Nyteknik
Bannad
Ukawa to race a wild card RC211V "evolution" machine at Motegi; with more special bits to go to Tamada at Motego as well. As is well known, Honda owns Motegi.
Bayliss out at Ducati. This one has been burning for a while. Supposedly, Ducati wants Bayliss back in World Superbike for 2005 but he's understandably reluctant to go, what with his amazing performance last year in GP. This season has been tough for both Corse riders.
Marco Melandri replaces Bayliss at Ducati. This one is easy—Corse MotoGP team manager Livio Suppo was instrumental in bringing Marco Melandri—now with Yamaha—to GP years ago.
Nick Hayden replaces Melandri at Yamaha. Honda would not let him go to Yamaha the first time, and it's doubtful they will now. But that's the rumor.
Xaus to Repsol Honda. See! You can literally crash a semi trailer full of motorcycles and still make it to GP AND be linked to the plum factory Honda team; all it takes is time and the ability to send several dozen motorcycles to the crusher. It's obvious that Honda has recognized Xaus as some sort of crazy genius that only needs an HRC bike in order to shine. Hard work and dedication to his craft have finally paid off. Oh, hold it. He's Spanish, as is Repsol, the team's sponsor. Okay ...
Alex Barros to ... Well, let's see. 2004 has not been a great year for the old guard in MotoGP. Barros has made it to the podium but it hasn't been pretty. And avenues of escape are likely to be blocked as he was fired at Suzuki, and left Yamaha for Honda. How much clout does the Brazillian Honda importer have? We may soon find out.
Hodgson back to World Superbike on a Ducati. It's better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a really big pond. Especially if you have gills.
Biaggi to Ducati. Uh, Biaggi's contract is with Pramac, not Honda, so this move seems very doubtful.
Colin Edwards: no current rumors. Say, doesn't he still owe Ducati a pretty big favor over the post 2002 contract deal? Hmmm.
Norick Abe may very well be leaving MotoGP. No, really. Current rumor has Randy de Puniet replacing him on the MotoGP team so both Checa and Abe would go away. For Abe and Checa, being on the same "team" as Rossi is probably a lot like being on the same carpentry crew as Jesus: even on your best day, everybody still thinks you suck.
Aprilia: Will they even be racing MotoGP?
Kurtis Roberts: Will his split with dad's management firm International Racers affect his GP prospects for '05? The last time I talked to Roberts he said he was "self-managed".
Källa
Bayliss out at Ducati. This one has been burning for a while. Supposedly, Ducati wants Bayliss back in World Superbike for 2005 but he's understandably reluctant to go, what with his amazing performance last year in GP. This season has been tough for both Corse riders.
Marco Melandri replaces Bayliss at Ducati. This one is easy—Corse MotoGP team manager Livio Suppo was instrumental in bringing Marco Melandri—now with Yamaha—to GP years ago.
Nick Hayden replaces Melandri at Yamaha. Honda would not let him go to Yamaha the first time, and it's doubtful they will now. But that's the rumor.
Xaus to Repsol Honda. See! You can literally crash a semi trailer full of motorcycles and still make it to GP AND be linked to the plum factory Honda team; all it takes is time and the ability to send several dozen motorcycles to the crusher. It's obvious that Honda has recognized Xaus as some sort of crazy genius that only needs an HRC bike in order to shine. Hard work and dedication to his craft have finally paid off. Oh, hold it. He's Spanish, as is Repsol, the team's sponsor. Okay ...
Alex Barros to ... Well, let's see. 2004 has not been a great year for the old guard in MotoGP. Barros has made it to the podium but it hasn't been pretty. And avenues of escape are likely to be blocked as he was fired at Suzuki, and left Yamaha for Honda. How much clout does the Brazillian Honda importer have? We may soon find out.
Hodgson back to World Superbike on a Ducati. It's better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a really big pond. Especially if you have gills.
Biaggi to Ducati. Uh, Biaggi's contract is with Pramac, not Honda, so this move seems very doubtful.
Colin Edwards: no current rumors. Say, doesn't he still owe Ducati a pretty big favor over the post 2002 contract deal? Hmmm.
Norick Abe may very well be leaving MotoGP. No, really. Current rumor has Randy de Puniet replacing him on the MotoGP team so both Checa and Abe would go away. For Abe and Checa, being on the same "team" as Rossi is probably a lot like being on the same carpentry crew as Jesus: even on your best day, everybody still thinks you suck.
Aprilia: Will they even be racing MotoGP?
Kurtis Roberts: Will his split with dad's management firm International Racers affect his GP prospects for '05? The last time I talked to Roberts he said he was "self-managed".
Källa
