing - once you combine that with his impressive performances and his popularity among fans, he seems like an ideal choice.
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21 Sep 2004, 15:10 (Ref:1102952) | #12 | ||
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What about Pedrosa? If he stays in 250 will risk becoming a Poggialli and fade away.
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23 Sep 2004, 23:22 (Ref:1105515) | #13 | |||
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Mladin said that he's to big and fat for Motogp j/king, But he's not going to Motogp. Pedrosa is having annother learning year in the 250s. I also read something cryptic about Honda choosing 4 riders from the current lineup - don't know what that is all about. And finally, Depuniet may get a Yamaha ride? Replacing Abe ("If you are a carpenter on Jesus' team, on your best day you still look like poop") edit: Re: Xaus - Didn't he get whooped by his Championship and almost championship winning teamates the last 2 years in SBK? Last edited by Hazza; 23 Sep 2004 at 23:24. |
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24 Sep 2004, 10:48 (Ref:1105814) | #14 | ||
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The 'Ducati World Series' will certianly have Hondas at the front next year, and probably Kawasakis, Foggies and Suzukis as well.
Xaus may have lost out to Bayliss and Hodgson in WSBK, but he hasn't lost out to them in MotoGP, where their experience levels are more equal - this being despite the naysayers predicting that Ruben would struggle to stay on this year. I think you've portrayed some pretty ill-founded and ignorant views there to be honest. |
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26 Sep 2004, 23:53 (Ref:1107826) | #15 | ||
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"Abe will be remembered as a fighter" - RIP Abe. |
27 Sep 2004, 00:06 (Ref:1107829) | #16 | |||
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Quote:
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"Abe will be remembered as a fighter" - RIP Abe. |
27 Sep 2004, 00:27 (Ref:1107832) | #17 | |||
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More interesting stuff...
Quote:
And of course (if you missed it) the silly (or maybe) Soup article... http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2004/Sep/040901z.htm |
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"Abe will be remembered as a fighter" - RIP Abe. |
6 Oct 2004, 14:57 (Ref:1117034) | #18 | ||
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Here some rumours about lower classes
Poggiali to ride KTM's 250 bike next year. Rolfo to lose factory seat. Lorenzo, Dovizioso, Stoner and Jenkner rising to 250. Kallio continuing at KTM 125, joined by Julian Simon. |
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6 Oct 2004, 18:10 (Ref:1117220) | #19 | |||
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Quote:
Worth noting that only one of the above named current 125cc riders is affected by the age limit being introduced to the 125s next year... |
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8 Oct 2004, 17:46 (Ref:1119125) | #20 | |||||
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Next years 125 season will have quite a different look to it with many riders being forced to move either into the 250s or perhaps sideways into something like Supersport/Superbike... |
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8 Oct 2004, 18:41 (Ref:1119157) | #21 | ||
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Some rumours:
Chris Vermeulen to Telefonica Honda, Gibby to Repsol HRC John Hopkins to replace Troy Bayliss on Marlboro Ducati. |
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12 Oct 2004, 19:09 (Ref:1122507) | #22 | |
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Biaggi is almost certainly moving to HRC. It would either be Max or Sete or Tamada by current form - but Sete is happy where he is (where he has a factory Honda in all but name) and Tamada uses Bridgestones.
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12 Oct 2004, 19:12 (Ref:1122510) | #23 | |
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Rolfo to Motogp, perhaps? His size may have been his biggest problem this year.
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13 Oct 2004, 04:04 (Ref:1122846) | #24 | ||
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Annother Rumour:
Sete signed to Gresini again, with a full factory support (It only took honda a year to work that out ) with help in developing the bike. Annother Rumour pt 2: Colin Edwards 100% signed with Yamaha? I'd put my money on him getting Abe's bike, not because I h ave anything against the two of them, but that would be his luck But chances are he'll be on the other factory bike with Checa going to Ducati? (Just speculation, but thats half the fun) Some of the stuff I've read around on other forums: Bayliss to head Yamaha WSBK team? Kanemoto as Hayden's crew chief? Last edited by Hazza; 13 Oct 2004 at 04:11. |
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"Abe will be remembered as a fighter" - RIP Abe. |
13 Oct 2004, 09:24 (Ref:1122989) | #25 | ||
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Edwards appears set for Yamaha. He rode for Yamaha a number of years ago in WSBK (IIRC) so it would almost be going full circle in his career.
There were rumours of Sete going to HRC, but I'd agree that all Honda will do is give Telefonica Gresini far more backing. Biaggi to Repsol HRC alongisde Hayden, or... how about Xaus figuring in there somewhere??? |
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